1. < Osteoporosis & Bone Health

Zoledronic Acid (Reclast) can I have just one infusion?

Posted by andreamayo @andreamayo, Feb 4 10:12pm

I had a Zoledronic Acid infusion 2 weeks (feeling fine). My spine average is -3.7 with my L3 at -4.2. I am a 56 yr old, otherwise fit and healthy, post menopausal woman. Wondering, if my scores improve by next year with weight training, can I stop getting infusions or will I get worse if I stop the drug?
Would I get worse because I took Zoledronic Acid and stopped, or just get worse as if I hadn't taken it all?
I'm wondering if I've taken a "no looking back" drug.
I hope my question makes sense.
Thank you,
Andrea

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Rubyslippers | @triciaot | Jun 7 11:05pm
In reply to @dlmdinia "It appears you are on Medicare. I was told by a Dexa technician that Medicare will..." + (show)
@dlmdinia

It appears you are on Medicare. I was told by a Dexa technician that Medicare will pay for annual scans for osteopenia as long as you are being treated for it. I have osteopenia and qualify for Prolia because I am on Letrozole which can cause bone loss. The biggest problem seems to be that most doctors are unaware of this and so are reluctant to order the scan.

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Thanks! Just looked it up and I should be able to get one if the doctor says it’s medically necessary. I will be seriously talking with the endocrinologist about the next Reclast infusion - only want it if it’s really needed, and that might mean show me with a DEXA.
But I do worry about my accumulated radiation dose. Although a DEXA is a very small dose - add it to mammograms I’ve had (a lot), radiation therapy and the staging scans for it, a CT scan, lots of DEXAs (with a family history of osteoporosis and DCIS) I’ve been getting scanned every other year for over 20 years, plus miscellaneous X-ray exposures . . . and my lifetime accumulation might not be done yet.

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jo2184 | @jo2184 | Jun 8 11:58am
In reply to @triciaot "I’m 70, just had my second infusion. Other than the 2 day flu the first time,..." + (show)
@triciaot

I’m 70, just had my second infusion. Other than the 2 day flu the first time, I’ve had no side effects that I notice. However I happened to have a previously unplanned CT scan with contrast just 7 days after the second infusion - so they ran kidney function bloodwork before the scan. My eGFR dropped from 80 to 49 and my creatinine is now 1.2. It is believed the cause was the Reclast, but it’s expected to be a temporary change. I will have another blood draw in a week and a half - the hope is that the kidney function will recover to its normal level.
So the one caution I would have is if your kidney function is low already you would want to discuss the implications of Reclast with your doctor.
Reclast has worked for me, I’m no longer in osteoporosis (my lowest level was -2.9 before tx). But I would not risk my kidneys for it - if my eGFR doesn’t rise back up I won’t be taking Reclast again (3 infusions were recommended).

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Please post your results after your next blood draw. Hope the eGFR and creatinine levels have increased!

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Rubyslippers | @triciaot | Jun 8 3:52pm
In reply to @jo2184 "Please post your results after your next blood draw. Hope the eGFR and creatinine levels have..." + (show)
@jo2184

Please post your results after your next blood draw. Hope the eGFR and creatinine levels have increased!

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It’s posted earlier in this thread, but to make it easier to find, I’ll give you the numbers here: I had a blood draw 4 1/2 weeks after Reclast and my eGFR went back up to 79 and creatinine is .8

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