The side effects of Actonel, Aredia, Boniva, Fosamax, Zometa, and other Bisphosphonates
by Michael Monheit - Anapol Schwartz Weiss Cohan Feldman & Smaller
How does a bisphosphonate drug, which is intended to promote bone health, actually ending causing harm through bone necrosis?
As lawyers, we are seeing hundreds of inquries into lawsuits for ONJ from Fosamax and other bisph
osphonates. Cases of necrotic jaw bone disease occur when the jaw bone structure does not have new and healthy bone cells called osteoblasts that are going to mature into healthy osteocytes.
The result of not having healthy bone cells is a decrease in blood flow. This means that the bone can die, as well as tissue around the bone that depends on the bone for blood supply.
This makes you wonder if it worth the risk to take the bisphosphonate family of drugs? This is a question you need to discuss in detail with your doctor. Be ready to discuss some hard facts. In the case of cancer, the answer is probably yes. But that does not mean that osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) is something you must suffer just because you take bisphosphonates to provide an effective treatment to reduce the risk of metastatic bone cancer.
A more likely area for discussion with your doctor is in the case of Osteopenia (a borderline osteoporosis condition). In this situation, alternatives that range from changes in diet (ingesting more calcium), lifestyle (giving up smoking), exercise (weight bearing exercise to stimulate bone growth), and other medications which work using a different mechanism.
Also, you can take steps to prevent the onset of osteoporosis. For example, despite other side effects, HRT (hormone replacement therapy) has been shown to help prevent osteoporosis.
How does ostenoecrosis jaw bone death occur? Bisphosphonate inhibit the production of osteoclasts that soften the outer shell of the bone for the new osteoblast cell to get into the boney structure to replace the dying osteocyte.
When the mature cells die in the bone they can no longer maintain the Haversian canals and the blood flow through those opening ceases. The Haversion canals consist of a central hole surrounded by a number of concentric layers (rings) of bony tissue arranged concentrically around the central bone canal.
This blood flow supplies soft tissues around that bone and within the bone itself.
Why is the jaw bone at such great risk? The jaw has a lot of blood flow and is also made up of the type of bone that is impacted by the replacement process at a more rapid rate &$151; thus, a higher quantity of Bisphosphonates reaching that bone. It also has high need for blood flow, and this may account for a more significant impact when blood flow is diminished.
About the Author
Anapol Schwartz is currently handling bisphosphonate cases for ONJ (Osteonecrosis of the Jaw) and Femur factures. Michael Monheit, Esq. is the managing attorney in charge of all Internet educational activities for Anapol Schwartz. Jaw Bone Loss Lawsuits - Actonel, Fosamax, Zometa.