While the drug company Merck has made billions of dollars from selling its product Fosamax, people taking this medication for osteoporosis may have unwittingly put themselves at a higher risk for an uncommon type of leg or hip fracture.

In fact, Food and Drug Administration officials issued in January 2011  new warnings about uncommon femur fractures in patients taking all bisphosphonates, including: Actonel, Atelvia, Boniva and Reclast, to treat osteoporosis. 

What makes these femur fractures more suspicious is that they usually account for less than one percent of all hip and femur fractures in the overall population. 

FDA authorities are now urging doctors to examine their patients taking these drugs for fractures if they have any new thigh or groin pain. It could be a dull pain or aching that persists for weeks or months before a fracture occurs.

FDA officials released a video on YouTube that says doctors should question whether their patients should be taking Fosamax or other bisphosphonates for more than five years. It's uncertain how long people can benefit from taking these types of medications. 

Source: Food and Drug Administration; Wall Street Journal