Post Tags
Helpful Links
- ADI of Iowa
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
- Blue Zones
- Bone Density / Vertebral Fracture Assessment
- Cedar Valley Bone Health Institute of Iowa
- CVBoneHealth
- International Osteoporosis Foundation
- International Society for Clinical Densitometry
- National Osteoporosis Foundation
- Own the Bone
- USDA Listing of Nutrients in Food
Pharmaceutical Industry Websites
Pharmaceutical Industry Websites
Archives
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- September 2019
- August 2019
- June 2019
- February 2019
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- July 2016
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
The IV Bisphosphonates are IV Boniva, Reclast and Zometa. Reclast and Zometa are actually the same drug in different doses for different purposes. Reclast is the one used for Osteoporosis. These are all given by a shot into a vein (IV).
IV Bisphosphonates were developed to be less irritating and to be more reliable than Oral Bisphosphonates. They completely avoid the esophagus and stomach, so heartburn and reflux disease are not an issue. They also avoid the possibility of poor absorption from the stomach. If you take an IV Bisphosphonate, you know that you have the medicine on board and that you are protecting your bones.
IV Boniva is given every 3 months. It is 3 times as much drug as the oral Boniva dose. Reclast is given once every year. It is 12 times as much drug as a monthly dose. These higher doses mean that you must have normal kidney function for these drugs to be safe.
A blood test called Creatinine is used to calculate kidney function or “GFR”. The GFR (Glomerular Filtration Rate) depends on patient size as well as the Creatinine blood test, especially in older individuals. An alternate method involves collecting all of your urine for 24 hours.
Reclast requires a GFR of at least 35. IV Boniva requires a GFR of at least 30. As long as your kidneys are functioning this well, the drugs are safe. Many individuals over 90 and some who are younger no longer have kidney function this good. They may not be able to use IV bisphosphonates. They may need to consider Prolia.
Remember that none of these medications can work without enough Calcium and Vitamin D.
Also IV Boniva, Reclast and Prolia can be dangerous without enough Calcium and Vitamin D.
Jay Ginther, MD
2008 / Revised April 2011