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Frequently Asked Questions
Get in the know with the most frequently asked questions about osteoporosis and Reclast — the only FDA-approved, once-yearly treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosis.
Q. Why are bones important?
A. Bones are important. They give us our shape, allow muscles to work, protect vital organs, and they provide a bank of calcium for the body to use when it needs it. If you're a postmenopausal woman, it's important to understand the risk that osteoporosis poses to your bones. So here are some of the answers I give in response to my patients' questions. I hope you'll find them helpful as well.
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Q. How does one dose of Reclast work for a full year?
A. One annual 15-minute intravenous treatment of prescription Reclast travels through your bloodstream, with the majority going to the bones. Reclast has been proven to bind to bones and stay where it's needed to help provide yearlong protection from fractures. The rest of the drug leaves the body within days of treatment. Of course, only you and your doctor can decide if Reclast is right for you.
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Q. Is Reclast proven to work?
A. The bone protection 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 density and to reduce the risk of hip, spine and other fractures in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.
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Q. If I am already taking an oral osteoporosis treatment, can I receive once-a-year Reclast?
A. Reclast may be used instead of other prescription osteoporosis medications. Ask your doctor if Reclast is right for you.
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Q. If I have kidney problems, can I take Reclast?
A. If you have kidney problems, Reclast may not be right for you. Talk to your doctor.
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Q. Have jawbone problems been reported with Reclast?
A. Tell your doctor if you have dental problems or are planning dental surgery, because rarely, jawbone problems have been reported.
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Q. Will my insurance pay for Reclast?
A. Reclast is covered by Medicare and most other health plans. Check with your insurance company for coverage information. If you don't have prescription coverage and can't afford your medicines, call 1-800-245-5356, or, log on to pap.novartis.com.
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Q. What is postmenopausal osteoporosis?
A. Osteoporosis is a condition that thins and weakens bones, putting women at risk for fractures. Postmenopausal osteoporosis is caused by bone loss that women experience after menopause.
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Q. Does postmenopausal osteoporosis run in families?
A. Yes, osteoporosis and susceptibility to bone fracture may be hereditary. Research by the World Health Organization has shown that we are at increased risk for having fractures if one of our parents had a hip fracture.
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Q. What are the most common osteoporosis symptoms?
A. Since you can't really feel your bones getting weaker, there are no real symptoms of osteoporosis in its early stages. Once osteoporosis is advanced, however, the bones become so fragile that they begin to break, which can cause pain. When the bones of the spine break, or collapse, you will lose height and may develop a curve in your back, sometimes called a dowager's hump.
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Q. Can you have postmenopausal osteoporosis and no symptoms?
A. Yes, in fact, osteoporosis is sometimes called "the silent thief." It quietly robs your bone strength over time, and it's something you won't feel until bones are so weak that they begin to break.
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Q. Is there a test to find out if I have postmenopausal osteoporosis?
A. A bone density test, which determines your actual bone mass, is the best way to identify osteoporosis, determine your risk for fractures, and monitor your response to an osteoporosis treatment. The most widely recognized bone density test is called a DEXA test. It is painless and it measures bone density at your hip and spine, two of the most common sites of fractures.
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Q. How often should I be tested for osteoporosis?
A. If you're being treated for osteoporosis, your doctor may order a follow-up bone density test to see how you're doing. A follow-up test may be done about 2 years after the first one.
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Q. Why is it important to treat postmenopausal osteoporosis?
A. This is something every woman past menopause should know: if you have osteoporosis, it's important to get treated, to increase your bone density, and help protect yourself from fractures.
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