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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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sstopalian | @sstopalian | 1 day ago
In reply to @gowalking "I had my first infusion on Monday, April 13, 2026. Other than sleeping all day. No..." + (show)
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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 it is true that many doctors don't tell one all that they should. It is also true that each of us need to ask the questions. What are the side effects? The most serious ones? How do I contact you if I have side effects? etc.,m etc.

Not sure what you mean by what they charge. If you are seeing a Medicare DR. medicare pays very very little.

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jozer | @jozer | 1 day ago
In reply to @gowalking "No excuse. Their obligation is to the patient, not to how many patients they can get..." + (show)
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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'd be up to burning and marching for sure! Not just for osteoporosis but for all the other ignored health issues women have to deal with! Even my (female) gyne said until there are more of our representatives working towards women's health things aren't going to change.

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neesie0159 | @neesie0159 | 23 hours ago
In reply to @jozer "@gowalking I received a handout about reclast on my way out AFTER the infusion. The only..." + (show)
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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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@jozer I got the prep info here as well. I won’t start Reclast until the beginning of July, but my endo agreed to write the order for it to be given over 60-90 minutes (I believe that includes fluids before and after ). I still have to get pre auth from insurance but that has been such a nightmare (not my insurance company’s fault, the provider and infusion center) while I was on Prolia that I am waiting until next month to follow up on it. Insurance denied brand name Reclast so they will have to resubmit for the generic.

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neesie0159 | @neesie0159 | 23 hours ago
In reply to @askjewels "@dannyandebbie Y E S - me too - NO MORE nothing! I had a reaction to..." + (show)
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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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@askjewels I hope those of you who forgo vaccines take other precautions, like wearing masks in healthcare settings and crowds. Covid and flu still kill thousands every year.

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askjewels | @askjewels | 22 hours ago
In reply to @neesie0159 "@askjewels I hope those of you who forgo vaccines take other precautions, like wearing masks in..." + (show)
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@askjewels I hope those of you who forgo vaccines take other precautions, like wearing masks in healthcare settings and crowds. Covid and flu still kill thousands every year.

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@neesie0159 I am unable to get anymore, says next one could kill me.

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kaybollinger79 | @kaybollinger79 | 9 hours ago

Both my hands were so swollen that the had to cut my rings off at the er. Pain in muscles and joints.took a week for swelling to go down and 6 months to feel normal for me.

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kaybollinger79 | @kaybollinger79 | 9 hours ago
In reply to @sstopalian "@gowalking it is true that many doctors don't tell one all that they should. It is..." + (show)
Profile picture for sstopalian @sstopalian

@gowalking it is true that many doctors don't tell one all that they should. It is also true that each of us need to ask the questions. What are the side effects? The most serious ones? How do I contact you if I have side effects? etc.,m etc.

Not sure what you mean by what they charge. If you are seeing a Medicare DR. medicare pays very very little.

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@sstopalian when I kept telling dr. What rec last did to me he said…it couldn’t be the reclast. I have changed drs.

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