Why Does Fosamax Cause Femur Fractures?

Texas dangerous drug attorneys hear many variations of this story. A woman of post-menopausal age goes to her mailbox, walks down the stairs, or gets out of her car and her leg crumples beneath her. Her femur has suddenly snapped. X-rays show a traumatic injury that should have been caused by a high-speed car crash, not a single step. What has happened?

The stories are slightly different, but one common factor is usually to blame. These women were taking Fosamax or a generic alendronate in order to reverse the symptoms of osteoporosis.

How is a drug for osteoporosis causing femur fractures? How does a drug that strengthens bone cause one of the strongest bones in the body to suddenly shatter like glass?

Throughout our lives, bone degrades and is reformed. When a woman has osteoporosis, the new bone that is created is of lower quality that the original bone. Over time, the bone becomes more porous and more likely to break.

Fosamax works by interrupting the normal process of bone degradation and formation. It stops the degradation process, so only new bone is formed. This leads to an increase in total bone mass.

A problem arises because the bone doesn’t degrade, any damage to the bone remains. Over time, this micro-damage adds up and the collagen in the bone is altered.  This can lead to a weak and damaged bone. 

If you are one of the thousands of women who have suffered a femur fracture in Texas after taking Fosamax, you deserve accountability. Texas dangerous drug attorney Kay Van Wey discusses the rights of Dallas and Texas Fosamax injury victims in her book, 7 Secrets the Pharmaceutical Industry Does NOT Want You to Know. To request your free copy or to discuss a Texas Fosamax injury claim, contact Van Wey Law at 800-489-5082.