There are a number of medicines used to treat osteoporosis. The most often prescribed type of osteoporosis drug is a bisphosphonate (bis-FOSS-fuh-nate). Bisphosphonates have been prescribed for over a decade. They work by targeting osteoclasts, the cells that break down bone. Bisphosphonates bind to your bones and help prevent bone loss by stopping the osteoclasts.

Reclast is an annual osteoporosis treatment that is given through an IV over at least 15 minutes by a doctor or nurse. It's a bisphosphonate like Fosamax,^® Actonel,^® and Boniva^®. With oral bisphosphonates, only a fraction of the medication gets to the bone with each dose. So you have to take the pills more frequently. With a Reclast infusion, the medication bypasses the stomach and goes through the bloodstream to the bones. So you may significantly increase your bone density and only have to get an infusion once a year. Because it bypasses the stomach, Reclast is not associated with stomach irritation.

Healthy lifestyle choices may also help you prevent bone loss and fractures. After menopause, calcium and Vitamin D are important parts of your diet, so check with your doctor to find out what they recommend on a daily basis.

And physical activity is important, too. Regular weight-bearing exercise can improve muscle mass, balance and bone strength. It's all part of helping to reduce your risk of fracture, so you can stay strong for your life and your loved ones.

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.