CANCER DRUG LINKED TO ROTTING JAWS

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CANCER DRUG LINKED TO ROTTING JAWS Posted By: DrRobinFalkov <Send E-Mail>Thursday, 15 June 2006, 2:02 a.m.

 

Hello Everyone, Playing catch up with medical updates. This one is quite depressing. Be sure to share this information. ACT NOW TO PROTECT YOUR HEALTH FREEDOM RIGHTS! THE LIFE YOU SAVE MAY BE YOUR OWN! Dr. Robin Falkov www.healthfreedomrights.com Cutting Edge Technology www.lifewave.com/drrobinfalkov For You, for Others, for the Planet! http://www.drrobinfalkov.mybpbiz.com N A T I O N A L N E W S S T O R Y Cancer drug linked to rotting jaws 21 May 2006 By DEIDRE MUSSEN Four New Zealanders have suffered rotting jawbones after taking a type of drug commonly prescribed to treat osteoporosis and bone cancers. At least 15 Americans are suing pharmaceutical giant Merck for developing osteonecrosis (breakdown of bone) in the jaw after taking bone-strengthening osteoporosis drug Fosamax. While none of the New Zealand cases are linked to Fosamax, they are from taking the same class of drugs, bisphosphates, to help prevent bone loss. The Medicines Adverse Reactions Committee has noted increasing use of Fosamax meant all doctors, including GPs, needed to be warned about osteonecrosis. Pharmac widened access criteria to Fosamax last year, predicting about 100,000 people would be eligible. On Friday, the Ministry of Health's pharmaceuticals safety arm, Medsafe, put an article on osteonecrosis on its website. It also planned to present a report on the issue to MARC next month. Internationally, about 2500 cases had been reported but only 100 cases were linked to Fosamax. Most are from intravenous use of bisphosphates for cancer patients, like the New Zealand cases. "No medication is risk-free but we need to ensure that the risk is quantified," Auckland's regional oral service clinical director Clive Ross said. Dentists needed to be aware of the risks of treating people taking Fosamax or other bisphosphates. "I think our concerns are also getting experience in managing people who have had something like this happen," he said. Merck already faces a massive legal battle over arthritis drug Vioxx, which it was forced to take off the market in 2004 after a study showed it doubled the risk of heart attacks or strokes if patients took it for longer than 18 months. More than 30 New Zealanders and 500 Australians have joined about 10,000 Americans in a Vioxx class action.......... this story is continued at: http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3675240a11,00.html