Reclast and "drug holiday"

How are your DEXA scores? Have you fractured? Both of these play into how long a break you can take from Reclast. The reason a break is recommended is that bisphosphonates like Reclast and Fosamax suppress the natural process of bone breakdown and formation which can lead to more brittle bones and fracture.

A year or two is usually the length of the break from the drugs. Since most insurance companies will approve a DEXA scan every two years, that’s often the amount of time spent on a break.

If you have fractured recently, then you’ll likely be started on an anabolic medication instead of taking a break. This is what happened in my case - I was scheduled to start on my break after five years of Fosamax when I fractured. I was placed on anabolic medication instead.

After the holiday, you could go back on Reclast or take Fosamax. I’m wondering, though, why you were given Reclast instead of Fosamax as doctors usually go straight to Fosamax unless you’ve fractured.

You could also start anabolic therapy if your bone density is below -2.5 which is the threshold for severe osteoporosis.

The only score that was in osteoporosis area was Left Femur which was -2.6. That dexa was taken just prior to my second Reclast infusion.
I also wonder why I was given Reclast rather than told about any other options. My former PCP just said to take calcium and D even after I was first diagnosed with osteoporosis. Even though we're fortunate in our city to have excellent healthcare in all other areas, the endocrinology and osteoporosis care I've received is poor. The healthcare system makes it difficult to change, too.
Thank you very much for your input.

@bethieb Yes, medical care for this disease is poor. I was diagnosed by my GYN doctor who referred me to a rheumatologist. My insurance company did not process the referral since it didn’t come from a PCP. I didn’t know at the time that who I really needed was an endocrinologist specializing in osteoporosis.

My PCP started me on Fosamax and didn’t really follow up on anything even when my scores started to decline after three years on Fosamax. It wasn’t until I fractured while on a medication that was supposed to prevent fractures that she paid any attention.

In the end, I had to find an endocrinologist myself and tell the PCP who to refer me to.

We do have to advocate for ourselves these days and it's not usually easy. I'm glad you found an endocrinologist and hope you're on a good plan. Thank you for your input.