Treating Paget disease. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.Fosamax is a bisphosphonate. It works by slowing bone loss.
How to use Fosamax:
Use Fosamax as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.
* An extra patient leaflet is available with Fosamax . Talk to your pharmacist if you have questions about this information.
* Swallow Fosamax whole. Do not break, crush, chew, or suck on the tablet before swallowing.
* Take Fosamax by mouth on an empty stomach in the morning at least 30 minutes before your first food, drink, or other medicine of the day. Do NOT take Fosamax at bedtime or before you get out of bed in the morning.
* Take Fosamax with a full glass of plain water (8 oz/240 mL). Do not take Fosamax with mineral water, coffee, tea, or juice. Do not lie down for 30 minutes after taking Fosamax and until you eat your first food of the day.
* Be sure you understand how to take Fosamax . Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.
* Continue to use Fosamax even if you feel well. Do not miss any doses.
* If you miss a dose of Fosamax , do not take it later in the day. Take it the morning after you remember and then go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.
Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Fosamax.
Possible side effects of Fosamax:
All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:
* Bone, muscle, or joint pain; constipation; diarrhea; dizziness; feeling bloated or full; flu-like symptoms at the start of treatment; gas; headache; mild stomach pain; nausea; taste changes; vomiting.
Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:
* Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); black, tarry, or bloody stools; chest pain; coughing or vomiting blood; difficult or painful swallowing; mouth sores; new, worsening, or severe heartburn; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin; severe bone, muscle, or joint pain; severe or persistent sore throat or stomach pain; swelling of the hands, legs, or joints; swelling or pain in your jaw.
One of the most-prescribed drugs in America, a bisphosphonate manufactured by Merck called Fosamax is now facing growing concerns about side effects including osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ). Often referred to as ‘Dead Jaw’, ONJ is a rare syndrome where the jaw bone tissue dies. This Fosamax side effect directly thwarts the drug’s purpose, which is to strengthen bones and prevent bone loss in women and men with osteoporosis. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Merck issued a warning to health care professionals on September 24, 2004.
Fosamax has come under fire in recent months in the Annals of Internal Medicine, which linked the use of intravenous and tablet bisphosphonate drugs to ONJ in a variety of patients. Although the studies showed that intravenous use was the most dangerous, oral use is also a concern due to the long-term nature of most osteoporosis treatment and the high level of prescriptions for seniors. This follows on the FDA’s requiring more stringent labeling procedures for bisphosphonate drug medications such as Fosamax. The organization recently approved bisphosphonate drug Actonel for use in males.
ONJ is an irreversible condition in which bone tissue dies and fails to regenerate and is often seen in patients who have had dental extractions or implants and oral surgery. Symptoms include pain and swelling, numbness in the jaw, exposed bone, and loose teeth. Patients who are starting bisphosphonate use for osteoporosis should tell their doctor and dentist of their bisphosphonate use if they anticipate having oral surgery.
Fosamax was prescribed over 22 million times in 2005 and the drugs’ popularity is spreading. Another study quoted on April 4, 2006 by United Press International found more than 2,400 patients who were taking the injected form of bisphosphonate had suffered bone damage to their jaws since 2001.