Fosamax, which is in a group of drugs known as biophosphonates, has been found to increase the risk of bone fracture if used for over 5 years.  

"We are seeing people just walking, walking down the steps, patients who are doing low-energy exercise," said Dr. Kenneth Egol, professor of orthopedic surgery at NYU Langone Medical Center. "Very unusual, the femur is one of the strongest bones in the body."  Egol said X-rays of some of his patients look more like an injury endured by a car accident than an otherwise minimal fall.

According to ABC News, sales of Fosamax began to increase when doctors began prescribing it not only to women showing signs of osteoporosis, but also those who were osteopenic, and thus, at risk for the disease. 

 

"In worldwide post-marketing experience with FOSAMAX/FOSAMAX Plus D, rare reports consistent with osteonecrosis of the jaw have been received. Many of these reports lack sufficient clinical details to make definitive assessments and/or are confounded, particularly since a generally accepted definition of ONJ in the general population is unknown," responded Merck in a written response to the suggested link. "Rare cases of ONJ have also been reported in patients who do not have osteoporosis and who have not taken any bisphosphonate medicines."

Also according to ABC News, the FDA reached out to Merck in 2008 about the increased risk for femur fractures.  After 16 months, Merck added patients' reports of femur fractures to the list of possible side effects reported by patients included in the drug's package insert.  In 2008, biophosphonate sales exceeded $3.5 billion, and over 37 million prescriptions were written.