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Reclast and rash
I had a Reclast infusion in August 2024. Within a couple of hours, a rash started on my face. It spread over the full left side of my face and neck and was extremely itchy. I thought I had poison ivy although I had not been anywhere where it was likely I could have contacted it. It was the weekend and I went to the Minute Clinic and was diagnosed with shingles, even though I have had all possible shingles shots, three in total. I started on the prescription that you can take if you’re diagnosed with shingles within the first 72 hours. Within two days the rash had spread to the other side of my face and down my neck to my shoulders. I went back to the Minute Clinic and they said it was not shingles but was probably poison ivy and put me on prednisone. The rash continued to spread to my stomach, arms and legs. Not contiguous, but in spotty patches. I next went to my dermatologist who put me on a higher dose of prednisone, and gave me two different creams, one for my body one for my face. These treatments finally helped the symptoms. The dermatologist also took a biopsy of the rash and sent it out, and it was determined to be drug related. During all this time i was in phone contact with the endocrinologist who had prescribed the Reclast infusion. They were interested in the progress, but really had no help to offer. Needless to say, I will not be having another Reclast infusion. This is the first adverse reaction I have ever had to any drug or food.
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hbab, thank you for the post. Do you know what they tested in the biopsy to determine that the rash was caused by the medication. So interesting that they thought it was shingles. Good information for us here.
I believe they could test that the rash was not caused by food or contact with something but caused but a drug in my body. Reclast was the only thing that had been introduced new to me prior to the rash. They couldn’t test for what drug it was specifically but by default it had to be Reclast. Test result said PERIVASCULAR AND INTERSTITIAL DERMATITIS WITH EOSINOPHILS, MOST CONSISTENT WITH A HYPERSENSITIVITY REACTION SUCH AS TO A MEDICATION
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1 Reactionhbab, thank you, again for the thorough answer plus the result.
I' m more than not happy about my face being very dry, itchy and scaly across my cheeks and red blotches. Will this be forever? Hopefully not because I won't be getting this infusion again. I'm sorry I ever got it in the first place.
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1 ReactionI too developed a red rash that refuses to go away. It started out small then got bigger over time. I had this rash after my immunotherapy with reclast. It has been there since beginning of march and i still have it! im going to get it looked at after reading this!
I just had my first Reclast infusion on Monday, April 13, 2026.
So far no rash. These posts are a year old. I'm wondering did the rash ever clear up?
If so, what medication worked?
One post says the rash started within 72 hours, what about the rest of you?
I'm not sure that it was a side effect or not, but I slept all day. My infusion was at 8:00AM, by 10:00AM, I was out, sound asleep off and on the rest of the day.
I developed a widespread rash with Prolia, three months later. I was tested for allergies and have none.
But, the rash did not show up with three Reclast Infusions for which I have had now for the past three years.
The endocrinologist wants me to continue for another 3 years. My osteoporosis/osteopenia has not progressed and has shown about one-tenth of a decimal improvement.
But I have been weightlifting, managing my weight, and taking calcium, manganese, and Vitamin D supplements for the past three years. I am very active physically and have trained myself to stand in front of a push-up computer.
My new female P.C. is going to look up the research on using Recalst Infusions for more than three years. I am researching current government guidelines for treatment of osteoperosis as well. Does anyone know the best guidelines to read on this subject?
@gowalking Mine developed within 3 weeks after getting Reclast. I had Immunotherapy with Reclast because i have a very rare bone disease. They also suspect i have osteoporosis so i go in today to be checked via bone density scan. My rashes started as blister rings around my rash then dried up, i noticed in the sun etc it makes it worse. I go in tomorrow to see my pcp for these odd rashes im getting. I developed another rash recently on the back of my leg. I had Reclast in Feb and that was the only thing new i had done so i dont think ill be getting it again! I did sleep alot after my first immunotherapy! and got very very sick from it
@crissiec
I am confused....Reclast (zoledronic acid) is not an immunotherapy, it is used for conditions such as osteoporosis, hypercalcemia, bone cancer, multiple myeloma, Pagets Disease and probably other conditions.
Im curious what your doctor says and how your Dexa Scan numbers are.
Keep me posted. These side effects are puzzling, but good to share the information as you may not be the only one with them.....
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1 Reaction@gowalking The one i got was by Immunotherapy. They had to do it because of the fact my bones arent doing too well from the rare bone disease i have. I also have osteoporsis from being vitamin d deficiency for years without treatment. For Melorheostosis only treatment is by immunotherapy and usually bone remodeling meds. My disease is very strange, it thickens my bone because instead of breaking down the bone during remodeling, i instead grow new bone on top of my one in my arm. It has widened out my arm pretty quickly which shocked me but this is the only treatment availavble to me sadly. No cure. It was this and Denosumab they wanted to try. It is a trial type of thing for me. Ill keep you posted on my results and i know the side effects i got are terrible. I go tomorrow to address my red rashes i gotten