Drugs & Medical Devices
Fosamax
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Information on the condition osteopenia and the options available to you
Osteopenia is a bone condition marked by low-density bones. The condition is a much lesser form of osteoporosis, which is where the bones lack considerable density. Over time, if left untreated, osteopenia may develop into osteoporosis. Commonly, the drug Fosamax is prescribed for prevention and treatment of osteopenia. Weitz & Luxenberg would like to provide you with helpful information about this condition and the risks of taking Fosamax for it. Fosamax has been linked to severe injuries, and we would like you to know that there are other options available to you for prevention and treatment.
Those that have taken Fosamax and sustained a femur fracture because of it have the right to pursue legal action. Weitz & Luxenberg can also help you in your pursuit for financial compensation.
What is osteopenia?
Osteopenia is when a person’s bone density is lower than normal. It is a condition that typically affects people after the age of 30, and can be a precursor to osteoporosis (a much more serious bone condition). In clinical terms, osteopenia is diagnosed when a person’s bone density level is one BMD point less than normal. Osteoporosis is 2.5 points below normal (health.harvard.edu).
What causes osteopenia?
Normally, the cell of a bone is made, it dies, and it is then reabsorbed into the body at the very instant that a new bone cell is made. Our bones look and feel like an unchanging solid piece, but in reality there are all these cells dying and being born constantly. Imagine a factory of 100 workers, and as soon as one worker retires the boss instantly hires someone new – keeping the number always at 100. As we get older, the ability for the body to make new bone cells decreases. So, once a person becomes middle-aged, their bone cells start dying faster than new ones can take their place. Imagine the same factory only now the boss cannot find new workers fast enough to replace all the workers that are retiring. So, the number of workers in the factory starts to go down and so does productivity. This is exactly what happens with our bones as we grow older – the density of our bones decrease, which is often diagnosed as osteopenia. If the lag of time for new bone cells replacing dead bone cells increases to the point where the bones are very weak and very easily breakable, this condition is called osteoporosis.
At around age 30, everyone starts to lose bone density (WebMD.com).
Is osteopenia dangerous?
Yes and no. Loss of bone density can put you at risk of fractures. Someone with osteopenia may need to take certain precautions before engaging in any high-intensity activity. Still, the New York Times ran an article in 2009 called Splits Form Over How to Address Bone Loss by Kate Murphy that addressed the controversial nature of diagnosing osteopenia. The article states that, “because bone naturally deteriorates with age, anyone much older than 30 is likely to qualify for a diagnosis of osteopenia; using similar logic, a middle-aged woman might be said to have a skin disorder because she had more wrinkles than her 30-year-old daughter.”
Osteopenia is technically when a person’s bone density level is minus one point than normal. Steven R. Cummings, a doctor at the University of California in San Francisco, comments on this by saying, ''there is no basis, no biological, social, economic or treatment basis, no basis whatsoever, for using minus one…As a consequence, though, more than half of the population is told arbitrarily that they have a condition they need to worry about,” (NYtimes.com).
Prevention
Everyone will experience loss of bone density as they grow older, but there are ways to slow down this process. Some ways include (health.harvard.edu)(niams.nih.gov):
- Eating foods high in calcium and vitamin D
- Drinking alcohol and caffeinated beverages less
- Exercising (particularly weight baring exercises such as walking and running)
- Quitting smoking (smoking speeds up bone density loss drastically)
Treatment options
Aside from natural treatment options such as eating a healthy diet rich in calcium and vitamin D, getting regular exercise, and decreasing the amount of smoking and alcohol consumption, a medicine called Calcitonin is popular in treating osteopenia. Calcitonin contains minimal side-effects, but with any medication is it important to talk to your doctor before using. Some doctors will not prescribe any medication because osteopenia is not considered by everyone to be a dangerous condition.
Fosamax
Fosamax is one of the most common treatments for osteopenia, and it is also one of the most dangerous. Although not everyone in the medical community is properly informed on this issue, Fosamax has been linked to severe, life-threatening side-effects such as:
- Femur fracture
- Brittle bones
- Osteonecrosis of the jaw
- Esophageal cancer
How Weitz & Luxenberg can help
Weitz & Luxenberg can help those that have been injured from femur fractures after taking the drug Fosamax. We understand that bone density loss is a serious issue, but no should have to suffer repeated femur fractures from taking a drug that is supposed to help make your bones stronger. Our team of skilled, experienced lawyers is up-to-date on the Fosamax issue and wants to help anyone stricken with brittle bones and femur fractures after taking this drug. We can help you file a Fosamax lawsuit against those responsible so that you can receive the financial compensation you deserve.
To get started, simply fill out the form on this page. After submitting the form, a Weitz & Luxenberg representative will be in touch with you shortly to provide you with a free, no obligation, legal consultation. There is no need to delay. Contact Weitz & Luxenberg – we want to hear your case.
Sources:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/08/health/08bone.html?_r=1
http://www.webmd.com/osteoporosis/tc/osteopenia-overview
http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsweek/Osteopenia_When_you_have_weak_bones.htm
http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Osteoporosis/Conditions_Behaviors/bone_smoking.asp
see also:
Osteopenia
Information and resources on the controversial bone condition osteopeniaOsteopenia is a controversial diagnosis commonly treated with Fosamax: information and resources
Osteoperosis
Osteoporosis information made available for use by Weitz & LuxenbergFosamax is prescribed to prevent Osteoperosis.Learn about the drug and the condition here.
Why is Fosamax prescribed?
Fosamax is prescribed to treat bone conditions, but contains serious health risksConditions for which doctors prescribe Fosamax: information about conditions and risks
