Reclast (Zoledronic acid) for Osteoporosis

Overview
Reclast is a prescription drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat and prevent postmenopausal osteoporosis. Reclast is also indicated to increase bone mass in men with osteoporosis and to treat people with osteoporosis induced by glucocorticoid steroids such as prednisone. Reclast may be referred to by its drug name, Zoledronic acid.

Reclast is a bisphosphonate. Bisphosphonates are believed to work in cases of osteoporosis by reducing the activity of osteoclasts, the cells that break down bone.

How do I take it?
Reclast is administered as an intravenous infusion on differing schedules, either once a year or once every two years, according to what type of osteoporosis you have. Ask your doctor whether you need to take daily calcium and vitamin D supplements while on Reclast.

Reclast comes in the form of a ready-to-infuse solution.

Side effects
The FDA-approved label for Reclast lists common side effects including headache, fever, eye inflammation, flu-like symptoms, musculoskeletal pain, nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting.

Rare but serious side effects listed for Reclast include kidney damage, severe gastrointestinal problems, osteonecrosis (death of bone tissue) in the jaw, atypical femoral (upper leg) fractures, fetal harm, and severe bone, muscle, or joint pain.

For more details about this treatment, visit:

Reclast prescribing information - Novartis
https://www.pharma.us.novartis.com/sites/www.ph...?

Bisphosphonates - International Osteoporosis Foundation
https://www.iofbonehealth.org/bisphosphonates