Reclast pro and con

Posted by hedynevada01 @hedynevada01, 3 days ago

I am terrified to try reclast. It appears that so far about 45% of reviews I have read are awful. If I take it I am stuck for a year with possible terrible side effect.

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@hedynevada01

I have nit heard from anyone yet. Or maybe I just do not know where to look.

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There is a Reclast Facebook group with tons of both positive and negative experiences

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@hedynevada01

I have nit heard from anyone yet. Or maybe I just do not know where to look.

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I took Re-Clast 3/24/25 and had a horrible experience for two weeks which I have commented on. I can tell you I seem to have weathered the initial storm and am currently not experiencing side effects. I am hoping this continues. If I remain without the pain for the next year, I probably will do one more that my doctor wants me to. In the meantime, do bone strengthening exercises, eat healthy, take calcium and vitamin D as instructed by your physician. Here is my previous comment: "I am 73 and I received my first infusion of Reclast on Mar. 24, 2025. I..."+ (show)
I had a Reclast Infusion 3/24/25 and I have been feeling poorly since and today is 4/13. I got the pain in the left eyeball and thought my head was going to explode the day after infusion. I too saw eye doc and he did not see that I needed steroid drops. The pain finally subsided but it went to back of neck & shoulder . Then it went from there after 3 days into my right jaw where I had teeth removed (I was on Prolia and used oral surgeon one year before). It has subsided after 3 days. I’m better today but still feel crummy. Pain has subsided🤞I am a long term chronic pain patient on pain meds as well. I will tell you I had to use six Tylenol 500 mg each for two days and least two 500 mg since the infusion with normal pain meds. This morning I woke up headache free and yesterday. I’m hoping I can do a little housework starting tomorrow. This will be 12 days in bed mostly for me. I suffered agonizing bone pain with Prolia (4 shots over 2 yrs. Pain started last year so I refused to take. Due to fracture risk they put me on this and I’m reluctant to do it again) Prolia about killed me last year. I couldn’t bend over to pick something off floor and woke up in morning not knowing if I could get up in so much pain. I really thought I was going to die (it was so bad). I couldn’t walk. I missed Christmas and New Years with family. Too much pain. I am hoping to feel better, but I can’t hold my breath. I’ll update in a few days. These drugs are powerful and I wish I had never heard of them. Now I’m stuck because I have spondylitis, severe scoliosis and no space disc in back. Oh and I want to mention my hands hurt so bad I couldn’t cook for several days. It’s been hell for me. Think twice before you do these drugs. It’s a lifetime you have to continue.”

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@gently

hedynevada01,
I feel the same way you do about Reclast. But if you did decide to risk it, there are ways to protect yourself. It is known that 4mg works just as well as 5mg. Some people are taking a very low dose 1mg to test their reaction. If you have a longer infusion time with more dilute IV, you can avoid some of the adverse reactions. It does work well for some. It prevents fracture. It is one injection thought to last 2 years. And it will provide some fracture protection for ten years.
If you have any autoimmune activity you are more likely to have adverse reactios. This small 13 person study from Israel is scary https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28567535/
And then Reclast doesn't build the best bone. It works by blocking the cells that break bone down, without those cells the process of building and rebuilding is slowed down. Your bones collect older bone that is avascular and more brittle. The best bone is the remodeled bone built by Forteo or Tymlos. Given a choice I chose Forteo. These drugs have the disadvantage of cost, and you have to inject them everyday. But, if you have an adverse reaction to them or a side effect, you stop taking them and they leave your system within 24 hours.
If you scroll to the top of this page and write Reclast in the search box, you'll find warnings and encouragement going back years. https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/?search=Reclast or you could tap the link.
Welcome to Connect. Traffic is a little slow these days, but you'll get more responses.

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Month 3 of Forteo and I had a severe drug reaction that took 30 days of steroids and antihistamines to clear up. The picture is only of 1 leg. Both legs, although the calf area was the worst. Nightmare.
I am not able to tolerate any osteoporosis drugs and have done intense research on alternatives. There is a collagen peptide called Fortibone that is hopeful and has some scientific studies backing it. You can research through google scholar. My last dexi showed improved bone density in my hips and femoral neck, although the news wasnt good for my lumbar spine. Also, there is a guy named Kevin Ellis, Bone Coach, that has a lot of good information on fighting osteoporosis without drugs

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I am one of those who suffered horrible side effects.
6 months later I’m still not recovered. So I guess it will take the full year.
There are those on here who get upset when they read negative reports from those of us who have suffered. All I can say to them is knowledge is power and you have to see things from all sides. My suggestion is do your research and if you are all sensitive to any medications then don’t do it because once it is in your body you can’t stop it. Then try something you can stop taking. Knowing I do have a sensitive system I wish I had been advised of this

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@sue417

Hi
I had a compression fracture in 2022.When I found out I had osteopenia. My doctor sent me to an endocrinologist who started me on reclast. In canada it is Called zoldronic acid. I have been on it for 3 yrs. My bone density had improved in my spine. I just fractured again Apr 18. My t9 and t10. I am devastated to go thru this again. I don't understand why. I am going to talk yo my endocrinologist because I am suppose to have another I.v. in June. I do not know if I want to continue with this medication I am terrified. I did not have any major side effects just felt fluish the day after. You have to really hydrate prior to the infusion.And the day of.

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to sue417
Sorry to hear about your spine fracture, and it is very disturbing in particularly because you had improved bone density in spine. It must be very confusing (as many other situations when one has osteoporosis). In your place I would ask your doctor if reclast could cause it. By the way what were density values that improved?
Hope that you will have a clear answer from your endo.
Take care.

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@melia7

to sue417
Sorry to hear about your spine fracture, and it is very disturbing in particularly because you had improved bone density in spine. It must be very confusing (as many other situations when one has osteoporosis). In your place I would ask your doctor if reclast could cause it. By the way what were density values that improved?
Hope that you will have a clear answer from your endo.
Take care.

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Hi
I really don't know how to read the reports.I know it says a significant internal benefit in the spine.And it was up five point six whatever that means. And it said lower risk of fracture. So I have a lot of Questions for my endocrinologist. I think I should have had another bone density after my radiation

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@psanchez33617

Month 3 of Forteo and I had a severe drug reaction that took 30 days of steroids and antihistamines to clear up. The picture is only of 1 leg. Both legs, although the calf area was the worst. Nightmare.
I am not able to tolerate any osteoporosis drugs and have done intense research on alternatives. There is a collagen peptide called Fortibone that is hopeful and has some scientific studies backing it. You can research through google scholar. My last dexi showed improved bone density in my hips and femoral neck, although the news wasnt good for my lumbar spine. Also, there is a guy named Kevin Ellis, Bone Coach, that has a lot of good information on fighting osteoporosis without drugs

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psanchez33617, this is terrible. If you are in the mood, would your tell us more. I'd like to know if this appeared suddenly or overnight. If you had any warning. If your doctors think you are allergic to pth or another excipient in the Forteo.
I've heard of people having lower leg swelling. Yours looks like a bloody swollen mess . And you've tried other medications and had adverse reaction. Nightmare, indeed. Was it painful of itchy. What happened with the other meds?
You may not want to tell more, thanks for posting this and the photo.
Best luck with Fortibone.

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@psanchez33617

Month 3 of Forteo and I had a severe drug reaction that took 30 days of steroids and antihistamines to clear up. The picture is only of 1 leg. Both legs, although the calf area was the worst. Nightmare.
I am not able to tolerate any osteoporosis drugs and have done intense research on alternatives. There is a collagen peptide called Fortibone that is hopeful and has some scientific studies backing it. You can research through google scholar. My last dexi showed improved bone density in my hips and femoral neck, although the news wasnt good for my lumbar spine. Also, there is a guy named Kevin Ellis, Bone Coach, that has a lot of good information on fighting osteoporosis without drugs

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I'm so sorry to hear about your severe reaction to Forteo @psanchez33617. I am in my 5th month of Foreo and have very painful, swollen calves, but they don't look as bad as yours do. The veins behind my knees are swollen and painful. I was on a half dose of Tymlos before Forteo and may go back to that. I don't seem to be able to tolerate any full dose medications. After breaking 5 bones in 18 months, I thought I'd give medication a try.

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Yes they are terrible
Don’t do it

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@annar

I am one of those who suffered horrible side effects.
6 months later I’m still not recovered. So I guess it will take the full year.
There are those on here who get upset when they read negative reports from those of us who have suffered. All I can say to them is knowledge is power and you have to see things from all sides. My suggestion is do your research and if you are all sensitive to any medications then don’t do it because once it is in your body you can’t stop it. Then try something you can stop taking. Knowing I do have a sensitive system I wish I had been advised of this

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If people get upset about you sharing your experience so be it!
You should educate yourself about this drug before committing to it
I didn’t and I will regret it for the rest of my life
How do you know if you are not going to tolerate it
It is a risk that is NOT worth taking
I am two months after Reclast with lots of pain , seeing doctor after doctor and the last one a pain management one” we do not treat pain caused by a medication “ you have to let your body adjust to the new situation!!
In the mean mean time I am miserable

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