Warning for Surgery Patients Taking Fosamax

Warning for Surgery Patients Taking FosamaxIf you are scheduling an upcoming surgical procedure, be sure that all of the healthcare professionals involved are aware of any prescription medications, over-the-counter (OTC) medications and even herbs or home remedies that you are currently taking. This is especially true if you are taking the prescription Fosamax® (alendronate) or another drug in the bisphosphonate family. If not stopped at least three months prior to surgery, you are at risk for developing osteonecrosis—literally bone death. For oral surgery patients, most cases reported occurred after a dental extraction; however, it can also occur spontaneously and may be associated with pain at the site. Learn more in “Fosamax® and Surgery.”