why do drs. push reclast

@kayabbott Reclast does not come in pills. It is a bisphosphonate and there are several oral/pill forms of bisphosphonates, including alendronate (Fosamax). I am curious what effect your friend thinks or was told about the effects of B12 on bones.

It sounds like Reclast took you from osteoporosis to early to moderate osteopenia!

I didn't question my friend when she indicated her Reclast was a daily pill; perhaps she meant a different brand. Regardless, the pill is a bisphosphonate. My other friend with the osteoporosis was in his 30's, and was very low in B12; I'm not familiar with other treatment that he may have had. If you search on the link between B12 and osteoporosis, you can find a number of peer reviewed papers. Here is one: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4446754/

@kayabbott that study concludes
" However, results from the clinical trials have not been promising in supporting the efficacy of B vitamin supplementation in fracture reduction."

I do take B2, B6, folate and B12 for general health and if helpful in preventing osteoporosis but I would not rely on it for treating it!

I didn't question my friend when she indicated her Reclast was a daily pill; perhaps she meant a different brand. Regardless, the pill is a bisphosphonate. My other friend with the osteoporosis was in his 30's, and was very low in B12; I'm not familiar with other treatment that he may have had. If you search on the link between B12 and osteoporosis, you can find a number of peer reviewed papers. Here is one: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4446754/

I neither said nor implied that that was his treatment, but his being low in B12 exacerbated his osteoporosis.

I did Fosamax for 5+ years and still fractured. I was given 4 months of Tymlos before insurance cut me off and now my doctor is trying to get me on the generic version of Forteo.

After my fracture diagnosis in March, I finally undertook the research I should have done back in 2018 when I started on Fosamax.

I think we have been poorly served by the medical community. I think newbies should understand the pros and cons of all aspects of osteoporosis treatment including meds, lifestyle, and exercise.

No doctor ever covered any of this when I was first diagnosed with osteopenia. I received recommendations to take calcium and Vitamin D and to "get some exercise, preferably weight bearing".

No one ever told me that the Fosamax would shut down all bone remodeling, not just bone resorption. I believe this contributed to my fracture although no doctor or drug company would ever agree.

New diabetics get a lot of support with nutrition and lifestyle recommendations and I suspect medication information (not a diabetic so I can't comment on this but when my spouse showed signs of pre-diabetes he was sent to a diet class).

It seems we should have similar options when we are first facing this diagnosis and not be left to come to our own conclusions which may mean we avoid drugs that might help us or take drugs for years without understanding the long term impact.

Where did you fracture?
I plan right now to begin Tymlos this month, the plan is to do two years of that. I will end my Alendronate, a generic Fosamax treatment soon.
I am now on Medicare, just turned 65. Why did your insurance take you off of Tymlos? I never considered that happening or what I would do if it did.

@pookybear01 Reclast or Zometa (both zoledronic acid infusions) are prescribed because aromatase inhibitors cause loss of bone density, and they are also supposed to have some protective effect against cancer spread to bones.

My doctors did not prescribe Reclast for me during my cancer treatment, because of concerns about atrial fibrilllation at the time. Net result is several spinal fractures. Believe me, they are painful and disabling.

If you change your mind, and do Reclast, make sure to hydrate well and ask for a longer infusion (one hour). You may also be able to get 2 mg instead of 5mg. You can expect that, like 40% of us, you might get a fluish reaction the first time but not after that.

I am sensitive to meds but Reclast has been okay for me (lower dose, long infusion) despite afib and kidney disease.

I have had gains from every drug I’ve been on- Forteo, Tymlos, Evenity, and now Reclast. No side effects.
I’ve been walking, jumping, lifting weights, taking supplements, eating an acid free diet and yoga daily for decades.
This did not save my bones.
Drugs did, though.
I’m regularly posting this because the unhappy bone drug patients are more apt to post. It scares the newbies.

I had full dose, 20 minutes. Had flu like symptoms, on 5th day had BAD bone/joint pain. Needed Claritin for a month and Tylenol/ibuprofen. I'm finally feeling good. Never again, I'll do a pill of some sort.
Do research before you do Reclast.