Reclast Infusions: Side-effects & Recovery time

@jennd63 I haven’t had my Reclast infusion, yet. Waiting on Medicare approval. When i asked the endocrinologist about side effects, he said he’s only had 5 complaints in 20 years. So, I’m hoping for the best!
Do the doctors want the Reclast infusion before or after surgery?

I had my 5th Reclast infusion last week with no side effects.

A couple of years ago I had two Reclast infusions. I would go upstairs in our building have my infusion and go back to work in the Chem lab. Never had a side effect but had to stop due to a dental implant. Before that, I was on Fosamax for several years and had no side effects. Now the docs have me trying Tymlos. We will see how that turns out. Hope this helps a little bit and my thoughts are with you with your back surgery coming up.

I was really nervous about my August 2021 Reclast injection after reading about some of the bad side effects here on this site, but my infusion was pretty uneventful. My endocrinologist advised me that the Reclast was my best option after 12 fractures (I'm 64, a long-distance runner for 30 years who weight trained, thin (5'7 and 125 pounds), with psoriasis (an autoimmune disease) and an Ashkenazi Jewish background, which both put me at higher risk for osteoporosis). Over the past decade, even though I've been very fit and active, I broke my right foot fifth metatarsal three times, my kneecap (patella), my distal radius in both my right and left arms, my toe twice, and this past Christmas morning 2020 (the end of a horrific pandemic year I might add), my black lab crossed in front of me on a run while I was training for a half-marathon and tripped me and I landed on my hip and broke my femoral neck and had percutaneous pinning to repair it (three long screws). Spent all of Christmas week in surgery and the hospital with no visitors due to Covid. By then, I had to admit to myself that my plant-based diet, my weight-bearing exercises and my extremely healthy lifestyle were no match for my osteopenia and osteoporosis and I needed to go on a bone-strengthening drug regimen, which I did VERY reluctantly. I read a lot of reviews on this site and decided to do the Reclast infusion over 45 minutes instead of 20 minutes (which I assume is just anecdotal advice and not scientifically proven, but I figured it couldn't hurt). I also hydrated beforehand (which the nurse told me was really just to help them find a "nice plump vein" for the infusion). I then hydrated extensively after the infusion to protect my kidneys because I had read that the infusion is a bit hard on them. I drank 16 oz of water every hour for the rest of the day and the next day. The day of the infusion, which ended at 4 p.m., I had no side effects and actually felt a little "wired" and energetic. It could just have been nerves. The next day, I still felt good, until about 10 p.m. and then ran a fever of a couple of degrees and felt a little fluish. When I took a Duexis (which is a prescription drug that combines 800 mg ibuprofen with famotadine, the generic for Pepcid, to keep the ibuprofen from upsetting my stomach, I felt much better. I was a little low-energy on the second day after the infusion and I rested for the day, catching up on Netflix and news. By Monday morning (I had the infusion on a Friday to give myself the weekend to recover), I felt much better, although I did feel kind of low-energy Tuesday through Friday. That was the full extent of my side effects, which were much less intense than my Pfizer Covid vaccine side effects. I'm writing this because I have a sense that many women with minimal side effects don't bother to post on this site and I want others to know that the Reclast infusion isn't always accompanied by terrible side effects. My nurse said that 75% of the women she treated had no to minimal side effects. It's been less than a month since my infusion and I'm feeling good. Hopefully there won't be any long-term side effects, and there will be some improvement in my bone density. Please weigh the side effects of the infusion against the pain, surgeries and life interruptions caused by frequently broken bones. When I look back at family photos from the past decade, some part of my body is in a cast or a brace or a boot in too many of them!

Good for you! I too, was very reluctant to try any osteoporosis drugs. I had fought off worsening numbers for 22+ years with a better diet and exercise. But eventually, especially after menopause, the numbers continued to decline. I took Forteo for two years and had decent improvement in my bone density. Then I too agreed to the Reclast infusion. My experience was good (and I hydrated and took Tylenol before and after) with just a little fever and low energy the day after. Then all was well. I'm (almost) 67 and I do not want to face the years ahead quitting my activities because I am fearful of a fracture. So far, so good. I'll keep up with this on a yearly basis for the time limit allowed.

Thanks so much for your reply! Have you had enough time after your Reclast infusion to see any measurable gains in bone density?

Hasn't been enough time to do a Dexa. But we did test for bone markers, and my endo was very pleased. Next Spring is when we can do the next Dexa.

How long did you have to wait before dong the test for bone markers -- and what test was that? Maybe I'll ask my endocrinologist to do this for me as well.

My endocrinologist has recommended Reclast for osteoporosis of lower spine. I am 63 and have no symptoms. I need my eyesight for work(dental). I am very concerned about side effects, especially muscle and joint pain and eye issues such as iritis and blurred vision. I would appreciate some insight.

I am 70 and have no side effects with reclast