Reclast infusion side effects?

Posted by ladybugnc @ladybugnc, May 26, 2025

I had the Reclast infusion 5 months ago in my left arm. I have started having pain in that arm now, with loss of strength. Has this happened to anyone else?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Osteoporosis & Bone Health Support Group.

Profile picture for kfhoz @kfhoz

Below is a more recent paper (2023) than the one from 2011 that @daisy17 linked. There is lots of active research in osteoporosis and the 2023 paper also supports her comments. It has great discussions and a table of relative risk (RR) vs absolute risk reduction (ARR).
https://www.amjmed.com/article/S0002-9343(24)00101-3/fulltext.
Excerpt: "... For patients at high risk of fracture, especially those with prior fractures, treatment with bisphosphonates is well supported by clinical evidence that may underestimate benefits; however, for patients with osteoporosis based on bone density alone, treatment benefits are less certain. ..."

Jump to this post

@kfhoz refused Fosamax; reaction to Prolia; Evenity and now Reclast. See Doctor this month to see what is next and weigh the advantages vs disadvantages. Hard decision at 79…

REPLY
Profile picture for tiza @tiza

Hello,
I’m new to this forum.
I had a Reclast Infusion in May 2025. After a year dealing with knee pain issues my Dexa Scan results were terrible.
My endocrinologist had already suggested I’d need it, after doing some research I refused it for about 5 years.
Since the infusion, I’ve had digestive problems and pain on my left ribs. Strangely, on the first 24 hours after the infusion this is the exact place where I had intense sharp pain. It’s mostly during the night and in the morning.
Anyone experiencing the same?
Thank you!

Jump to this post

Sorry for your suffering and hope you feel better….i just read that if a person has kidney issues, Reclast can cause serious damage….other OP meds not so much..it’s really hard to balance the needs of aging bones and aging kidneys !

REPLY
Profile picture for nycmusic @nycmusic

Sorry for your suffering and hope you feel better….i just read that if a person has kidney issues, Reclast can cause serious damage….other OP meds not so much..it’s really hard to balance the needs of aging bones and aging kidneys !

Jump to this post

@nycmusic I’ve always found it amazing how a medication can take care of one issue and yet cause so many other problems, yet we are willing to take the medication for hopefully immediate relief only to find additional problems down the road from that medication!

REPLY
Profile picture for dannyandebbie @dannyandebbie

@nycmusic I’ve always found it amazing how a medication can take care of one issue and yet cause so many other problems, yet we are willing to take the medication for hopefully immediate relief only to find additional problems down the road from that medication!

Jump to this post

@dannyandebbie Well said, and can be true of various diets as well…can be a real problem with supplements and some alternative ‘’meds’’…balance is key, and patients need to be proactive in partnership with good docs..

REPLY
Profile picture for nycmusic @nycmusic

@dannyandebbie Well said, and can be true of various diets as well…can be a real problem with supplements and some alternative ‘’meds’’…balance is key, and patients need to be proactive in partnership with good docs..

Jump to this post

@nycmusic
According to the majority of endocrinologists, the only solution, for non oral takers of these ‘good meds’, is RECLAST.
I wish there were more research and openness to “alternative” options for our bones so we can age pain free.
We have serious side affects from this medication, and no one, tell me if you know one, doctor in the endocrinology dept, acknowledging it.

REPLY
Profile picture for tiza @tiza

Hello,
I’m new to this forum.
I had a Reclast Infusion in May 2025. After a year dealing with knee pain issues my Dexa Scan results were terrible.
My endocrinologist had already suggested I’d need it, after doing some research I refused it for about 5 years.
Since the infusion, I’ve had digestive problems and pain on my left ribs. Strangely, on the first 24 hours after the infusion this is the exact place where I had intense sharp pain. It’s mostly during the night and in the morning.
Anyone experiencing the same?
Thank you!

Jump to this post

Recently, I finished a year of Evenity and then had the first of two (once/year) Reclast infusions. Now I need a tooth extraction, which can lead to jaw necrosis, though the chances are low. Just wondering whether anyone else has had this come up and what your drs/dentists told you about it. One dentist said that once this stuff is in our system, whatever happens, happens. The endocrinologist says that the odds go down if I put as much time as possible between the Reclast and the extraction.
Thank you to everyone who has been posting. It's so true about taking one med. and finding out that while it fixes one thing, it causes something else!

REPLY
Profile picture for tiza @tiza

@nycmusic
According to the majority of endocrinologists, the only solution, for non oral takers of these ‘good meds’, is RECLAST.
I wish there were more research and openness to “alternative” options for our bones so we can age pain free.
We have serious side affects from this medication, and no one, tell me if you know one, doctor in the endocrinology dept, acknowledging it.

Jump to this post

@tiza true…my concern is protecting my kidneys, where I have borderline numbers —from unnecessary toxins…want to avoid CKD !… Reclast helps many, but absolutely not for me… thank heaven for good research info available online and connect Mayo…we must be good self advocates to get the best medical care !

REPLY
Profile picture for tiza @tiza

Hello,
I’m new to this forum.
I had a Reclast Infusion in May 2025. After a year dealing with knee pain issues my Dexa Scan results were terrible.
My endocrinologist had already suggested I’d need it, after doing some research I refused it for about 5 years.
Since the infusion, I’ve had digestive problems and pain on my left ribs. Strangely, on the first 24 hours after the infusion this is the exact place where I had intense sharp pain. It’s mostly during the night and in the morning.
Anyone experiencing the same?
Thank you!

Jump to this post

2 weeks before I was due for Reclast infusion I learned I needed a tooth extracted and a bridge put in. The endocrinologist said to not reschedule Reclast until all the dental work was completed. I come from a family of dentists and dental hygienists. They have all told me NOT to do Reclast. Even the oral surgeon that extracted my tooth was lecturing me (angrily) on not doing it. I have a temporary bridge right now and soon getting the permanent one put in and I have had a lot of time to think about Reclast and decided against it. The risk isn't worth the reward bcz there doesn't seem to be any reward in doing it! When I first saw my endocrinologist she asked me if I had heartburn or stomach issues and bcz I said I had heartburn she said I have no option but to do the Reclast. I am weary of this response also. How bad are the oral meds for us folks with occasional heartburn? Are the endocrinologists told to push the Reclast on their patients?
I have a bone scan and appointment with endocrinologist in May and at that time I have to re-evaluate this whole situation. I am having a hard time believing that there is a medication that can restore bone health. Can anyone make me a believer?

REPLY
Profile picture for tummis05 @tummis05

2 weeks before I was due for Reclast infusion I learned I needed a tooth extracted and a bridge put in. The endocrinologist said to not reschedule Reclast until all the dental work was completed. I come from a family of dentists and dental hygienists. They have all told me NOT to do Reclast. Even the oral surgeon that extracted my tooth was lecturing me (angrily) on not doing it. I have a temporary bridge right now and soon getting the permanent one put in and I have had a lot of time to think about Reclast and decided against it. The risk isn't worth the reward bcz there doesn't seem to be any reward in doing it! When I first saw my endocrinologist she asked me if I had heartburn or stomach issues and bcz I said I had heartburn she said I have no option but to do the Reclast. I am weary of this response also. How bad are the oral meds for us folks with occasional heartburn? Are the endocrinologists told to push the Reclast on their patients?
I have a bone scan and appointment with endocrinologist in May and at that time I have to re-evaluate this whole situation. I am having a hard time believing that there is a medication that can restore bone health. Can anyone make me a believer?

Jump to this post

@tummis05 A 2025 overview of medications by a Dr Michael Lewiecki presented to doctors and researchers. Quite technical, but very helpful .

Treat-to-target for osteoporosis


Thanks again to the person on this forum who pointed out that there is a link to the slides & graphs there also so that you do not have to freeze the presentation and zoom into the video a bunch of times like I did 🙂 Further thanks to the person on this forum who first posted this link. Sorry I did not keep your names.

REPLY
Profile picture for tummis05 @tummis05

2 weeks before I was due for Reclast infusion I learned I needed a tooth extracted and a bridge put in. The endocrinologist said to not reschedule Reclast until all the dental work was completed. I come from a family of dentists and dental hygienists. They have all told me NOT to do Reclast. Even the oral surgeon that extracted my tooth was lecturing me (angrily) on not doing it. I have a temporary bridge right now and soon getting the permanent one put in and I have had a lot of time to think about Reclast and decided against it. The risk isn't worth the reward bcz there doesn't seem to be any reward in doing it! When I first saw my endocrinologist she asked me if I had heartburn or stomach issues and bcz I said I had heartburn she said I have no option but to do the Reclast. I am weary of this response also. How bad are the oral meds for us folks with occasional heartburn? Are the endocrinologists told to push the Reclast on their patients?
I have a bone scan and appointment with endocrinologist in May and at that time I have to re-evaluate this whole situation. I am having a hard time believing that there is a medication that can restore bone health. Can anyone make me a believer?

Jump to this post

@tummis05 I would guess that if you already tend to get heartburn, beware of the oral meds…I am recovered from CRC and my oncologist advises against them, as I have a sensitive reconstructed gut. She wants me to do whatever I can to treat OP—BUT the choices are really not easy, and being on bone meds for life is very serious issue .

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.