May 7, 2007 By

Once Yearly Osteoporosis Drug

Here’s more on the once yearly osteoporosis treatment. The drug is Zometa (zoledronic acid), marketed by Novartis and is sometimes referred to as Vitamin Z. It is given once a year intravenously by an office procedure taking only a few minutes. Side-effects are reported to be minimal but may include transient decrease in kidney function. In a three year study the effect of the drug was at least as good if not better than that seen with the oral medications such as Fosomax and Actonel. Fracture of the spine was reduced by 70% whereas the oral medications only achieve a 50% reduction.

One possible drawback was the occurrence of a non-fatal heart arrythmia which was more common with Vitamin Z than with placebo (the dummy medicine).

Don’t expect to find Vitamin Z in the pharmacy any time soon. It hasn’t been approved by the FDA for routine use in treatment of osteoporosis. Rumor has it that a yearly dose will cost around $1000, not including the doctor’s charge for giving it intravenously.

Only you and your doctor can decide the best treatment for you. Consult your physician before initiating any treatment program.

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