A natural result of the aging process is a weakening of our bones. When this happens to you, your doctor might prescribe any of a number of drugs to strengthen your bones. “Bisphosphonates” is a catchall term for a group of drugs that are very popular with patients and their doctors. However, it has recently become apparent that bisphosphonates can cause serious health problems. If you’ve suffered as a result of your prescribed use of bisphosphonates, you should speak to the defective product lawyers at McWhirter, Bellinger and Associates, P.A., about pursuing justice and compensation.

The Dangers of Bisphosphonates

In younger people, the body quickly and efficiently replaces any lost bone material. This replacement process tends to break down if you’re older, however. Bisphosphonates essentially serve two functions: they stop the loss of bone material and replenish some of the recently lost bone. Ironically, however, it appears that bisphosphonates can cause significant bone loss in long-term users, especially women.

An FDA study released in 2012 found that long-term bisphosphonates usage (specifically usage longer than three to five years) was of little benefit to most patients. If you are at a relatively low or moderate risk of these conditions, such usage might be dangerous.

That’s because long-term bisphosphonates usage has been linked to:

  • Thigh fractures
  • Esophageal cancer
  • Crumbling and death of jaw tissue

Because “bisphosphonates” is a general term, you should be on the lookout for a wide variety of drugs. Those include:

  • Fosamax
  • Actonel
  • Altevia
  • Boniva
  • Reclast
  • Zometa

Our Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help

Our capable personal injury lawyers have years of experience with the medical system and can evaluate whether or not you have a claim.

If you’ve taken any of these drugs and you’ve suffered one of the significant medical problems listed above, you should speak to one of our defective product lawyers. Personal injury law is complicated, especially when drugs are involved. We can walk you through your claim.

If you were prescribed bisphosphonates to treat osteoporosis or other bone-related issues and you’ve suffered as a result, you need an experienced injury lawyer to pursue your case. Please contact McWhirter, Bellinger and Associates today for a free consultation. We serve clients in Camden, Sumter, Lexington, Newberry, Orangeburg, Columbia, and Aiken, South Carolina.