Reclast vs Fosamax??

I’ve taken both Reclast infusion and Fosamax. With the Reclast infusion, it took about 15 minutes in Dec 2022. Very quick infusion! I did notice a couple of days after the infusion I had extreme pain in both knees. I had to sit in higher height seats, like bar stool height bc standing up from a lower seat height caused a significant amount of pain. (Never had that happened before. I have Rheumatoid arthritis). It lasted about 3 days then I was back to normal. My mother had Reclast several times and never had any problems. My aunt cannot do infusion bc of heart issues.
I took Fosamax for 5 years & then the Dr stopped due to reports of broken femur bones in patients taking Fosamax. This was approximately 18 years ago. He Stopped it in 2008.
My new rheumatologist said they only like to prescribe Fosamax for 5 years at a time and then pause treatment before they restart.

I will have to start a new bone drug soon and I will probably choose Fosamax. I just remember it being a big horse pill that has to be taken on an empty stomach. Good luck!

@julesbelle Thank you for sharing all this information. So helpful. Interesting that you said Fosamax was "a big horse pill" -- no wonder now one can get an oral solution instead of a pill!!

I had my first Reclast infusion 10 days ago. The next day I developed a high fever, high pulse rate, high heart rate, rigors (uncontrolled full body shivering). I went to Mayo ER and was diagnosed with SIRS (Systemic Inflammatory Reaction Syndrome). I was admitted to the hospital and got out about 24 hours later.

SIRS is an immune system overreaction - a cytokine storm - and can be dangerous. The ER has to treat as if you have an infection (which I did the previous two times), so I got IV antibiotics as empiric treatment (as in "we don't know what's causing this, but we'd better do what often works"). I had a remarkable collection of screening tests for all sorts of pathogens (all negative).

I believe this reaction is really rare. I was expecting the not uncommon "few days of flu-like symptoms" so didn't go to the ER as soon as I should have.

Today, I'm still recovering - just tired.

But if you have a history of SIRS or sepsis (they are very closely related), this is a possible risk. But again, I think my case is rare - due to my tendency towards SIRS.

@sebutler May I ask how you fared on Tymlos? My rheumatologist is pushing that one on me.

I took Alendronate (fosamax) for four years and never had a single issue. Everyone is different, of course, but I’ll share what I did. I think it helped a lot.

I was reticent to go on it because my mom and aunt (her sis) both had to stop taking it due to stomach pain. But I do wonder if perhaps they didn’t follow the instructions on the drug.

It’s taken on an empty stomach. You’re not supposed to lie down or eat for 30 minutes after you take it.

I wanted it to work, and it did, for a long while. So upon waking, I’d take it with a glass of water. I’d feed the cat, make the coffee, and then I’d pop in my earbuds and settle in on my sofa and do a 20-30 minute guided meditation on YouTube.

When I was in chemo more than 20 years ago, I’d envision the drip was coursing through my body, wiping out cancer cells and leaving fresh, clean cells in its wake. And so I did with the Alendronate too.

I was drawn to the chakra meditations. They helped a lot.

By the end, the 30 minutes was up, I felt amazing, and then I could continue with my day.

Everyone has their way of dealing with these medications which can be frightening. The good thing about fosamax is that if you do experience unpleasant side effects, you can stop it easily.

If you feel the overall delivery is easier and more convenient for you, perhaps you can try the Reclast first, and keep Fosamax as your Plan B.

Best wishes to you. And big congrats on your brand new bone growth! That’s something to celebrate!

@sharzee Got infusion of Reclast 2 days ago. I was a little off balance the next day but that's it. But the next day red blotches on my face that seemed like pimples and now today I have more of them. I'm 79 and never get pimples they don't have a head on them. Did anyone else have that happen?

@sharzee Got infusion of Reclast 2 days ago. I was a little off balance the next day but that's it. But the next day red blotches on my face that seemed like pimples and now today I have more of them. I'm 79 and never get pimples they don't have a head on them. Did anyone else have that happen?

@sharzee
I am scheduled to begin annual Reclast infusions in February when I will be done with Evenity.

My friend just had a Reclast infusion and now has sores on her face and her mouth and nose. She too was okay for a day and then it hit her.
She also thought she had a cold but now discovered it is another rare side effect.

I am now very concerned about Reclast.
Dose anyone have any experience with Reclast?