Reclast
(zoledronic acid, Novartis Pharmaceuticals)
A 5-mg formulation of the intravenous bisphosphonate approved for treating postmenopausal osteoporosis, the first osteoporosis treatment administered once a year. Approved earlier this year for Paget disease.
* Recommended Dosage: A 5-mg intravenous infusion given once a year.
* Special Considerations: In a 3-year study of women with postmenopausal osteoporosis, the incidence of serious adverse events was similar among Reclast-treated (29%) and placebo patients (30%). One patient in each group developed symptoms of osteonecrosis of the jaw, which was treated and resolved. Changes in creatinine clearance and ...