According to a study published in the Journal of Orthopedic Trauma, Fosamax and other bisphosphonates that are taken over long-periods of time may cause patients to be at risk for stress fractures.

Bisphosphonates are prescription drugs used to increase bone density, but according to Dr. Dean G. Lorich and Dr. Joseph M. Lane, they may eventually suppress the ability of bones to heal after a stress injury.

The study focused on 70 patients. There were 25 patients who had been taking Fosamax for a minimum of five years. Of the patients taking Fosamax, 19 had a femoral stress fracture. Of the patients that were not taking Fosamax, only one patient presented with a stress fracture.

While further research is necessary, the doctors recommend that physicians should monitor the bone regeneration of patients who are taking bisphosphonates for a long period of time.

Defective drug attorneys are working to help those who have become ill or who have suffered injury due to defective prescription medication.

On June 27, 2008, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department in Florida will conduct an event called Operation Medicine Cabinet. The program is aimed to safely dispose of unused prescription medication.

The purpose of the program is to help prevent accidental medication errors as well as promote proper disposal of prescription medication. Improperly disposed medication has been found to have an effect on the environment.

If a medication has been flushed down the toilet, or put down a drain, it may not be filtered out at a water treatment plant. Because of this, marine life has begun to test positive for medication toxicity in some parts of the country.

In the program, all medication that is turned in will be incinerated.

Defective drug attorneys are working to help those who have become seriously ill due to defective medication and medication errors.

Diacetyl naturally occurs in butter, beer, coffee, vinegar, and other food products.  It is also used as an artificial flavoring in snack foods, syrups, processed cheese, icings, salad dressings, and particularly in microwave popcorn.  Diacetyl is used to give over 6,000 products a buttery flavor.

This “flavor” is the cause of bronchiolitis obliterans, commonly known as popcorn workers lung.  Once the chemical is inhaled, it damages the airway lining and tissue, leading to scarring that hardens and crimps airflow.  The only cure for the disease is a lung transplant.

Popcorn workers lung is a very rare disease, and it was thought to be limited to people working in the flavorings industry. But this past July, the FDA was informed that a patient who had consumed two bags of microwave popcorn per day over a 15 year period had been diagnosed with Popcorn Workers Lung. This was the first such report of the disease in a consumer, and the FDA is currently investigating the incident.

The FDA has maintained that it has no jurisdiction to evaluate hazards posed by breathing vapors from food additives. It was only this year that OSHA started to investigate diacetyl exposure in snack food industry workers, and that agency is expected to look into setting standards for workers next month. 

Some manufacturers have already begun discontinuing the use of diacetyl in their products.  These manufacturers include ConAgra, General Mills (Pop Secret), and American Pop Corn Co. (Jolly Time).

If you or a loved one has been harmed by a dangerous drug or product, contact the attorneys at Cappolino Dodd Krebs LLP today, at 1-800-460-0606.