Do Bisphosphonates Undermine Bone Growth?
Touted by Merck and other companies as a miracle drug that can heal the ravages of osteoporosis, Fosamax and other bisphosphonates have been proven to cause the opposite of their intended effect in some patients, who eperience osteonecrosis of the jaw. This irreversible syndrome is a painful slow bone death and often requires extensive oral surgery or long-term antibiotic treatment. In fact, a recent Los Angeles Times article quotes an endodontist from the University of Texas Health Science Center who states that over 1,000 patients with jaw necrosis have been uncovered in the last six to nine months alone. The American Association of Endodontists has stepped in, releasing a recent statement that indicates that all bisphosphonate patients are at risk for dead jaw syndrome. Doctors point out that it is often hard to diagnose bone death quickly enough, since many doctors may attribute severe bone pain to the symptoms of osteoporosis.
