It’s hard to believe with all the problems facing Fosamax users that the drug is now recommended for prostrate cancer patients. The reason given is that hormonal therapy for prostate cancer can cause many side effects including bone loss.
The goal of the hormonal therapy is to reduce the levels of the male hormones, called androgens, in the body. The main androgen is testosterone. Androgens can stimulate prostate cells to grow and lowering the levels often makes prostate cancer cells shrink or grow more slowly.
The Annals of Internal Medicine published an article that says Fosamax can prevent and even reverse bone loss associated with hormonal treatment for prostate cancer. A trial was conducted that showed after one year bone density had increased among patients treated with Fosamax but had decreased among patients who received a placebo.
Before taking any drug, be sure weigh the benefits and the risks.
Source: http://www.topcancernews.com/news/760/1/Prostate-cancer-patients-should-use-Fosamax

The problems with FDA and Merck regards Fosamax date back 10 years. For example, in July 1997, (see NDA: 20-560), Merck was advised that its marketing tactics for Fosamax contained false information about osteoporosis and that Merck was overstating the population eligible for therapy with Fosamax.
So it seems that selling the drug was more important than getting the facts right.
DDMAC (FDA’s division for marketing) ordered Merck to stop the dissemination of this false information.

A recent study published in the American Journal of Managed Care (November 2006) revealed that physicians and patients rarely talk about how much prescription medicines will cost. (Read more)

To treat osteoporosis, millions of Americans take oral bisphosphonate drugs, a class of drugs that includes alendronate (Fosamax), ibandronate (Boniva), risedronate (Actonel) and others. Estimates indicate about 20 cases of osteonecrosis may occur in a year in this large group of people.

A recent study of over 33,000 postmenopausal women showed that among patients newly prescribed one of the two most popular osteoporosis treatments, patients taking Actonel (risedronate sodium) were approximately half as likely to
sustain a hip fracture as those taking alendronate (Fosamax) in the first year
of treatment. These Actonel and Fosamax results were published in the peer-reviewed
journal Osteoporosis International.

Jaw Infections/Osteoporosis Drugs
Osteonecrosis is a disease in which the blood supply to the bone is temporarily or permanently cut off leading to a collapse of the bone. Signs include jaw pain, swelling of the soft tissue, infection, drainage, loosening of the teeth and exposed bone. Souce: http://www.wsoctv.com/health/10233525/detail.html

In a letter to the editor in the Washington Post, a reader writes that it’s a travesty to advertise certain drugs on TV especially Boniva and Fosamax based on the problems they present with jawbone death and unknown repercussions of long term use. (Washington Post)

Osteoporosis Drug Boniva Ad Spending Reaches $75 Million
November 1, 2006 06:29
Boniva, jointly marketed by GlaxoSmithKline and Roche, had a 2005 U.S. media spend of $70 million, per Nielsen Monitor-Plus. From January through July of this year, the companies spent $75 million in U.S. media. Earlier this year, Boniva was the subject of… (Read Article)

In the summer of 1995, the FDA approved a class of drugs known as bisphosphonates, the most familiar of which is sold under the brand name Fosamax. Fosamax was hailed as a miracle drug that would work against the degeneration of bone density mass.
Read More: Fosamax May Not Be the Best Way to Treat Osteoporosis

Bisphosphonates include a group of medications that act by destroying the osteoclasts. Side effects can include gastrointestinal problems such as ulcers and abdominal pain. In addition there is a rare occurrence of jaw bone death. Discontinuation of this medication can result in increased bone turnover and a decrease in bone density. (Read More About SIde Effects of Bisphosphonates)