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Rottenstein Law Group Agrees that Osteoporosis is Undertreated, But Advises Caution When Considering Treatment with Bisphosphonate Drugs


WEBWIRE

(New York, NY November 7, 2011) The Rottenstein Law Group, which represents clients with claims of harm stemming from the use of the osteoporosis drug Fosamax, is concerned that many with the disorder might be unaware of it, and therefore might not be getting the necessary treatment. The firm, however, maintains that those who are diagnosed with the condition should discuss the possible adverse side effects of bisphosphonate drugs with their physician when considering treatment.
According to an October 31, 2011 New York Times article, “Osteoporosis is both underdiagnosed and undertreated. Doctors say it is underdiagnosed because many who have it fail to get a bone density test, sometimes even after they suffer a fracture. The condition is undertreated because some people avoid drug therapy for fear of side effects, while others take their medications erratically or stop taking them altogether without consulting their doctors.”
The Times piece further explains: “Some 10 million Americans have osteoporosis, and 34 million more with low bone mass are at risk of developing it. It is a silent disease that typically first shows up as a low-trauma fracture of the hip, spine or wrist. Low-trauma does not mean no trauma; someone with healthy bones who falls from a standing height or less is unlikely to break a bone, according to Dr. Sundeep Khosla, president of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.”
“When drugs called bisphosponates were introduced to prevent and treat osteoporosis (Fosamax, now available as a generic called alendronate, was the first),” Times writer Jane E. Brody writes, “overly enthusiastic doctors prescribed them for millions of postmenopausal women who were not at high risk of fracture.” But a recently published study “examined the use of bisphosphonates among 12,777 Swedish women age 55 or older who suffered a fracture of the femur in 2008. Although those who had taken the drugs were 47 times as likely as those who had not to have experienced an atypical femur fracture, the actual number of these fractures was only 5 in 2000 women who had used the drugs for five years.”
The study figures notwithstanding, two advisory panels of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently recommended that bisphosphonate drug labelling should be changed to reflect the uncertainty of the risks and benefits of long-term use. The FDA had asked two of its panels to recommend whether a “drug holiday” or some time limit was warranted on this class of osteoporosis drugs, which have been linked to unusual thigh fractures and other side effects.
The Rottenstein Law Group advises anyone with a friend or family member who has been prescribed Fosamax or another osteoporosis drug to recommend to that person that he or she consult a physician immediately, then speak to a qualified Fosamax lawyer. The Rottenstein Law Group lawyers have a total of more than 25 years of experience fighting for the rights of clients who have suffered harm due to the negligence of powerful corporations.  Affected individuals are advised to keep apprised of the latest news concerning the Fosamax femur fracture lawsuits by checking the Fosamax Femur Fracture Lawsuit Information Center for updated information. The site is equipped with easy-to-use social media features which will enable users to spread the word about the dangers of Fosamax.
About the Rottenstein Law Group
The Rottenstein Law Group is a New York-based law firm that represents clients in mass tort actions. The firm was founded by Rochelle Rottenstein, a lawyer with over two decades of experience in compassionate representation of clients in consumer product injury, mass tort, and class action law suits. For more information, please visit their Web site, or call (888) 9-ROT-LAW.



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 lawsuits
 dangerous drugs
 fosamax
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