Reclast infusion long term side effects

Posted by tiza @tiza, Feb 4 7:41am

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!

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Profile picture for gently @gently

danny, your experience makes it clear that the rheumatologist, endocrinologist and neurologist should be answering "Reclast."
I'm grateful that you reveal your experience. Otherwise no one will know the risk they are taking with this drug.
Ideally a person reacting to Reclast would have the steroid IV soon after the infusion (as some have been hospitalized), or better, prophylactically before the infusion. While I suspect that you may have received the steroid too late, I don't know if early steroid can resolve all the negative reaction to Reclast. That you are having new symptoms is a sign that maybe it doesn't. It doesn't even seem that any of your symptoms are lessening and this new symptom is appalling.
I do know that the reaction is seldom recognized as related to the infusion.
I've wondered, do you think that you were more at risk because of latent autoimmune systems? or is any suspected autoimmune reaction directly caused by the drug.
Thanks for continuing to post.

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@gently the steroids were like two maybe three months after the infusion, did nothing for the pain!

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I think the only thing the steroid can do is to stop the self sustaining reaction of the cytokines. It can't reverse any damage done to tissue-- organs or vessels. It was disappointing that the steroid didn't help you at all. I wonder though if there are ways separate from cytokine that Reclast causes damage.

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Profile picture for osteopatient2026 @osteopatient2026

@karenjaninaz
Had you been given a shingles vaccine before starting?

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@osteopatient2026 Yes and timely. I read that they are looking into the possible high incidence of shingles after Prolia.

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Profile picture for karenjaninaz @karenjaninaz

@osteopatient2026 Yes and timely. I read that they are looking into the possible high incidence of shingles after Prolia.

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@karenjaninaz
I had my first case of shingles shortly after starting Tymlos…it’s difficult to know for sure what brought it on…stress of the diagnosis, age, Tymlos or all of it.

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Profile picture for dannyandebbie @dannyandebbie

@osteopatient2026 yes, at 65 I was given the shingles vaccine; 67 Reclast infusion! Nothing more from here on out to the end of my time. I am not nor will I be treated like a Ginny pig. I had felt pretty good prior outside of a lot of leg issues from Ankolosing spondylitis, which I have had since I was 18 years of age. Someone did a blood test and said, oh my, you need to see an endocrinologist because you might have the onset of osteoporosis, they say, you need a Reclast infusion…….i listened, you are the professionals, okay, wish I had said! “ NO”

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@dannyandebbie
What blood test if you remember indicated you might have osteoporosis? Low urine calcium, or other?

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Profile picture for dannyandebbie @dannyandebbie

@gently 69 year old male! I was given a steroid pack x 2 with no positive results! It’s been 26 months since I received my first and last infusion; never, ever again! It started with nausea, should pain and left foot! Nausea, shoulder pain, exhaustion, fatigue, vision blurry, lower back pain and latest is this constant shocking sensation whenever I cough in my groin and upper legs. Rheumatologist, neurologist and / or Endocrinologist all have no answer for the symptoms!

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@dannyandebbie So very sorry! Reclast ruined my life too. When can we get a class action? This is poison!

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Profile picture for karenjaninaz @karenjaninaz

@osteopatient2026 Yes and timely. I read that they are looking into the possible high incidence of shingles after Prolia.

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@karenjaninaz

Aha, yet another reason I won't go the Prolia route - my father had shingles and I am ter-ri-fied of getting them!

Thanks for the info!

Cheers!

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Profile picture for beanieone @beanieone

@karenjaninaz

Aha, yet another reason I won't go the Prolia route - my father had shingles and I am ter-ri-fied of getting them!

Thanks for the info!

Cheers!

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@beanieone
“Prevention of Shingles”
The most effective method to prevent shingles is through vaccination rather than medication. The recombinant zoster vaccine, known as Shingrix, is the primary preventive measure.
Shingrix Vaccine
Effectiveness: Over 90% effective in preventing shingles and its complications.
Recommended Age: Adults aged 50 and older.
Dosage: Administered as a two-dose series.

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Profile picture for osteopatient2026 @osteopatient2026

@beanieone
“Prevention of Shingles”
The most effective method to prevent shingles is through vaccination rather than medication. The recombinant zoster vaccine, known as Shingrix, is the primary preventive measure.
Shingrix Vaccine
Effectiveness: Over 90% effective in preventing shingles and its complications.
Recommended Age: Adults aged 50 and older.
Dosage: Administered as a two-dose series.

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@osteopatient2026,

Thanks for your post - I fall into the age group that got a single dose of Zostavax (the only Shingles vax at that time), I think around age 60, and more recently, two doses of Shingrix. Zostavax has since been discontinued for use in the US - yikes! I tolerated both doses of Shingrix well, even though I was warned that the second dose is supposed to be pretty "gritty".

Incidentally, I had the chicken pox as a small child and I have a little round scar to prove it ;). I also believe both my husband (for the first time) and I (again) got chicken pox infections when our young son had his chicken pox vaccination! We didn't have these vaccines "back in the day".

All the best! Cheers!

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