Woman Files Lawsuit Over Broken Thigh Bone from Fosamax

A lawsuit has been filed against Merck by a woman from Hawaii who alleges that she suffered a broken thigh bone from Fosamax, claiming that her femur fractured for no reason after prolonged use of the osteoporosis drug. 

The Fosamax fracture lawsuit was filed by Lois Takamori, 62, of Kailua, in federal court in Hawaii. It is one of growing number of complaints filed in courts throughout the United States that allege Merck failed to warn consumers that long-term use of the drug, designed to strengthen bones, could cause the femur to break unexpectedly.

Takamori began taking Fosamax (alendronate sodium) in 2001 after being diagnosed with osteoporosis. In 2009, she claims that she broke her thigh bone while stepping backwards at a gym.

Considered the strongest bone in the human body, the femur does not normally break without experiencing significant trauma. Takamori now walks with a limp and uses a cane.

The FDA added warnings about the risk of bone fractures from Fosamax and other similar bisphosphonate medications in October 2010, requiring drug makers to warn consumers 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 fracture of the broken thigh bone from Fosamax occurs.

More than 100 people have filed a Fosamax fractured femur lawsuit, alleging that Merck failed to adequately research their medication or provide adequate warnings before they suffered a broken thigh bone. In May, all of the lawsuits filed in federal district courts were consolidated and centralized in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey under Judge Garrett E. Brown, Jr. as part of an MDL, or multidistrict ligitation.