Because your bones are important. They give you your shape, protect vital organs and store calcium for your body to use when you need it. And your bones work together with your muscles for movement. If you have osteoporosis, it puts you at risk of having broken bones.

Osteoporosis causes one in two women over the age of 50 to suffer a broken bone in her remaining lifetime. But one annual dose of Reclast, along with daily calcium and Vitamin D, helps to increase bone density and strengthen your bones.

Reclast is a bisphosphonate like Fosamax,^® Actonel,^® and Boniva,^® but those medications are pills that you have to take every week or month. Reclast is an infusion and is the only FDA-approved treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosis that works in just one dose a year.

Unlike pills, Reclast goes through your bloodstream to your bones. Because it bypasses your stomach, Reclast is not associated with stomach irritation.

You won't have to wait to eat, or remain upright for a half hour or more. The majority of the Reclast medication binds to your bones, making them stronger. The rest of the medication that is not bound to the bones leaves your body within days of treatment.

Watch Barb, an actual Reclast patient who changed from an oral osteoporosis medication. She shares her reasons in our video, Barb's Story.

Fosamax is a registered trademark of Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc. Actonel is a registered trademark of Warner Chilcott Company, LLC. Boniva is a registered trademark of Roche Therapeutics Inc.

Reclast, along with daily calcium and Vitamin D, strengthen bones by helping to increase bone density. You receive Reclast through an IV, so it bypasses your stomach and goes into your bloodstream. Because it bypasses your stomach, Reclast is not associated with stomach irritation. The majority of the medicine binds to your bones, fortifying them and making them stronger for an entire year.

The remaining Reclast medication, that's not bound to the bones, leaves your body within days of treatment. Because Reclast bypasses your stomach, you won't have to wait to eat, or remain upright for a half hour or more. Your infusion will take at least 15 minutes, and during that time you can read, listen to music - whatever makes you feel comfortable.

Watch doctors who treat osteoporosis explain how Reclast works.

Reclast is given through a small needle inserted into one of your veins. Your doctor may arrange for you to receive your infusion in his office, or you'll be referred to an infusion center. Your infusion will be administered by a doctor or a nurse.

With Reclast, you can and should eat normally on treatment day. You should also drink two glasses of liquid (preferably water) within a few hours before your treatment. This is important to help prevent kidney problems. Your infusion will take at least 15 minutes. During that time, you can read, listen to music – whatever makes you feel comfortable.

The benefits of a Reclast infusion last for an entire year. Most common side effects don't. These include flu-like symptoms, fever, muscle or joint pain, headache, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Most occur within 1-3 days of treatment and typically subside within 14 days. After a second Reclast treatment, side effects are much less common.

Watch Barb prepare for her Reclast infusion in our video, Preparing for the Infusion.

The efficacy of Reclast has been proven in a clinical trial with more than 7,700 patients over 3 years. In this study, Reclast was found to increase bone mineral density in the spine by 6.7% and hip by 6.0%, compared to placebo. It was also found to reduce the risk of hip, spine and other fractures in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis. Since it became available in 2007, to date, over one million infusions have been delivered worldwide.

Watch doctors who treat osteoporosis discuss the proven effectiveness of Reclast for osteoporosis.

Reclast may be used instead of other prescription osteoporosis medications. With Reclast, it's possible to significantly increase your bone mass without taking weekly or monthly osteoporosis pills. If you're taking an oral osteoporosis medication, ask your doctor if a once-yearly Reclast infusion is right for you.

Watch Barb, an actual Reclast patient who changed from an oral osteoporosis medication. She explains why in our video, Barb's Story.

If you have kidney problems, Reclast may not be right for you. Talk to your doctor about your kidney problems and osteoporosis risks to determine whether you're able to receive Reclast, or if another treatment option may be right for you.

Jaw bone problems have been reported in patients being treated with Reclast. Always tell your doctor if you have dental problems or are planning dental surgery.

The average cost of a Reclast treatment is under $60, if you've already paid your yearly deductible. That's less than the annual cost of other osteoporosis drugs - including generics. Of course, you should check with your insurance provider since each plan is different. Also, be sure to ask your doctor if you qualify for the Reclast rebate that can make your cost even less. As an infused medication, Reclast is covered under Medicare Part B and has no effect on the donut hole associated with Medicare Part D.

Postmenopausal osteoporosis is a condition that many women experience. It results when your bone mass decreases, causing a loss of bone density. So bones become weak, and are more likely to break. The condition is often called a "silent disease" because often there are no osteoporosis symptoms until a bone breaks.

Watch actual doctors explain osteoporosis causes in our video, What are the risk factors for osteoporosis?

Heredity can be a contributing factor to osteoporosis. If members of your family have had osteoporosis, there's a higher likelihood that you'll have it, too.

Because you can't really feel your bones getting weaker, there aren't any osteoporosis symptoms. That's why it's often called a "silent disease." Unless they see a doctor for a bone density scan, many women don't know they have osteoporosis until they suffer a broken bone.

Learn more about osteoporosis symptoms from actual doctors in our video, What is a Bone Density Test?

Any woman who has gone through menopause may be at risk for osteoporosis. After menopause, your body produces less estrogen, the female hormone that helps to maintain bone health. Osteoporosis causes some women to lose up to 20% of their bone mass in the first five to seven years after menopause, increasing the risk of experiencing a broken bone.

Only your doctor can determine whether you have osteoporosis. But here are some additional risk factors for developing osteoporosis:

• Having a family history of osteoporosis
• Having a broken bone as an adult
• Having early menopause (before age 45)
• Having a small or thin frame
• Being Caucasian, Asian or Latino
• Taking steroid-type medications
• Not getting much calcium through diet or supplements
• Not being physically active
• Smoking cigarettes
• Consuming 3 or more alcoholic beverages a day

Learn more about risk factors for osteoporosis in our video, What are the Risk Factors for Osteopososis?

A bone mineral density (BMD) test can determine your actual bone mass. It's the best way to identify osteoporosis, determine your risk for fractures and monitor how you're doing with your osteoporosis treatment. The most widely recognized bone density test is called a densitometry scan (DXA). It's painless and measures bone density at your hip and spine, two of the most common sites of fractures.

The efficacy of Reclast has been proven in a clinical trial with more than 7,700 patients over 3 years. In this study, Reclast was found to increase bone mineral density in the spine by 6.7% and hip by 6.0%, compared to placebo. It was also found to reduce the risk of hip, spine and other fractures in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis. Since it became available in 2007, to date, over one million infusions have been delivered worldwide.

Learn more about bone density testing from actual doctors who treat osteoporosis. They explain how they diagnose osteoporosis in our video, What is a Bone Density Test?

If you're being treated for osteoporosis, your doctor may order a follow-up bone density test to see how you're doing. Your follow-up test may be done about two years after your first one.

Learn more about bone density testing from actual doctors who treat osteoporosis. They explain how they diagnose osteoporosis in our video, What is a Bone Density Test?

Osteopenia is a condition that results when your bone mass decreases, but the loss isn't severe enough for an osteoporosis diagnosis.

Treating osteopenia can help prevent osteoporosis. Reclast is FDA approved to treat osteopenia. In studies, postmenopausal women who were treated with a single Reclast infusion once every two years (along with daily calcium and Vitamin D) actually increased their bone mass.

If you have been diagnosed with osteopenia, talk to your doctor about your osteoporosis risks and to see if Reclast is right for you.

Learn more about Reclast, osteopenia and osteoporosis risks from Ariadne and Boni. They share how they're staying strong with Reclast in our video, Ariadne's Story.

Reclast is approved by the FDA to treat osteopenia, in order to help prevent osteoporosis. You may have a Reclast treatment once every two years to help prevent bone loss. If you have osteopenia, talk to your doctor about your osteoporosis risks and to find out if Reclast is right for you.

Learn more about Reclast, osteopenia and osteoporosis risks from Ariadne and Boni. They share how they're staying strong with Reclast in our video, Ariadne's Story.