Lawsuit Filed Over Femur Fracture From Fosamax and Boniva Use
An Alabama woman is suing the makers of Fosamax and Boniva, alleging that the osteoporosis drugs caused her to suffer femur fractures and other bone problems.
The complaint was filed by Ruth R. Plato and her husband, Reynold, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama in late January, naming Merck, GlaxoSmithKline and Roche as defendants.
According to the femur fracture lawsuit, Plato took Fosamax and Boniva for years believing they would help prevent osteoporosis. Instead she says they caused her to suffer low trauma femur fractures and bone brittleness.
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Learn MoreFosamax and Boniva are two different medications that are part of the same class of drugs, known as bisphosphonates, which are designed to prevent loss of bone made and treat postmenopausal osteoporosis. However, long-term use of bisphosphonate medications have been linked to an increased risk of atypical femur fractures, which often occur with little or no trauma at all.
The complaint alleges that the drug makers failed to conduct proper post-marketing surveillance about the risk of femur fractures from Fosamax, Boniva and other oral bisphosphonate medications.
In October 2010, the FDA required new warnings about the risk of bone fractures from Fosamax and other bisphosphonate medications. As a result, consumers are now warned that they should seek immediate medical attention if they experience new groin pain or thigh pain while taking the drug, which can occur weeks or months before a complete thigh bone fracture may occur.
Merck currently faces a number of Fosamax femur fracture lawsuits, which have been centralized in federal court for pretrial proceedings as part of an MDL, or multidistrict litigation, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.
Plato’s case is likely to be transferred to that MDL, as the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation indicated earlier this month that lawsuits involving the use of both Fosamax and Boniva, or Fosamax and Reclast, another bisphosphonate, will be consolidated with complaints filed by individuals who were only taking Fosamax.
Fosamax (alendronate sodium) is the most commonly used bisphosphonate medication in the United States, which was introduced by Merck in 1995. The medication generated over $3 billion in annual sales before it became available as a generic in 2008.
Boniva (ibandronate sodium), which is manufactured by Roche, was approved in 2005 as a once-monthly treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis, generating sales of approximately $975 million in 2010.
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8 Comments
NancyMarch 6, 2024 at 4:04 pm
I took Boniva for 5 years. I had a femur break in 2022 and the other femur broke in 2023. I have rods in both legs and I still have considerable pain. I have trouble walking and have been told it will never be the same. I was just standing in my kitchen and it snapped. I would really like to join a class action suit or have an individual attorney help me file a lawsuit. Please contact me if [Show More]I took Boniva for 5 years. I had a femur break in 2022 and the other femur broke in 2023. I have rods in both legs and I still have considerable pain. I have trouble walking and have been told it will never be the same. I was just standing in my kitchen and it snapped. I would really like to join a class action suit or have an individual attorney help me file a lawsuit. Please contact me if you can offer any advice for me.. Thank you so much.
SusanJanuary 24, 2024 at 2:40 pm
I wish to have this comment read by a lawyer. After taking Boniva for 10 years, I was informed by my dentist, ( last week Jan10, 2024) that I have osteonecrosis. This is a very serious side effect from taking Boniva. I was given an antibiotic mouth wash. The dentist wants to see me in a month.
TimothyJanuary 24, 2024 at 2:31 pm
I’ve been taking Boniva for 10 years to help osteoporosis. Just recently while at the dentist I was told I have osteonecrosis. This is a serious side effect from taking Boniva. I was given an antibiotic mouthwash and the dentist wants to see me in a month. I would like to file a claim against Merck the manufacturer of this drug. Today is Jan. 24, 2024. I just picked up a refill before knowing ab[Show More]I’ve been taking Boniva for 10 years to help osteoporosis. Just recently while at the dentist I was told I have osteonecrosis. This is a serious side effect from taking Boniva. I was given an antibiotic mouthwash and the dentist wants to see me in a month. I would like to file a claim against Merck the manufacturer of this drug. Today is Jan. 24, 2024. I just picked up a refill before knowing about this diagnosis from the dentist on Jan. 12th. This indicates that the drug is still being prescribed. Please guide us in how to take the first step in filing this claim. Thank you,
LouellaSeptember 29, 2023 at 1:51 am
I started taking Boniva in 2019. Subsequent to a fall In April of this year (2023), my teeth became loose. A panoramic and CT scan revealed that I had suffered osteonecrosis, necessitating the extraction of six good upper front teeth and a bone graft. I now have to wear a dental plate and live in the hope that the bone graft will be successful so that I can have implants. The dental p[Show More]I started taking Boniva in 2019. Subsequent to a fall In April of this year (2023), my teeth became loose. A panoramic and CT scan revealed that I had suffered osteonecrosis, necessitating the extraction of six good upper front teeth and a bone graft. I now have to wear a dental plate and live in the hope that the bone graft will be successful so that I can have implants. The dental plate has considerably hampered what and how I eat, and, to a certain extent, how I live. It is a distressing experience.
JoAugust 10, 2023 at 9:20 am
BONIVA INFUSION: On January 23, 2023 my doctor prescribed a boniva infusion to be administered at the local hospital for bone strengthen. On January 24th at 4a.m. i woke up to excruciating body muscle pain and aches all over. I took an aleve for pain. After several hours it did not help and the pain got worse. As the day went on i became weaker with the loss of strength or any movement. I actuall[Show More]BONIVA INFUSION: On January 23, 2023 my doctor prescribed a boniva infusion to be administered at the local hospital for bone strengthen. On January 24th at 4a.m. i woke up to excruciating body muscle pain and aches all over. I took an aleve for pain. After several hours it did not help and the pain got worse. As the day went on i became weaker with the loss of strength or any movement. I actually became paralyzed and filled with raging of pain throughout my entire body. Later that evening my daughter called ambulance to go to hospital. I told staff what happened and the ran lab work and test. I was there several hours, then released me to pick up pain medicine from drug store at 2am in the morning. This was the same hospital that had given me the bonia infusion. I was incapacitated for several weeks, where i went from an invalid in bed to a wheelchair, a walker, then a cane. My daughters had to sleep in bed with me to turn me from side to side. I was no longer able to get out of bed, had no use of my limbs, muscles. I had become an invalid and wearing diapers. I began to get some normalcy around March 2023. Seem to be still caution and fragile at times when walking or activities. Still a lot of body aches and pain occasional with relief of aleve. Body is not the same as before. I was very upset when i read through my research that Boniva had been taken off market in united states, and i wondered why would they give me this infusion. I felt like an experiment!
VeraFebruary 14, 2023 at 6:54 pm
Recently I found out that several people had a lawsuit against Boniva. I don't know if there is still a chance to get in on it. I started taking Boniva in 2005 and I finally know now what horrible side effects it had on me. This process happened slowly so I never knew or realized what was happening. Besides having problems with kidney stones, abnormal liver counts, the main side effect is what [Show More]Recently I found out that several people had a lawsuit against Boniva. I don't know if there is still a chance to get in on it. I started taking Boniva in 2005 and I finally know now what horrible side effects it had on me. This process happened slowly so I never knew or realized what was happening. Besides having problems with kidney stones, abnormal liver counts, the main side effect is what I know now that it's called Osteonecrosis of the Jaw. If you look at me you will see that there is no bone left in my lower jaw. I look like I have been in a bad accident.
WilliamDecember 14, 2022 at 5:55 pm
I took bisphosphonate medications for at least five or more years. It was suppose to build my bones up. Two years ago I'm standing in a garage and I fell for no reason. I looked down and my right foot was pointing in the opposite direct. My leg bone had a spirel brake. Now it has a medal rod in it and I walk with a walker all the time. Is there a proven connection to bisphosphonate medications? [Show More]I took bisphosphonate medications for at least five or more years. It was suppose to build my bones up. Two years ago I'm standing in a garage and I fell for no reason. I looked down and my right foot was pointing in the opposite direct. My leg bone had a spirel brake. Now it has a medal rod in it and I walk with a walker all the time. Is there a proven connection to bisphosphonate medications? I 'm hearing there may be.
JoanJune 27, 2017 at 9:55 pm
I had femur fractures and had to get rods put in. I never fell. I still am unable to walk without crutches or long trips I need a wheelchair. I taken fozamax boneva actional. And re last. If you call I give you permission to talk to my husband Michael since he remembers more then I do.