By Ranjan Bhaduri
Mar 12, (THAINDIAN NEWS) Fosamax, a drug that is widely used to treat the victims of the ailment osteoporosis has come under the scanner of FDA after new findings have suggested that prolonged usage of the product can actually make the bones brittle. The new findings has created a sensation in the medical community as the drug has been used for quite a long time in a lot of countries. Women who take the drug for a period of 5 years are susceptible to the danger, according to doctors. The drug started selling in huge numbers almost two decades back when the doctors started prescribing it not only for treatment of osteoporosis but also for its prevention.

A number of doctors have reported that women patients who have been taking the product for more than 5 years have suffered spontaneous breakage in their femur. Fosamax got the approval of FDA in 1995. It reportedly improves bone density in the users. ABC News aired a report on the side effects of the drug two days back which has put it in focus once again. The doctors are worried as the fractures are happening to patients who are involved in doing normal exercises. Such fractures have been termed unusual by the doctors as the femur is a strong bone in human body.

The manufacturer of Fosamax, Merck, is of the opinion that in spite of the few reported cases there is no strong scientific evidence that the users of the drug are susceptible to fracture in bones. FDA has revealed that it will probe into the matter further.