Zoledronic acid
Also called: Reclast, zoledronate, Zometa, yearly bone infusion
What it means
Zoledronic acid is a bisphosphonate drug given as a once-yearly IV infusion to slow bone breakdown and reduce fracture risk in osteoporosis.
This yearly infusion can help protect your bones from fractures by slowing down the bone-thinning process, especially if daily pills aren't practical for you.
Zoledronic acid is a bisphosphonate medication given as a yearly IV infusion. Brand names include Reclast (for osteoporosis) and Zometa (used in cancer-related bone disease at different doses). It attaches to bone mineral and is taken up by osteoclasts, the cells that break down bone, interfering with their ability to resorb it. This slows the bone remodeling cycle and helps preserve bone density.
Large clinical trials have shown that zoledronic acid reduces the risk of vertebral and hip fractures in people with osteoporosis. Because it's given once a year by infusion, it avoids the stomach irritation sometimes seen with oral bisphosphonates like alendronate or risedronate, though it can cause a short-lived flu-like reaction after the first dose. Kidney function is usually checked before each infusion.
As with other bisphosphonates, long-term use is linked to rare risks like osteonecrosis of the jaw and atypical femoral fracture, especially with many years of continuous use. Because the drug stays in bone for a long time, doctors sometimes discuss a 'drug holiday' after a few years of treatment. Whether to start, continue, or pause zoledronic acid is a decision to make with your prescriber, based on your fracture risk and health history.
How sure is this?
Graded Strong Clinical Evidence: Supported by multiple well-designed clinical studies in humans. Read each study with its grade in mind. One study is a piece of the picture, not the whole of it.
A once-yearly IV infusion can slow bone thinning and lower fracture risk when daily pills aren't practical.
Where this leads
WordZoledronic acid is one type of bisphosphonate. Curious how this whole drug class works to help bone-building catch up?
Where the Academy teaches it
This page is the short version. The lessons teach it in full, with the context around it and a quiz to lock it in.
Related words
Bisphosphonates are osteoporosis medications — like alendronate, risedronate, and zoledronic acid — that slow down…
Alendronate is a bisphosphonate pill (brand names Fosamax, Binosto) used to treat osteoporosis. It slows down bone…
Risedronate is an oral bisphosphonate medication (sold as Actonel or Atelvia) used to treat osteoporosis. It slows…
Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) is a rare condition where part of the jawbone loses blood supply and fails to heal,…
An atypical femoral fracture is an uncommon break in the shaft of the thigh bone that looks and behaves differently…
A drug holiday is a temporary, prescriber-guided pause from a bisphosphonate medication after several years of use,…
Education only, not medical advice. Decisions about tests, medications and treatment belong with your own doctor. OsteoStrong does not diagnose, treat or cure any disease.
