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Reclast Infusions: Side-effects & Recovery time

Posted by cindydee @cindydee, Mar 20, 2018

I just had a reclast infusion last week and have had serious side effects. I had the worst flue like aching for 5 days then my lefty arm became full of inflammation in the wrist, elbow and shoulder which caused extreme pain and I lost the ability to straighten my elbow. Ultrasound showed huge amounts of fluid throughout the arm. The right arm is now starting to have the same symptoms. The pain is excruciating. Has anyone else experienced anything like this? Neither the ER doctor nor the Dr. who prescribed the procedure knew what to do to ease the symptoms. Both arms from fingertips to shoulder are swollen and neither elbow will straighten. Anyone else have adverse reactions to the reclast infusion? If yes, how long did it last?

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askjewels | @askjewels | Apr 15 10:18am
In reply to @dannyandebbie "@askjewels some of these symptoms are quite scary! You know, I do not recall my endocrinologist..." + (show)
Profile picture for dannyandebbie @dannyandebbie

@askjewels some of these symptoms are quite scary! You know, I do not recall my endocrinologist expressing any of these side effects before or during my infusion! Wish he had, might of changed my mine. I also know, the symptoms I’ve experienced has helped make up my future mind, no more infusion. In fact, I went to primary Friday for my annual and they wanted to give me RSVP, Flu and Covid vaccine to which I declined all 3, proud of myself! Stand strong for myself! Bast of luck for Short term symptoms!

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@dannyandebbie Y E S - me too - NO MORE nothing! I had a reaction to the Hep A vaccine that I got in 2018. I have controlled psoriasis - no flare ups for years now, thanks to taking 1000 vitamin d-3 for past 9 years now. I was going with my husband to visit his brother in Virginia, and they had a huge outbreak of Hep A. So I asked, would this vaccine give me any side effects with he having an autoimmune disease. The health dept said no. Within seconds of getting the vaccine, I blacked out, woke up with books stacked up under my head on their floor. For 8 weeks after that I had a poor appetite, nausea, lost 10 pounds, weak. It was horrible. So do not get vaccines.

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jcl75 | @jcl75 | Apr 15 2:21pm

jcl75.
Addendum to my Reclast saga: I had a 2nd opinion with an opthalmologist. This time (after 3-4 hours) it was decided that I should go directly to the ER. There was concern about Giant cell arteritis. I was seen by a neuro opthalmologist who was concerned about Giant Cell Arteritis (not good). I had a biopsy yesterday to rule this out. I am to return in a few days for lab and biopsy results.

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gowalking | @gowalking | Apr 17 2:41am

I had my first infusion on Monday, April 13, 2026.
Other than sleeping all day. No issues.

I did hydrate well as suggested, and drank
plenty of water the day before, the morning of and two bottles of water during the infusion and plenty of water the rest of the day.

I took two Extra Strength Tylenol about an hour before.

You are correct, the doctors don't tell you much about side effects, alternative treatments or how to prepare. For what they charge, you'd think they would have a little information, send you home with instructions on how to prepare, what side effects may occur and what to expect. NOPE....You have to go on this forum for that.....as they say "the best things in life are free"....

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dannyandebbie | @dannyandebbie | Apr 17 8:26am
In reply to @gowalking "I had my first infusion on Monday, April 13, 2026. Other than sleeping all day. No..." + (show)
Profile picture for gowalking @gowalking

I had my first infusion on Monday, April 13, 2026.
Other than sleeping all day. No issues.

I did hydrate well as suggested, and drank
plenty of water the day before, the morning of and two bottles of water during the infusion and plenty of water the rest of the day.

I took two Extra Strength Tylenol about an hour before.

You are correct, the doctors don't tell you much about side effects, alternative treatments or how to prepare. For what they charge, you'd think they would have a little information, send you home with instructions on how to prepare, what side effects may occur and what to expect. NOPE....You have to go on this forum for that.....as they say "the best things in life are free"....

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@gowalking glad no real side effects, hopefully none pop out days later either!

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gowalking | @gowalking | Apr 17 10:28am
In reply to @dannyandebbie "@gowalking glad no real side effects, hopefully none pop out days later either!" + (show)
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@gowalking glad no real side effects, hopefully none pop out days later either!

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@dannyandebbie

Keeping my fingers crossed!!

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deborahla | @deborahla | Apr 18 5:24am
In reply to @gowalking "I had my first infusion on Monday, April 13, 2026. Other than sleeping all day. No..." + (show)
Profile picture for gowalking @gowalking

I had my first infusion on Monday, April 13, 2026.
Other than sleeping all day. No issues.

I did hydrate well as suggested, and drank
plenty of water the day before, the morning of and two bottles of water during the infusion and plenty of water the rest of the day.

I took two Extra Strength Tylenol about an hour before.

You are correct, the doctors don't tell you much about side effects, alternative treatments or how to prepare. For what they charge, you'd think they would have a little information, send you home with instructions on how to prepare, what side effects may occur and what to expect. NOPE....You have to go on this forum for that.....as they say "the best things in life are free"....

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@gowalking I agree with you. Providers don't inform patients adequately. I think they have to see so many patients it is just not possible for them to do so

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jozer | @jozer | Apr 18 6:58am
In reply to @gowalking "I had my first infusion on Monday, April 13, 2026. Other than sleeping all day. No..." + (show)
Profile picture for gowalking @gowalking

I had my first infusion on Monday, April 13, 2026.
Other than sleeping all day. No issues.

I did hydrate well as suggested, and drank
plenty of water the day before, the morning of and two bottles of water during the infusion and plenty of water the rest of the day.

I took two Extra Strength Tylenol about an hour before.

You are correct, the doctors don't tell you much about side effects, alternative treatments or how to prepare. For what they charge, you'd think they would have a little information, send you home with instructions on how to prepare, what side effects may occur and what to expect. NOPE....You have to go on this forum for that.....as they say "the best things in life are free"....

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@gowalking I received a handout about reclast on my way out AFTER the infusion. The only prep instructions I got were “be well hydrated (8 oz? 164 oz?), and take Tylenol if you have flu symptoms”. Zero info otherwise. I know doctors have lots of patients, little time. I had no idea there could be any type of side effects until I found this forum and thankfully how to prep for infusion. Followed a protocol found here and had zero side effects, other than on and off bone pain the eight months since I had the infusion, which my doc said after first month it wouldn’t be from reclast. I say BS! It’s in the literature from Novartis.

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2 replies
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gowalking | @gowalking | Apr 18 9:15am

No excuse. Their obligation is to the patient, not to how many patients they can get in and out the door in a day.

Looking back, I see how much of my problem is due to doctors who are uneducated in Osteoporosis and Bone Health. A PCP isn't necessarily educated in every field, be he should be able to direct you to a doctor who specializes in your needs, who will listen to you, your concerns and symptoms.

I don't know what the solution is, but there really should not be so many people on this forum asking.....what will happen, did it work for you, what is the difference between this treatment and that treatment, how do I prepare for it, can it be stopped if there are side effects, what are the side effects..it's a medical field that tends a lot of attention.

Maybe its time to burn our bras and March on Washington again.

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2 replies
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deborahla | @deborahla | Apr 19 6:19am
In reply to @gowalking "No excuse. Their obligation is to the patient, not to how many patients they can get..." + (show)
Profile picture for gowalking @gowalking

No excuse. Their obligation is to the patient, not to how many patients they can get in and out the door in a day.

Looking back, I see how much of my problem is due to doctors who are uneducated in Osteoporosis and Bone Health. A PCP isn't necessarily educated in every field, be he should be able to direct you to a doctor who specializes in your needs, who will listen to you, your concerns and symptoms.

I don't know what the solution is, but there really should not be so many people on this forum asking.....what will happen, did it work for you, what is the difference between this treatment and that treatment, how do I prepare for it, can it be stopped if there are side effects, what are the side effects..it's a medical field that tends a lot of attention.

Maybe its time to burn our bras and March on Washington again.

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@gowalking I agree with you. I get my information from this forum mainly about osteoporosis (not my provider). It is true their obligation is to the patient but the employees put so much pressure on the providers and they have to see the patients for reimbursement (money). It is not a good system, not for the patient or the provider.

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vmcgrantham | @vmcgrantham | Apr 19 7:57am

I had the same thing when I started Prolia and then it was better after that. My doctor didn’t know anything either, so I contacted Prolia itself. Contact reclast itself. I am suppose to start that after this one but I worry about my kidneys

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