Fosamax Side Effects

There are associated and proven side effects with taking Fosamax on a continued basis.

• nausea
• stomach pain
• constipation
• diarrhea
• gas
• bloating or fullness in the stomach
• change in ability to taste food
• headache
• dizziness
• swelling of the joints, hands, or legs

Some more serious side effects include:

• new or worsening heartburn
• difficulty swallowing
• pain on swallowing
• chest pain
• bloody vomit or vomit that looks like coffee grounds
• black, tarry, or bloody stools
• fever
• blisters or peeling skin
• rash (may be made worse by sunlight)
• itching
• hives
• swelling of eyes, face, lips, tongue, or throat
• difficulty breathing
• hoarseness
• painful or swollen gums
• loosening of the teeth
• numbness or heavy feeling in the jaw
• poor healing of the jaw
• eye pain
• possible esophageal cancer has been reported as a critical side effect with the drug Fosamax
• dull, aching pain in the hips, groin, or thighs

Warnings & Recalls for Fosamax

There are numerous contraindications to be advised of before a patient starts a Fosamax regimen and it is highly advisable to consult with your doctor if you have any of these precedent conditions:

• If you have clinical osteomalacia.
• Hypersensitivity to the active ingredient in Fosamax.
• If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.
• If you have hypocalcemia.
• Any inflammations of the gastrointestinal tract such as gastritis, esophagitis, or ulcerations.
• Losing any function in your esophagus.
• Before taking Fosamax, tell your doctor if you take aspirins or NSAIDs, if you’re in chemotherapy, or if you take any oral steroids.

As of yet, there hasn't been a FDA recall of the drug Fosamax.  But in 2010, there was clinical testing done by the FDA regarding whether or not drugs like Fosamax have contributed to increased bone fractures in women.  As a result of their testing, it was proved inconclusive whether a prescription like Fosamax contributes to atypical subtrochanteric femur fractures as well as other types of fractures.

Fosamax Treatment and Use

The drug Fosamax | Alendronate, is prescribed for the prevention of fractures to bones caused by osteoporosis, chiefly for women who experience osteoporosis after menopause.  Fosamax belongs to a classification of drugs called bisphosphonates and it slows the process of old bone material breaking down faster.  Whenever someone experiences osteoporosis, bones start to lose vital minerals such as calcium and can be susceptible to breakage even after the most minor of injuries like a little bump.  In women who have been diagnosed with low bone density and who are at risk of a fracture, being prescribed Fosamax can prevent fractures in the spine and in bones other than in the spine as well as the wrist and hip.  It was first originally branded by Merck in the United States however there are also generic brands of the drug Alendronate.

Although it is almost exclusively prescribed to women who experience osteoporosis after menopause, it is also given to male patients who have osteoporosis as well.  It is also used to treat Paget’s disease of the bone.

Other Names for Fosamax

Alendronate

Lawsuits & Legal Information for Fosamax