DRUG ADS

It often seems that a predominance of T.V. commercials advertise a drug of one sort or the other. Now it seems that there are almost as many lawyer ads suing the drug makers of drugs that were highly advertised just a short time ago. Yet, some doctors still look at you cross-eyed if you ask too many questions about the drugs they are prescribing or if you seem hesitant to swallow a medicinal cocktail every day. The latest drug lawsuit to catch my attention is for the drug Fosamax.

Fosamax is a drug given especially to the elderly for osteoporosis. It seems that many people who have taken it have suffered “atypical fractures of the femur.” The online version of the lawsuit ad reads in part: “You were prescribed Fosamax to prevent the very issue from which you are now suffering, and you deserve compensation for that injustice.”

The website goes on to cite a couple of medical studies associated with the risk of atypical hip fracture. “The New England Journal of Medicine published a study in May 2011 conducted by Swedish researchers, which found that 77 percent of women who suffered from atypical femur fractures were also taking Fosamax. The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) published an article in February 2011 that found women who take Fosamax for more than five years may face a tripled risk of atypical femur fracture.”

Perhaps someone in your family is taking Fosamax and ought to have a heart-to-heart talk with their doctor before continuing its use. Eileen’s mother took her first dosage of Fosamax earlier this year after wrestling with the precautions and warnings for quite some time. Now she is scheduled for another dose. What is a person with marked osteoporosis to do?

Anyway, it seems that a drug is advertised as the best thing since sliced bread one day; so we are advised to talk to our doctor about taking it. Then soon after we are advised to talk to our attorney!!