Fosamax Femur Fracture Lawsuits Handled by Anapol Schwartz. 866-735-2792.

1. “Why Shouldn’t I
Take Fosamax?”
Fosamax is not without serious side effects. The first thing you should
Organized by the lawyers at
Anapol Schwartz. do is become informed about this stage in your life and about the drugs
© 2010 All Rights Reserved. you’re prescribed. Read on . . .
Contact Lawyers:
Thomas R. Anapol, Esquire Contents
Greg Spizer, Esquire
• What Is Osteoporosis? 2
Tracy Finken, Esquire
Amber Racine, Esquire • About Fosamax 3
• How Does Fosamax Work? 4
Call: 866.735.2792 • What Is Osteopenia? 4
• How Do I Know If I Have a Fosamax Lawsuit? 5
Email: • How Much Does It Cost to File a Lawsuit? 5
tanapol@anapolschwartz.com
• Resources 5
gspizer@anapolschwartz.com
tfinken@anapolschwartz.com
aracine@anapolschwartz.com
Read more information online at: DISCLAIMER: This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Please use this information to
www.anapolschwartz.com help in your conversation with your doctor. This is general background information and should not be followed
as medical advice. Please consult your doctor regarding all medical questions and for all medical treatment.

2. Fosamax side eFFeCts What percentage of men has osteoporosis?
According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation
What are Fosamax side effects? 10 percent of men have the osteoporosis.
Moderate side effects: joint pain, feeling bloated,
What are Boniva side effects?
constipation, dizziness, diarrhea, gas, headache, nausea, flu-
like symptoms, vomiting, and tastes changing. Moderate side effects: diarrhea, headache, dizziness, flu-
like symptoms, joint weakness, limb pain, nausea, upset
Severe side effects: Get medical help ASAP for allergic reac- stomach, and redness at injection site.
tions like itching, hives, rash, difficulty breathing, swelling of
face and mouth, and tightness of the chest; bloody stools, Critical Boniva side effects: acute allergic reactions, eye pain,
mouth sores, severe heartburn, blistering skin, muscle pain, grave muscle pain, change in the amount of urine, relentless
persistent sore throat, swelling of limbs and jaw pain. headaches, vision changes, and jaw swelling. Get medical
help immediately.
What is osteoporosis? What are some debilitating Fosamax injuries?
Femur fractures, necrosis of the jaw-jawbone fails to heal
Osteoporosis is a condition that causes bones to become (ONJ), esophagus cancer, atrial fibrillation or irregular
more porous which gradually makes them weaker and more heartbeat, severe joint and/or muscle pain
brittle.
What are bisphosphonates?
What are the risk factors for developing osteoporosis? According to Wikipedia, bisphosphonates prevent the loss
• Early menopause as the ovaries produce less of bone mass and are used to treat osteoporosis and similar
estrogen which results in more bone loss diseases. All bisphosphonate drugs have been linked to
• Hysterectomy and ovary removal at a young age rare femur or thighbone fractures, esophageal cancer, and
jawbone death.
• Smoking cigarettes doubles the risk of osteoporosis
• Soft drinks, carbonation What are Actonel side effects?
• Underweight women Mild side effects: back pain, constipation, diarrhea,
• Family members who were diagnosed with dizziness, joint pain, mild flu-like symptoms, mild stomach
osteoporosis upset and nausea.
• Lack of regular exercise
• Some medications decrease bone: cortisone drugs for Severe Actonel side effects include: allergic reactions such
asthma, arthritis, allergies; thyroid meds; PPI drugs as rash, hives, itching, difficulty breathing, face/mouth/
• Some medical conditions: malnutrition, rheumatoid tongue swelling, hoarseness, tarry stools, painful stools, jaw
arthritis, emphysema, Crohn’s Disease, pain, eye pain, light sensitivity, chest pain, coughing, and
weight loss surgery vomiting blood. Get medical help immediately.
• Low calcium & vitamin D
“WHY SHOULDN’T I TAKE FOSAMAX?”
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3. What is the bone cycle and how does it all work? Is Fosamax bad for the bones?
Two major cells determine your total bone mass— Prolonged use of Fosamax may overly suppress bone
osteoblasts and osteoclasts. metabolism, affecting the ability of the bone to repair micro-
• Osteoblasts build more bone. damage to the femur.
• Osteoclasts remove bone
Why does long-term use of Fosamax make bones brittle?
• Osteocytes maintain bone.
In patients who had femur fractures, their x-rays look
more like an injury from a car accident than a minimal
Osteoblasts build more bone and collagen and osteocytes
fall. Research has never been done as to how long women
maintain the bone. Osteoclasts dissolve bone and collagen.
should remain on bisphosphonates. Now many doctors are
recommending a 5-year limit.
Bone remodeling starts with resorption; the osteoclasts
do this function. Osteoclasts break down bone by dissolv- How do femur fractures happen?
ing mineral and resorbing the matrix that osteoblasts have
Fosamax takers who suffer this rare side effect may suffer
formed. It’s complex.
broken legs after minor falls. Spiral fractures occur along
the length of the femur or the long thigh bone. Surprisingly,
about Fosamax people may suffer fractures when walking across a room or
standing up from a chair. It is reported that women’s thigh
How long has Fosamax been on the market? Since 1995 bones just snapped like a twig, an odd occurrence after
years of taking bone building drugs.
Who makes Fosamax? Merck & Co.
What are some facts about the femur or thigh bone?
How long does Fosamax stay in the body?
• the longest and largest bone
Once ingested, Fosamax remains in the bones indefinitely
• one of the two strongest bones (temporal bone of
and can upset the delicate balance between the osteoblasts
skull is the other strongest)
cells that put calcium in bone and the osteoclasts cells that
take calcium away. Depending on the expert or source, the • connects to the hip joint and knee joint
effects of Fosamax can remain in your body for 2 years, 5
How frequently do femur fractures happen?
years, or 10 years.
At this point Merck & Co. and the FDA are saying it’s a rare
What’s the long-term problem with Fosamax? occurrence but when there are millions of women taking
Some long-term users of Fosamax may find out the hard way Fosamax, if you’re one of those women, it’s not so rare. Also
that Fosamax makes bones brittle instead of strengthening Fosamax is changing its black box warning to include femur
the bones. Since Fosamax remains active in your body, fractures as a side effect so it’s no longer under the radar.
taking more may be redundant and unnecessary. No expert
has figured out how to purge the body from Fosamax
buildup.
“WHY SHOULDN’T I TAKE FOSAMAX?”
Copyright © 2004–2010 All rights reserved. Anapol Schwartz.
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4. What’s the problem with jawbone death? What is osteopenia?
One of the painful side effects of Fosamax is that it can
cause jawbone problems. This is particularly problematic Osteopenia refers to bone mineral density (BMD) that is
for dentists and their patients who need dental surgery, lower than normal bone mineral density but not low enough
teeth pulled, and dental implants which is not uncommon to be deemed as osteoporosis.
especially for an aging population.
Does everyone who gets osteopenia get osteoporosis?
What does the dental association say? Osteopenia is a normal sign of aging. Everyone who has
According to a study by the Journal of American Dental osteopenia will not get osteoporosis. Bisphosphonate
Associations, bisphosphonates are designed to decrease the treatment of osteopenia is controversial.
breakdown of bone by increasing bone density. Problems
Should I take Fosamax for osteopenia?
occur when the bone becomes too dense. If bone gets
denser than normal, it may crowd bone marrow, which That should be discussed between you and your doctor.
contains fat and tissue that make blood cells and stimulates Before going on any bisphosphonate drug, ask your doctor
bone healing. Higher bone density means less marrow, about lifestyle changes. Weight-bearing exercises like
which in turn means the bone has less of a blood supply and walking, dancing, hiking, and working out with light weights
is less able to heal. helps to increase bone mass as does a diet rich in calcium
like milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, leafy green vegetables,
salmon, fish oils, eggs, and calcium enriched products.
hoW does Fosamax Work? Taking vitamin D and calcium supplements may also be
• Decreases the rate of bone loss which occurs after recommended.
menopause
What causes spinal or hip fractures?
• Reduces activity of the cells known as osteoclasts
Thin or brittle bones cause spinal and hip fractures,
which cause bone loss
sometimes wrist fractures.
• Increases the amount of bone in most patients
Who should not take Fosamax?
How long does it take to see bone
Fosamax is not suitable for everyone especially if you already
improvement on Fosamax?
have trouble swallowing; have ulcers; have kidney disease;
Osteoclasts are the cells that remove old bone. First you stop have a condition which causes low levels of calcium; and
losing more bone than your cells are making. Slowly, you have digestive problems.
begin to add new bone. It takes about one year to see the
results of taking Fosamax. Research has shown that the rate
of increase in bone mass usually improves in the second and
third years of taking Fosamax. After the third year, further
improvement is nil.
It’s been 5 years and I’m still taking Fosamax. Why?
That’s a good question to ask your doctor if after the third
year, bone improvement is nil.
“WHY SHOULDN’T I TAKE FOSAMAX?”
Copyright © 2004–2010 All rights reserved. Anapol Schwartz.
Read more information online at www.anapolschwartz.com. 4

5. hoW do i knoW iF i have resourCes
a Fosamax LaWsuit? national osteoporosis Foundation www.nof.org
You won’t know if you have a lawsuit or not until you NOF is the nation’s leading voluntary health organization
contact Anapol Schwartz law firm which fights for dedicated to osteoporosis and bone health. You can find
settlements against big pharmaceutical companies and numerous articles about bone health, medical referrals, tools
unsafe drugs. for professionals, community involvement and events, and
how to support research and funding.
Anapol Schwartz lawyers will ask you to answer a few
national institutes of health-osteoporosis
questions about your symptoms, injuries, and diagnosis. The
& bone disorders www.bones.nih.gov
information you provide is confidential and you’re under no
Information and publications in English, Spanish, and
obligation to continue.
Chinese and for all demographics – young, old, men,
Is it too late to file a Fosamax lawsuit? women, and multicultural
Anapol Schwartz, attorneys-at-law, recommends that you american bone health www.americanbonehealth.org
file sooner vs. later which is always preferable as a legal Information about osteoporosis and a fracture risk calculator,
strategy. Time flies. If you wait too long, you may miss the bone health news, facts, figures, and fall protection
window of opportunity known as the statute of limitations.
Female menopause mentors
What is the statute of limitations to file a lawsuit? www.femalemenopausementors.com
In Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and West Virginia, a personal Menopause need not be overwhelming especially if you have
injury lawsuit must be filed within two years of the date a mentor along the way. There are life coaches, business
when the injury occurred. coaches, sports coaches…why not a menopause coach who
has been there, done that and is a health professional. Get
the answers to menopause’s difficult questions.
hoW muCh does it Cost
to FiLe a LaWsuit? menopause the musical
www.menopausethemusical.com
Clients pay no out-of-pocket expense and only pay if and For a little humor and levity, the change is a hit musical.
when their settlement is received. A settlement affords you
compensation for mounting medical bills, caregivers, loss of the menopause expert
income (if still working), and pain and suffering. www.themenopauseexpert.com
Author: Feelin’ Hot? A Humorous & Informative Guide to
Who is Anapol Schwartz? Menopause
Anapol Schwartz upholds traditions of excellence in medical
malpractice, pharmaceutical, toxic tort, class actions, menopause resources
products liability, and automobile accident litigation. Law www.webmd.com/menopause/guide/menopause-resources
offices are located in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West If you like lists, you’ll love this page for all links menopausal,
Virginia, Arizona, and of Counsel in Ohio. hormonal, aging, and women’s health.
“WHY SHOULDN’T I TAKE FOSAMAX?”
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