- Medical Malpractice
- Product
- Unsafe Drugs
- Bisphosphonate Litigation
- Bextra Litigation
- Silicone Gel Breast Implant Litigation
- Fen-Phen Diet Drugs
- Guidant Defibrillators
- Hormone Replacement Drugs
- Kugel Hernia Mesh Patches
- Medtronic Sprint Fidelis Lead
- Mentor ObTape Trans-Obturator Tape Litigation
- Ortho Evra Birth Control Patch
- Bausch & Lomb's ReNu with MoistureLoc Contact Lens Solution
- Vioxx Litigation
- Shoulder Pain Pumps
- Medtronic Defibrillator Litigation
- Other/Archive Drug Products
- Personal Injuries
- Auto Accidents
- Nursing Home Abuse
Bisphosphonate Litigation
Bisphosphonates are a class of drugs used to treat and prevent osteoporosis in post-menopausal women, Paget’s disease (a progressive bone disease), and cancer patients whose disease has spread or metastasized to their bones. These drugs increase bone density by slowing the body’s natural turnover of bone cells. The drugs are usually taken in pill form by osteoporosis patients, and in higher doses intravenously by cancer patients. All of the drugs have been associated with a serious condition, osteonecrosis or jaw bone death (now referred to as “bisphossy” jaw). Osteonecrosis of the jaw causes severe infections, facial swelling, and tooth loss resulting the need for long-term antibiotic therapy, surgery, disability, and pain and suffering. Patients undergoing dental procedures and those who are simultaneously using corticosteroids are at particular risk for developing this condition, and should inform their physicians regarding their use of these drugs prior to any tooth extractions, dental implants, etc. Symptoms of jaw osteonecrosis included; exposed bone, pain and swelling in the jaw, infection, altered sensation, and numbness. The jaw is particularly susceptible to this condition since it absorbs ten times more of the bisphosphonate than other bones in the body. Bisphosphonates accumulate in the bones and may remain in the bony tissues for perhaps up to twelve years after discontinuation.
The following are popular bisphosphonates:
- Fosamax (alendronate) – osteoporosis drug manufactured by Merck that was approved by the FDA in 1995 and has been used by nearly 10 million women and men since then. More than 2,400 Fosamax patients have reported incidences of jaw bone death (osteonecrosis) since 2001.
- Actonel (risedronate sodium) – currently marketed in over 90 countries through The Alliance for Better Bone Health, a partnership between Sanofi-Aventis and Procter & Gamble, to osteoporosis patients; comes in daily and weekly doses.
- Boniva (ibandronate sodium) – manufactured and marketed by Roche Laboratories and Glaxo SmithKline for osteoporosis patients. Boniva was introduced in 2005 and is unique in that the medication is taken only once per month.
- Bonefos (clodronate) – manufactured by Schering for use by cancer patients.
- Didronel (etidronate disodium) – manufactured by OSG Norwich Pharmaceuticals and distributed by Procter & Gamble and approved for treatment of patients with Paget’s disaease.
- Aredia (pamidronate disodium) and Zometa (zoledronic acid) – both manufactured by Novartis, used exclusively for cancer patients and delivered intravenously.
- Skelid (tiludronate disodium) – manufactured in France by Sanofi-Synthelabo for the treatment of cancer patients.
Please contact Alley, Clark, Greiwe & Fulmer immediately if you or someone you love has been injured by taking a bisphosphonate drug.