Aclasta: Zolendronic acid for Osteoporosis

Aclasta is a form of zoledronic acid. Like Reclast and Zometa, which are also forms of zolendronic acid, this drug is given once a year by infusion. This means that you go to your health care provider's office and you get a single annual treatment for Osteoporis.

That is it. No daily or weekly pills. Nothing to remember except your annual appointment. And that is the main advantage of Aclast, Reclast and Zometa.

The drug is manufactured by Novartis, one of the largest

Aclasta is claimed to be the only treatment demonstrated to reduce fractures at all these key sites.

In May 2007 New England Journal of Medicine stated that in a study involving more than 7,700 women showed that treatment with this drug reduced the risk of spine fractures by 70% and hip fractures by 41%.

The reduction in spine fractures for the three years of the study was as follows:

• 60% in year one
• 71% in year two
• 70% in year three

Those are significant numbers - especially when we consider that there is a high mortality rate in the year following a hip fracture.

A spokesperson for Novatis said of this drug: "(It) has shown significant efficacy in protecting women against fractures in

Novartis says that the drug:

• " is indicated for treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. In patients with a recent low-trauma hip fracture," It "reduces the incidence of new clinical fractures".>/li>

• "is indicated for treatment of osteoporosis in men at increased risk of fracture, including those with a recent low-trauma hip fracture."
• " is indicated for treatment of osteoporosis associated with long-term systemic glucocorticoid therapy in postmenopausal women and in men with increased risk of fracture"
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• and finally, "Aclasta is indicated for the treatment of Paget's disease of the bone."

Many in the health care industry believe that once a year infusions will be an effective remedy for the main problem with daily, weekly or monthly medications. Studies show that people just stop taking their daily, weekly and monthly medications for Osteopenia and Osteoporosis. (This failure to take one's medication called 'non-compliance' in the medical community)

Side effects Since the drug is sold under various names in different countries, the same side effects would apply to it as apply to the drug under its other name, Reclast. In fact, if you live in the United States, the Novartis site directsyour to the page about Reclast.

If you want to know the potential side effect of this drug, go to this web page and just scroll down to Aclasta, Reclast Side Effects

Click here to read about other Osteopenia and Osteoporosis medications

If you are interested in reading about some natural treatments to build stronger bones, click on Natural Osteopenia, Osteoporosis Treatments

In particular you may want to read the research about natural supplements of Strontium for stronger bones