As reported on ABC News March 8th, 2010Fosamax (alendronate) is taken to help make bones stronger, and to assist people with osteopenia or osteoporosis. Over the years there have been many reports by oral surgeons that they are seeing brittle jaw bones in many people who have been on Fosamax. Many times the bone is so brittle that they cannot perform the implant surgery.Fosamax is supposed to help make bones stronger, and is suppose to be safe and effective according to the FDA and Merck. There is mounting evidence from oral surgeons and orthopedic doctors that for some people, taking Fosamax for more than five years could cause spontaneous fractures.Recently, Sandy Potter, 59 of Queens N.Y. was outside jumping rope with the neighborhood kids when her thigh bone snapped. She was prescribed Fosamax at age 48 due to a diagnosis of osteoporosis. Sue Heller, 60, of Castle Rock, Colo. Has been taking Fosamax for almost 10 years. She broke both her femur (thigh) bones according to ABC News.Dr. Kenneth Egol, professor of orthopedic surgery at NYU Langone Medical Center said in the ABC News report “We are seeing people just walking, walking down the steps, patients who are doing low-energy exercise.” “Very unusual, the femur is one of the strongest bones in the body.”In 2008 the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) asked Merck (the manufacturer of Fosamax) to add information about the report of femur fractures. It took Merck 16 months to add patients’ reports of femur fractures to the list of possible side effects in the drug insert.The FDA has never made an effort to inform the public or doctors across the nation about the possible risks of brittle bones according to ABC News.Both the FDA and Merck declined ABC News’ request for interview. The FDA said it is looking into the reports of fractures according to ABC News.Dr. Joseph Lane, orthopedic trauma surgeon at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City, said “The drug companies have to recognize when there is a problem, they have to be up front with the public. If there is a concern, they have to voice it and at least give everybody a fair chance to look at this carefully.” ABC News reported.Talking to our customers at Johnson Compounding and Wellness Center, many people are now starting to ask what they can do to help their body deal with their problems.We have been suggesting that most people especially those with osteopenia or osteoporosis have their Vitamin D3 levels checked. We have seen that for years many people have very low Vitamin D3 levels. When this occurs, bone density is adversely affected. If adequate amounts of vitamin D3 absorbable calcium and magnesium are ingested along with weight bearing exercise, the loss of bone density can be prevented in many cases.Main stream medicine has ignored these essential nutrients for bone health. We jump right to a drug therapy many times without looking for a cause.The FDA only recently has suggested that Vitamin D3 levels be checked, and the recommended daily amounts have been increased.We need to look at our life style, nutrient levels, stress levels and the amount of exercise we get on a daily basis to determine if we are providing our bodies with what it needs to stay healthy.Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have.
About Gary Kracoff
