Fosamax - osteoporosis treatment

[nurse x]

I've been on didracal and now fosamax for about 4-5 years now. Today I heard from another patient that her doctor told her that taking fosamax over longer period shrinks the jawbone irreversibly. Is this true? I think I'd prefer to have brittle bones than not to have a jawbone![?]

nurse x

[pharmd06]

this side effect is more likely to be seen in patients getting IV bisphosphonates for cancer related problems. the side effect itself is rare. what occurs is know as osteonecrosis, meaning bone death. it occurs only after an invasive procedure such as tooth extraction. after damage is done the bone does not heal, it dies. if you get the 70mg fosamax, it is in the information inside the package.


http://www.aofoundation.org/portal/A...te_induced.pdf