Reclast Uses

The primary uses of Reclast include the treatment of Paget's disease of the bone and the treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. The drug works by binding to bone cells, slowing down the rate at which they break down and causing bone to be rebuilt at a more normal rate. Off-label Reclast uses include preventing osteoporosis. The drug is not approved for use in children, based on the results of studies on rats.

 

Uses of Reclast: An Overview

Reclast™ (zoledronic acid) is a prescription drug that belongs to a group of medications known as bisphosphonates. It is approved for the treatment of Paget's disease of the bone. It is also approved as a once-yearly treatment for osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.
 

Reclast for Paget's Disease

Normally, bone is continuously being broken down and rebuilt. Paget's disease of the bone is a condition involving rapid breakdown of bone combined with abnormal re-formation. The abnormally reformed bone is weaker than normal. Symptoms of Paget's disease can include pain and bent or broken bones. Bisphosphonates such as Reclast can help slow down the rate at which bones break down and also help the body to build bone more normally.
 
Not all people with Paget's disease need to be treated with a bisphosphonate. Reclast is recommended for people who:
 
  • Have very high alkaline phosphatase levels (a measure of how severe the disease is)
  • Have symptoms of Paget's disease
  • Are at risk for future complications of Paget's disease.

 

(Reclast Uses Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;