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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@linda1974

Hi everyone, my Reclast infusion was a week and a half ago. On Claritin for 5 days with ibuprofen/Tylenol. I was good. After taking nothing for 2 days I feel like I took 3 steps backwards. My joint pain is back and fatigue. So I'll be getting more Claritin today. Not sure how long I'll have to be on it, but it's better than the pain. I'll be checking with my Dr for sure, but maybe someone here has a suggestion.

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@linda1974 you could still be in the "acute phase reaction" with inflammation. Let us know if this continues!

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@linda1974

With the help of Claritin, ibuprofen and Tylenol. I'm doing fantastic. I would recommend it

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I have not heard of Claritin being used for Reclast infusion. Has your doctor recommended that?

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@dna41

I have not heard of Claritin being used for Reclast infusion. Has your doctor recommended that?

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Yes surprisingly

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@linda1974

Hi everyone, my Reclast infusion was a week and a half ago. On Claritin for 5 days with ibuprofen/Tylenol. I was good. After taking nothing for 2 days I feel like I took 3 steps backwards. My joint pain is back and fatigue. So I'll be getting more Claritin today. Not sure how long I'll have to be on it, but it's better than the pain. I'll be checking with my Dr for sure, but maybe someone here has a suggestion.

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I have the same timing as @linda1974. I took the day off from all anti-inflammatories yesterday after starting to feel better. Then woke up in the middle of the night last night with significant joint pain again. My doctor did say this could take 2-4 weeks to resolve. Super frustrating! Hang in there!!

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@basole8

I have the same timing as @linda1974. I took the day off from all anti-inflammatories yesterday after starting to feel better. Then woke up in the middle of the night last night with significant joint pain again. My doctor did say this could take 2-4 weeks to resolve. Super frustrating! Hang in there!!

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Thank you for the update. Now at least I have a time frame to go by. 😊

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@bettyeri

I had a Reclast infusion for osteoporosis in July 2024 and had severe side effects! I had the most severe joint pain in my lower extremities. I ended in up the ER and while there, they found a subdural hematoma, which I think is related to the infusion,
I also had night sweats, excruciating cramps in my hands and feet and was so weak that I could not use my fingers and could not walk.
The physician who ordered the Reclast suggested that I drink lots of water to try to "rinse it out".
I would not wish this on my worst enemy!

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Sorry to hear. I just had my First Reclast a week ago Today on the 19th. Exactly out of nowhere I passed out. No warning nothing. Hit my head pretty hard. I called the nurse that gave me the infusion and was told. It’s NOT from Reclast You have the flu call your Primary. I had cat scan, X-rays and bloodwork. They look good Thank God. But last night I woke up with bad pain on my left side of the head. I contacted my primary and waiting for a response.

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@debis67

Sorry to hear. I just had my First Reclast a week ago Today on the 19th. Exactly out of nowhere I passed out. No warning nothing. Hit my head pretty hard. I called the nurse that gave me the infusion and was told. It’s NOT from Reclast You have the flu call your Primary. I had cat scan, X-rays and bloodwork. They look good Thank God. But last night I woke up with bad pain on my left side of the head. I contacted my primary and waiting for a response.

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Wow that’s horrible 🙏 it put me in the hospital with terrible pain in my spine. It’s poison in my opinion

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@linda1974

Hi everyone, my Reclast infusion was a week and a half ago. On Claritin for 5 days with ibuprofen/Tylenol. I was good. After taking nothing for 2 days I feel like I took 3 steps backwards. My joint pain is back and fatigue. So I'll be getting more Claritin today. Not sure how long I'll have to be on it, but it's better than the pain. I'll be checking with my Dr for sure, but maybe someone here has a suggestion.

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I had my first Reclast infusion back in July. I took Tylenol and Claritin for a few weeks to try and reduce the pain in my shoulders, forearms and left foot. Not really sure it actually helped to be honest. So, I stopped taking anything and the pain has remained about the same. I have gone to PT and trying to exercise the areas. An odd thing is, upon waking up in the morning I cannot move my right arm on its own, have to use my left arm to assist my right. As the day goes by the pain subsides and sometimes it doesn’t hurt at all; next morning pain is back. I also have Ankolosing spondylitis which creates its own issues. My endocrinologist wants me to follow through with a second infusion and suggested I also see my rheumatologist about the joint / muscle pain; doesn’t feel the Reclast is the cause for the pain. Yet, when looking up the side effects, it does list the possibilities of muscle/bone pain. I do realize my endocrinologist is specialized in bone density, not the side effects from the medication used. I just do know, any medications consumed has its own unique side effects. There are also days that my stomach feels a bit nauseated but I just try to avoid thinking about it. It’s damed if we do and damed if we don’t! Wishing you lots of Good Luck!

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I had a Reclast infusion in mid October (2024). First few days were fine. At about 10 days to 2 weeks my right knee joint began swelling and it was quite painful. As that eased my left knee started swelling, then my left ankle and the tissue above it became somewhat mottled. A week or so later my left thumb joint started swelling. I saw my primary Dr.'s PA and her first words were: We cannot flush this from your system and we don't give pain meds. I DID NOT ask for pain meds. When I asked her how long these symptoms would last she told me there was no literature on long term side effects. I now have moderate nausea and asthma as well. I went to a trusted accupuncturist and she told me I literally had a systemic allergic reaction. Yesterday, I went back to her for the asthma and she did a treatment and sent me home with a powder to mix with water and consume 3x a day. I'm experiencing a lot of fatigue as well. This is my experience. I've read on a couple of other sites that some women are having symptoms as long as 3 years later. If this drug is so good why is it feel like I have been poisoned?

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I had a lot of achiness from it initially but it subsided. It helped my osteoporosis numbers.

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