Do calcium infusions help osteoporosis?

Calcium infusion via an intravenous line is sometimes used in treating osteoporosis and offers the advantage of the IV drug bypassing the GI tract and going directly to the bone, according to WebMD. The drugs Boniva, Zometa and Reclast are available in IV form and are infused once yearly.

The infusion is delivered via an IV drip bag, and infusion takes anywhere from five to 15 minutes, depending on the type of medicine prescribed, advises WebMD. Zometa and Reclast work to increase bone mineral density, and they have been proven to reduce hip and spine fractures. Boniva, by contrast, has not yet been proven to reduce fractures.