Zoledronic Acid Injection and Zostavax

• Generic Name: zoledronic acid
• Dosage Forms: injection
• Other Brand Names: Reclast, Zometa, Zometa Concentrate, Aclasta

Zoledronic acid (sometimes called zoledronate) is a bisphosphonate (bis FOS fo nayt) medicine that alters bone formation and breakdown in the body. This can slow bone loss and may help prevent bone fractures.

Reclast and Zometa are two different brands of zoledronic acid.

Reclast is used to treat osteoporosis caused by menopause, steroid use, or gonadal failure. zoledronic acid is for use when you have a high risk of bone fracture due to osteoporosis. Reclast is also used to treat Paget's disease of bone.

Zometa is used to treat high blood levels of calcium caused by cancer (also called hypercalcemia of malignancy). Zometa also treats multiple myeloma (a type of bone marrow cancer) or bone cancer that has spread from elsewhere in the body.

You should not use Reclast and Zometa at the same time.

Zoledronic acid may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

• Generic Name: zoster vaccine live
• Dosage Forms: injection, powder, lyophilized, for suspension
• Other Brand Names: Zostavax

Zostavax (zoster vaccine live) is used to prevent herpes zoster virus (shingles) in people age 50 and older.

Herpes zoster is caused by the same virus (varicella) that causes chickenpox in children. When this virus becomes active again in an adult, it can cause herpes zoster, or shingles. Zoster vaccine is a live vaccine that helps prevent shingles.

Zostavax works by exposing you to a small dose of live virus, which causes the body to develop immunity to the disease. This vaccine will not treat an active infection that has already developed in the body.

Zostavax is used to prevent herpes zoster virus (shingles) in people age 50 and older.

Zostavax will not treat shingles or nerve pain caused by shingles (post-herpetic neuralgia).