Actonel Lawsuit and Side
Effect Information

Actonel - Drug Overview

Actonel (Risedronate Sodium) is made by Proctor & Gamble and was approved for use in the US by the Food and Drug Administration in March of 1998. Its primary function is treating postmenopausal osteoporosis (bone loss) and belongs to a family of drugs called bisphosphonates. It is also used to treat Paget's disease and sometimes osteoporosis caused by steroid medications.

You'll find Aredia, Zometa and Fosamax in the same group of medications. All drugs in this classification have similar side effects. This class of drugs is normally used in a pill form to prevent and treat osteoporois in men and women.

Actonel and its relatives are extremely popular osteoporosis drugs, so popular that over 36 million women are currently using it to prevent or slow the process down. The numbers have risen dramatically since hormone replacement therapy was taken off the market (after it was discovered HRT increases the risk of heart disease and breast cancer). This also means women are taking Actonel at an earlier age.

Actonel works by increasing the amount of bone available to the body by slowing down replacement of old bone. The problem is the body can't replace poor quality bone that may have fractures or doesn't have healthy living bone cells left.

Actonel Problems & History of Legal Action

Actonel and its drug companions cause something called Dead Jaw (a.k.a. osteonecrosis of the jaw). When Actonel was first introduced six years ago, no one knew about the connection between taking bisphosphonates and Dead Jaw. However in 2004, this information was published in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.

Once the connection was understood, the US Food and Drug Administation and Proctor & Gamble went public with a warning about this Actonel side effect. Since then hundreds of people have filed an Actonel lawsuit.

Avoid tooth extractions or other major dental work if you are taking these drugs. Osteonecrosis of the jaw means jaw bone tissue won't heal after a tooth extraction that leaves the bone exposed, leaving it open to infections and possible fracture. This may lead to long-term usage of antibiotics or surgical removal of the dying bone tissue.

The usual signs of Dead Jaw are swelling or infection in the gums, gums that are slow to heal, pain, loose teeth, numbness/heaviness in the jaw, exposed bone and drainage. Other Actonel side effects include severe back, bone or joint pain, stomach pain or upset and constipation. If you have experienced an Actonel side effect, contact an attorney to discuss filing an Actonel lawsuit.

Lawsuits of note against Proctor & Gamble have been and are for:

* Pfizer (false, misleading advertising about Listerine vs. Crest Pro Health toothpaste. Proctor & Gamble paid dentists for their opinion.)
* Amway (accused of Satanism, suit filed under Lanham Act that prohibits unfair competition and false advertising)
* Potlach Corp. (head hunting employees)
* Kraft (patent infringement for plastic coffee cups)
* Playtex (false advertising about Tampex Pearl tampons being superior to Playtex)
* Colgate (false advertising about tooth whitening strips)
* Civil suit (Clairol Nice n' Easy that hair dye made people's hair fall out and caused chemical burns to scalp)
* Securities Class Action (on behalf of all common stockholders of Proctor & Gamble for false and misleading advertising making statements about their future prospects and financial growth)

Current Status of Actonel Lawsuits

Actonel remains a popular drug with physicians in the US and worldwide. As of yet there is no other osteoporosis drug alternative on the horizon. Licensed in over 70 countries, Actonel continues to lead the pack in terms of doing its job. However, the Actonel side effect of Dead Jaw is causing a great deal of concern.

Despite Proctor & Gamble's somewhat tarnished legal track record, they continue to actively market this major seller to an aging population. They did act responsibly in correctly labeling Actonel when the side effect of Dead Jaw was brought to light.

There are hundreds of attorneys across the United States asking for people who have had a bad experience with Actonel side effects to contact them for an assessment of their claim. Even if you just started taking this drug, if you've experienced negative side effects speak to a lawyer about the possibility of filing an Actonel lawsuit.




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