1. < Osteoporosis & Bone Health

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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ladydiscdy | @ladydiscdy | Feb 24 5:55am
In reply to @sbcarcht "Sorry to hear about issues you've had. I had Reclast infusions two years in a row,..." + (show)
@sbcarcht

Sorry to hear about issues you've had. I had Reclast infusions two years in a row, and now have them about every other year depending on what my endocrinologist sees in Dexa scores and lab work. I've never had any reactions to the infusions.

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Thank you for your reply I am just getting ready for my second infusion and I found your comment helpful. Can you tell me did your Dexa score improve or at least stay the same?

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susanfalcon52 | @susanfalcon52 | Feb 24 8:00am
In reply to @kgrainger "Curious why endocrinologists keeps an eye on your scores and not a GP or Internal medicine..." + (show)
@kgrainger

Curious why endocrinologists keeps an eye on your scores and not a GP or Internal medicine doctor?

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kgrainger,
No specialty focuses on bones, so I guess endocrinologists got into the field. It makes sense, but I think it’s important to see an endocrinologist who is serious about it and not treating it like a side line. I’m pretty disgruntled with my endocrinologist right now. I think he mostly cares about his huge practice with diabetics.
There was a period in 90s and early 2000s when gynecologists were addressing it. I believe that’s because drugs were invented to treat it (big money) and the pharmaceutical companies thought that targeting gyn practices was lucrative.

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betterbackbone | @betterbackbone | Feb 24 8:33am
In reply to @sbcarcht "My Mayo internist keeps an eye on my status, but feels my endocrinologist is best equipped..." + (show)
@sbcarcht

My Mayo internist keeps an eye on my status, but feels my endocrinologist is best equipped to monitor and fine tune my meds for best bone health.

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I’m monitored by an endocrinologist as well,

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friend123 | @friend123 | Feb 25 4:10pm
In reply to @sbcarcht "Sorry to hear about issues you've had. I had Reclast infusions two years in a row,..." + (show)
@sbcarcht

Sorry to hear about issues you've had. I had Reclast infusions two years in a row, and now have them about every other year depending on what my endocrinologist sees in Dexa scores and lab work. I've never had any reactions to the infusions.

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I’m so happy to hear you have had no reactions. My dr. told me many patients have no side effects. I am contemplating having these infusion. My dr. wants to discuss it more after my blood work and urine analysis is completed.

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swgarrard | @swgarrard | Feb 26 2:21pm

On February 15th I had a Reclast infusion after completing a year on Evenity. I requested and received a slow infusion of 45 minutes and prepared and followed up with the Tylenol and hydrating that has been recommended by others on this site. At the suggestion of the infusion nurse I also took Claritin for several days. I had the infusion in the late afternoon and had no symptoms until the following morning at 2:00 am when I woke up with a bad headache and some general aches in my upper body for which I took some Tylenol. The first day I was very tired and took three naps but that lasted only one day. For several days my left arm (infusion arm) felt like a torn muscle that I once had in the other shoulder. This went away but on about day 5 my hands became really swollen unrelated to any change in diet. I contacted my doctor as that didn’t seem to be a usual side effect and he said to report back if it continued – it did not. I would say that now at day 11 that I have mild aches which I might be able to attribute to the Reclast but cannot be sure as the areas are the usual suspects (arthritis in hands, etc). On another note, someone else mentioned that they had tried Wellen which is an exercise site devoted to people with osteoporosis. I have been using it on a trial basis and am really impressed. It is very well organized, sessions limited to 30 minutes, geared to the props that you already have on hand, can be reviewed by you before you begin each session and can be adjusted to decrease or increase difficulty. You can sign up for a two-week free trial and if you like it, it is $114 for the year which seems reasonable to me. Thanks to whoever suggested this as I have been searching for a program to accompany Pilates which is pretty expensive.

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2 replies
janflute | @janflute | Feb 27 6:05am
In reply to @swgarrard "On February 15th I had a Reclast infusion after completing a year on Evenity. I requested..." + (show)
@swgarrard

On February 15th I had a Reclast infusion after completing a year on Evenity. I requested and received a slow infusion of 45 minutes and prepared and followed up with the Tylenol and hydrating that has been recommended by others on this site. At the suggestion of the infusion nurse I also took Claritin for several days. I had the infusion in the late afternoon and had no symptoms until the following morning at 2:00 am when I woke up with a bad headache and some general aches in my upper body for which I took some Tylenol. The first day I was very tired and took three naps but that lasted only one day. For several days my left arm (infusion arm) felt like a torn muscle that I once had in the other shoulder. This went away but on about day 5 my hands became really swollen unrelated to any change in diet. I contacted my doctor as that didn’t seem to be a usual side effect and he said to report back if it continued – it did not. I would say that now at day 11 that I have mild aches which I might be able to attribute to the Reclast but cannot be sure as the areas are the usual suspects (arthritis in hands, etc). On another note, someone else mentioned that they had tried Wellen which is an exercise site devoted to people with osteoporosis. I have been using it on a trial basis and am really impressed. It is very well organized, sessions limited to 30 minutes, geared to the props that you already have on hand, can be reviewed by you before you begin each session and can be adjusted to decrease or increase difficulty. You can sign up for a two-week free trial and if you like it, it is $114 for the year which seems reasonable to me. Thanks to whoever suggested this as I have been searching for a program to accompany Pilates which is pretty expensive.

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Wonderful information! Thank you! Keep posting, it is very helpful.

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susanfalcon52 | @susanfalcon52 | Feb 27 6:51am
In reply to @swgarrard "On February 15th I had a Reclast infusion after completing a year on Evenity. I requested..." + (show)
@swgarrard

On February 15th I had a Reclast infusion after completing a year on Evenity. I requested and received a slow infusion of 45 minutes and prepared and followed up with the Tylenol and hydrating that has been recommended by others on this site. At the suggestion of the infusion nurse I also took Claritin for several days. I had the infusion in the late afternoon and had no symptoms until the following morning at 2:00 am when I woke up with a bad headache and some general aches in my upper body for which I took some Tylenol. The first day I was very tired and took three naps but that lasted only one day. For several days my left arm (infusion arm) felt like a torn muscle that I once had in the other shoulder. This went away but on about day 5 my hands became really swollen unrelated to any change in diet. I contacted my doctor as that didn’t seem to be a usual side effect and he said to report back if it continued – it did not. I would say that now at day 11 that I have mild aches which I might be able to attribute to the Reclast but cannot be sure as the areas are the usual suspects (arthritis in hands, etc). On another note, someone else mentioned that they had tried Wellen which is an exercise site devoted to people with osteoporosis. I have been using it on a trial basis and am really impressed. It is very well organized, sessions limited to 30 minutes, geared to the props that you already have on hand, can be reviewed by you before you begin each session and can be adjusted to decrease or increase difficulty. You can sign up for a two-week free trial and if you like it, it is $114 for the year which seems reasonable to me. Thanks to whoever suggested this as I have been searching for a program to accompany Pilates which is pretty expensive.

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Please keep us posted as to your Reclast side effects. I hope that they subside.

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nitzapitza | @nitzapitza | Mar 22 6:47pm

your 2008 post....i hope you are doing a whole lot better....it's been a while for you , curious how you recovered ...i just had my reclast 15 days ago...having the same experience as you. also, the bottom of my feet are hurting/ have knots on the bottom of my feet. going to have a blood test for CMP, ESR, and CPK. i just hope to god it's all temporary and i haven't damaged my kidneys. hope to hear from you.
nitza

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1 reply
janflute | @janflute | Mar 23 7:26am
In reply to @nitzapitza "your 2008 post....i hope you are doing a whole lot better....it's been a while for you..." + (show)
@nitzapitza

your 2008 post....i hope you are doing a whole lot better....it's been a while for you , curious how you recovered ...i just had my reclast 15 days ago...having the same experience as you. also, the bottom of my feet are hurting/ have knots on the bottom of my feet. going to have a blood test for CMP, ESR, and CPK. i just hope to god it's all temporary and i haven't damaged my kidneys. hope to hear from you.
nitza

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🙏

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windyshores | @windyshores | Mar 23 8:58am

Since I am so reactive to meds, my doc said I could do 1 mg instead of 5 mg, and as far apart as 6 months. I can't do oral meds due to GERD. (He also said I could wait 2-3 months after Evenity whereas Reclast would be given immediately after Tymlos finished.)

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