INDIANAPOLIS -- A study shows that taking a drug intravenously once a year to treat osteoporosis could be a viable alternative to consuming pills daily, researchers said.

The study, in which Indiana University School of Medicine physicians participated, showed that taking Zometa intravenously for 15 minutes once a year could be effective in treating osteoporosis, researchers said. Currently, many osteoporosis patients take daily pills such as Fasomax and Actonel.

In the study, yearly treatments of Zometa, or zoledronic acid, stopped bone loss and reduced the risk for fractures in the vertebrae by 70 percent and in the hip by 41 percent, doctors said.

Dr. Conway Johnston, of the IU School of Medicine, said one of Zometa's advantages over pills is that patients wouldn't have to remember to consume medicine daily.

"One of the problems in treating osteoporosis is that people don't adhere to therapy. Of course, if they get the IV drug, which lasts for a year, then you have a good adherence to therapy," Johnston said.

Arrhythmia is a side effect of Zometa. Johnston said more studies on the drug are needed.