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Reclast Infusions: Side-effects & Recovery time

Posted by cindydee @cindydee, Mar 20, 2018

I just had a reclast infusion last week and have had serious side effects. I had the worst flue like aching for 5 days then my lefty arm became full of inflammation in the wrist, elbow and shoulder which caused extreme pain and I lost the ability to straighten my elbow. Ultrasound showed huge amounts of fluid throughout the arm. The right arm is now starting to have the same symptoms. The pain is excruciating. Has anyone else experienced anything like this? Neither the ER doctor nor the Dr. who prescribed the procedure knew what to do to ease the symptoms. Both arms from fingertips to shoulder are swollen and neither elbow will straighten. Anyone else have adverse reactions to the reclast infusion? If yes, how long did it last?

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windyshores | @windyshores | 3 days ago
In reply to @whiteswan "May be somebody can help me. I found on internet an information on* medical necessary *for..." + (show)
@whiteswan

May be somebody can help me. I found on internet an information on* medical necessary *for bone densitometry and my physician did the order this time right. I have many problems with my health, Prolia 10 years, stopped, then the infusion Reclast, two weeks in the bed with horrible pain. Alendronate is not for me. I tried.
Now the order for Reclast must be 1 mg slow infusion, but I can not find on internet how to do such order, my physician does not know how to do such order.
May be somebody from a good clinic or hospital, where they do such slow low infusions can give the name of these hospitals and I can ask them to help me.
Thank you.

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@whiteswan how recently did you finish Prolia and do the Reclast? How bad is your bone density? Can your doctor prescribe a half dose? You can drink a lot of water (not too much!) and have the same effect as IV hydration. The doctor (I assume a doctor ordered the Reclast) has to order the slow infusion, the dose, and any IV hydration in my experience. If anyone else was able to get the nurse to slow the infusion without a doctor's order, I hope they will respond.

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susanfalcon52 | @susanfalcon52 | 3 days ago

My Reclast infusion was five days ago. I was very hydrated and on Tylenol regimen. Had some aches, but no fever.
Still a little more achy than on any other day.

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fabpainter | @fabpainter | 3 days ago
In reply to @dak68 "I had a Reclast infusion on 4-15-24 and expected flu symptoms but not the pain that..." + (show)
@dak68

I had a Reclast infusion on 4-15-24 and expected flu symptoms but not the pain that is in my joints. In the last 2 months I’ve had swelling and pain in both hands and rotator cuffs that have not gone away and now in the knee. Mostly right. At night I have the hardest time getting control of my pain. During the day I keep moving and take anti inflammatory supplements. I’m tired of living with this pain. It would help to know how long this will last?

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I'm glad to see this post. I had a Reclast infusion 1/28/24 and also have had right knee and leg pain for the last couple of months. I've researched to see if this is common but haven't had much success so thank you for sharing. It is also worse at night and after sitting for any length of time. When I stand, it feels like my leg can't initially support me then it gets better after walking. Many years ago I had taken Fosamax for several months then had a similar situation-right leg pain and trouble walking. It didn't last very long after I discontinued it. I took a chance on the Reclast after a worsening DEXA but now don't know if I should take it again next January. I hope to follow this post and see if anyone has insight here.

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bluebonnet242 | @bluebonnet242 | 3 days ago

I had bookmarked this information from a previous post @gently made regarding reclast infusion. I didn’t copy the entire post, just the information pertinent to reclast infusion instructions.

From @gently
I have some advice from a doctor at Stanford about how to take Reclast to diminish side effects. He ran the clinical trials on Reclast. So this passage which I quote is meticulous. Don't let the complexity stir you against the drug. You might print the instructions and give them to the prescribing administering medical personnel, if you decide on Reclast. He also prefers Reclast after the full Forteo or Tymlos 18 months.
I won't take Evenity or Prolia. Although, if there were nothing else. . . I'm no so happy about the mechanism of action of the bisphosphonates. And am trying to figure a way without them.

"Have the infusion nurse dilute the 5mg in 100m LD5W into 500mLof NS so that the now 600mL infuses over 60 minutes.
Making the N-BP liss concentrated and infusing it more slowly substantially improves the renal safety based on data.
Administer 650mg of acetaminophen at the same time of the infusion and instruct the patient to take the same dose with dinner and at bedtime the day of the infusion, and with all three meals and at bedtime the day after the infusion, and a final dose with breakfast the 2nd morning after the infusion. This reduces the risk of a symptomatic acute phase reaction (APR) from about 22% to < 1%.
The 3rd thing I do is repeat the BTM (bone turnover markers) U, NTx and serum BSAP 4-6 weeks after the infusion to assess the maximal effect of bone turnover rate. This serves as a comparison when I repeat BTMs 12 months after the infusion. In my extensive 32 years of experience with IV bisphosphonates the average woman only needs a second infusion after an average of 24 months."

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1 reply
dna41 | @dna41 | 3 days ago
In reply to @bluebonnet242 "I had bookmarked this information from a previous post @gently made regarding reclast infusion. I didn’t..." + (show)
@bluebonnet242

I had bookmarked this information from a previous post @gently made regarding reclast infusion. I didn’t copy the entire post, just the information pertinent to reclast infusion instructions.

From @gently
I have some advice from a doctor at Stanford about how to take Reclast to diminish side effects. He ran the clinical trials on Reclast. So this passage which I quote is meticulous. Don't let the complexity stir you against the drug. You might print the instructions and give them to the prescribing administering medical personnel, if you decide on Reclast. He also prefers Reclast after the full Forteo or Tymlos 18 months.
I won't take Evenity or Prolia. Although, if there were nothing else. . . I'm no so happy about the mechanism of action of the bisphosphonates. And am trying to figure a way without them.

"Have the infusion nurse dilute the 5mg in 100m LD5W into 500mLof NS so that the now 600mL infuses over 60 minutes.
Making the N-BP liss concentrated and infusing it more slowly substantially improves the renal safety based on data.
Administer 650mg of acetaminophen at the same time of the infusion and instruct the patient to take the same dose with dinner and at bedtime the day of the infusion, and with all three meals and at bedtime the day after the infusion, and a final dose with breakfast the 2nd morning after the infusion. This reduces the risk of a symptomatic acute phase reaction (APR) from about 22% to < 1%.
The 3rd thing I do is repeat the BTM (bone turnover markers) U, NTx and serum BSAP 4-6 weeks after the infusion to assess the maximal effect of bone turnover rate. This serves as a comparison when I repeat BTMs 12 months after the infusion. In my extensive 32 years of experience with IV bisphosphonates the average woman only needs a second infusion after an average of 24 months."

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I feel very fortunate. I had my first Reclast infusion on May 9. I had a few aches the next day but nothing serious. No side effects that I'm aware of since then. I did ask the nurses for a longer infusion and they were fine with that. I asked for one hour. I drank considerable water the day before and day of. I did take one or two Tylenol. I am so sorry for those who did not have an easy time.

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1 reply
susanfalcon52 | @susanfalcon52 | 2 days ago
In reply to @dna41 "I feel very fortunate. I had my first Reclast infusion on May 9. I had a..." + (show)
@dna41

I feel very fortunate. I had my first Reclast infusion on May 9. I had a few aches the next day but nothing serious. No side effects that I'm aware of since then. I did ask the nurses for a longer infusion and they were fine with that. I asked for one hour. I drank considerable water the day before and day of. I did take one or two Tylenol. I am so sorry for those who did not have an easy time.

Jump to this post

dna41, I also feel fortunate. My Reclast infusion was six days ago. I followed instructions and had minimal side effects. Some aches and pains that were new, but that has subsided.
I had enough aches and pains already that it’s hard to tell what is Reclast and what isn’t.
I have a lot of arthritis in my right hand. Yesterday it was really bad. Today - gone.
Each day is a surprise.
Still, I was fortunate regarding Reclast.
Best to everyone on this journey.

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gerrycf | @gerrycf | 2 days ago

I had my first Reclast infusion Feb. 2022 due to a poor dexa. I'm pretty sure it was a slow infusion and painless at the time (at least an hour or more) . However, I was so sick the next day, under the covers sick and calling the doctor on a Sunday! She said it means it's working. My next routine bloodwork showed PTH levels were extremely off and had to have some imaging. Although, the Doctor claimed it was the lab, I did not think so. However, before I was due to go for another infusion (a year later), I opted for a repeat dexa which showed all was well and it was not necessary to have a 2nd Reclast. PTH has since been normal. I will have a repeat Dexa when I'm covered under insurance, but will have Reclast again IF necessary and follow the latest suggestions here. Has anyone else had PTH levels go to extreme?

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