Claris Law Legal Blogging Community

Editor: Tim O'Brien
Profession: Attorney at Law

Category: Fosamax News

Because treatment can be beneficial, everyone is keeping a close eye on the rate of ONJ related to drug treatment.
About 1,600 bisphosphonate-related ONJ cases have been reported to the FDA as of Oct. 28, said the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.

The condition is rare. Between 6 percent and 8 percent of those taking bisphosphonates intravenously develop ONJ at the current dosages, doctors estimated. The damage from ONJ is permanent for these intravenous bisphosphonate users.

"The damage is so severe, the bone does not recover," one doctor said.

Bisphosphonate-induced ONJ is even more uncommon for those taking the medicine orally, such as with Fosamax. One oral surgeon has estimated the frequency at .05 percent to 0.005 percent.