I am a healthy 59 year old woman who was diagnosed with osteoporosis 3 yrs. ago, who has never broken a bone and who does not have any aches and pains. The Actonel constipated the heck out of me and ended up giving me tons of stomach ulcers, so I stopped it 2 years ago.
My rheumatologist, general practitioner and gyno are all trying to convince me to try Reclast and I am very hesitant because of the awful side effects that I could end up with.
I am reading and doing research on different treatments and I keep coming back to the same question:
Do certain people experience the awful side effects because their osteo is really severe and they've already had fractures and broken bones? Or possibly because they didn't drink plenty of water before and after the infusion?
Any advice, suggestions or enlightenment would be greatly appreciated.
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Question about Reclast
- By pichulita
- Posted September 8, 2009 at 5:24 pm · 6 replies
- In Postmenopausal women with osteoporosis
- Shared with the public
Explore topics in this discussion:
Arthritis Lipitor Back pain Emphysema Fractures Fosamax Reclast Osteopenia Actonel Pain Osteoporosis
6 replies
- Oldest first
- Newest first
- By Rozanne
- Posted September 9, 2009 at 2:53 pm
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Hi Pichulita
I was diagnosed 12 years ago with osteoporosis,I had not and have not broken any bones.My spine is -3.4 and my hip is -2.4 I have taken all the oral bisphosphonates as they came onto the market but then like you ended up with stomach problems,I was put on 3 monthly infusions for 2 years with no improvement in my T scores and in July was talked into, after a lot of hesitation on my part the yearly infusion of Reclast, Aclasta in the UK,since then I have had a lot of problems with eye inflamation and aches and pains in my legs,I did drink plenty of water before during and after the infusion.I do have osteo arthritis in my spine but since having the infusion it seems to have moved to my legs It is 9 weeks since I had the infusion and I am just hoping things will improve with time, although I have been told it can remain in your body for up to 10 years. I am not going to have a second infusion I am going to give my body a rest from the drugs I do wonder if it would have been better to have waited until I had fractured or broken a bone before taking all of these drugs,but I guess I thought the Doctors knew best, but in the end it is not them who suffer the side effects.You have not said what your T scores are,or whether you suffer with arthritis.Please dont feel I'm trying to put you off taking Reclast I just wanted to tell you my experience, each person is different.
Rozanne
- By Dot1
- Posted September 10, 2009 at 11:24 am
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Hi,
I had my reclast infusion last march, I had no problem after.
I do have osteo arthritis and I have had weak legs and severe back pain at times, I also was on lipitor for awhile and after coming off my legs and back improved. I have had mri's and
xrays that showed I had a fracture in my sachral bone and in my right hip, but they looked like they were old ones and healed. I cannot tolerate oral
drugs for my osteoporosis so I am in the process of being approved for my second reclast.
Also I showed a slight improvement in my bone density. So I am going for it again, I will post my results.
Best wishes for you and your decision. By the way I am 73.
Dot1
- By thebonz
- Posted September 10, 2009 at 2:51 pm
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Dear pichulita, My age is 69. I was on Actonel for 6 years with continuing loss of bone every dexa scan. My T scores now are exactly the same as yours. The doctor at Mayo clinic recommended I try the Reclast infustion, which I did a month ago, drinking plenty of water before and after, and I have had no side effects other than a headache for about 3 days after the infusion. I do hope that this will help me some, and I would recommend you try it also.
- By Milford
- Posted September 10, 2009 at 6:47 pm
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Don't let anyone fool you. ANYONE can have severe reactions that will last. Mine have lasted since Nov.17 and one doctor has said it may last the rest of my life !! PLEASE don't take a chance. Once they put it in your body there is NO way to remove it. If you are taking a pill you can stop it. Please think about it. There are so many bad reactions that soon they will have to withdraw it from the market.
- By Gemstone36
- Posted September 12, 2009 at 12:41 pm
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Hi pichulita, Like you, my rheumatologist recommended Reclast last June. I have no pain and I still stand tall. I was on Fosamax for 5 1/2 years due to osteopenia, and when I finally had another bone density test in May, I found I now had osteoporosis with - 3.2 and - 3.0 in the hips. I am 73. Reading all the side effects, I don't want to take it. I have had no fractures except from years ago from skiing and basketball. My doc tells me that if I don't get the infusion, I may break something requiring an operation, and with my emphysema, I may never get off the table. Scare tactic, but maybe true. So I am confused and just don't want to make things worse. I am told by an endocronolagist that if you go ahead with Reclast, be sure you have your kidneys checked out first, as they can be affected if there is a problem. Good luck to both of us.
Jim
- By pichulita
- Posted September 12, 2009 at 2:56 pm
- Report post
Thank you all for your responses.
Rozanne, my T scores are: -2.5 spine, -3 hips. I do not have arthritis and I have no symptoms yet of the osteo.
Dot1, please do post your results when you have the infusion again.
Thebonz, I'm glad that you tolerated the Reclast well, but I am scared to try it because if I have bad side effects, they could last for a looooooooooooong time.
Yes, Milford, I can understand what you are saying. Sorry that you've had a bad reaction to it. I keep thinking that if I can hold out until they come up with a more "benign" infusion, that would be good. The Actonel left me with tons of stomach ulcers and now I have a lump in my stomach from the scar tissue of the ulcers. That's why I don't want to take any oral meds.
Gemstone36, thank you for your input. My rheuma told me that I would have tests done (including kidney) before he would do the infusion, if I choose it.
I'm wondering if increasing my Vitamin D and possibly adding Vitamin E might help for now. I'm waiting to hear from my rheuma about what he thinks about this.
Thanks again for your responses
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