Once-a-year Shot For Osteoporosis New

wildflowers · 03-04-2007, 12:14 PM

An experimental treatment for bone-thinning osteoporosis appears to prevent spine and hip fractures even though it is given only once a year, eliminating the need for a strict daily pill regimen, preliminary data show.

Reclast, given as an annual, 15-minute infusion, reduced risk of new spine fractures by 70 percent and of hip fractures by 40 percent, according to data supplied by maker Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. The drug, chemically known as zoledronic acid, also reduced the risk of fractures elsewhere, according to a just-completed, international study of 7,736 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.

Side effects were generally minor and short-lived, said Novartis, of East Hanover, N.J.

The data, from final-stage human testing, was presented Saturday at the annual meeting of the American Society of Bone and Mineral Research in Philadelphia.

"This is very good news," said Dr. Ethel Siris (SEYE' riss), president of the National Osteoporosis Foundation and director of the Osteoporosis Center at Columbia University.

I just read this information and was wondering if anyone else had heard about this new experimental drug, it certainly gives alot of hope, also verifies how competitive the drug companies are in finding new ways to combat osteoporosis. I now understand when I read some of the postings that comment on waiting for a new breakthrough. Many of you probably already know about this but this was my first time reading about it. Once a year injection sounds to good to be true. blessings to all wildflowers

PikaB · 03-04-2007, 02:20 PM

Those results are certainly encouraging.

The bad news: zoledronic acid is a bisphosphonate, so it may cause the same problems as the other bisphosphonates.

taape · 03-04-2007, 03:24 PM

I'm being offered once a year IV infusion of Boniva (bisphosphonate) and this sounds about like about the same thing only by injection. The scary part is imagining getting a year's worth of medication and if side effects do occur your stuck, can't get that much medication out of your system for a year and then there's the half life effect.

wildflowers · 03-04-2007, 07:41 PM

Hi again, I certainly do not want anything to do whatsoever with bisphosphonates, and I certainly do not want medication that would stay( time released) in my body for a year. Oh! my goodness what if you really did have a side effect.
I hear so much about half life, what does that mean exactly? I am in the early stages of getting processed to use forteo. I am waiting for approval from my insurance company.
How long would forteo stay in my system? I do believe I am coming down with a case of new medication jitters.
I am starting physical therapy tomorrow, on my consult it reads modalities as needed, therapeutic exercises and general conditioning, special back programs, back school and body mechanics, back protection. My concern is I hope they go easy on me initially, I have been treated for rotator cuff tear and I also have osteoarthritis, any suggestions to watch out for.
I know as time goes by I will get more comfortable with the unpredictable instead of the predictable , " this too will pass."
Spring is just around the corner and I see evidence of new beginnings and hope everywhere, my favorite time of the year. There is not a thing better on this planet then the fragrance of my lilac bush and the abundance of blossoms. Thank you my friends wildflowers

DesertBloom · 03-04-2007, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildflowers

Hi again, I certainly do not want anything to do whatsoever with bisphosphonates, and I certainly do not want medication that would stay( time released) in my body for a year. Oh! my goodness what if you really did have a side effect.
I hear so much about half life, what does that mean exactly? I am in the early stages of getting processed to use forteo. I am waiting for approval from my insurance company.
How long would forteo stay in my system? I do believe I am coming down with a case of new medication jitters.
I am starting physical therapy tomorrow, on my consult it reads modalities as needed, therapeutic exercises and general conditioning, special back programs, back school and body mechanics, back protection. My concern is I hope they go easy on me initially, I have been treated for rotator cuff tear and I also have osteoarthritis, any suggestions to watch out for.
I know as time goes by I will get more comfortable with the unpredictable instead of the predictable , " this too will pass."
Spring is just around the corner and I see evidence of new beginnings and hope everywhere, my favorite time of the year. There is not a thing better on this planet then the fragrance of my lilac bush and the abundance of blossoms. Thank you my friends wildflowers

Hi: Forteo doesn't stay in your system for more than 1-3 hours, or less and is totally excreted by your kidneys, which is why you have to have daily injections. Don't forget that you paratyroids produce this as well constantly when you stop forteo, and while taking it, since it is a natural essential body mechanisim.

Half life is the amount of time it stays in your body, with forteo is very short, and your parathyroids continue to make it anyway since it is a hormone, which we really need.

Good Luck