Reclast Forums

I have Polycythemia Vera which is a bone cancer. I am 76 years old and have been taking Prolia for a few years. I have had breast cancer twice. Waiting for insurance to okay a valve replacement for my heart. The co pay for Prolia still is climbing. The oncologist said he could try me on Reclast to see if that would be cheaper since it is only once a year instead of twice for Prolia. I'm afraid the Reclast will mess with my kidney. Not sure if I should bite the bullet with Prolia, since I know what to expect. Any suggestions?

I took Prolia and I have severe discomfort in my mouth. I am afraid that Reclast will do as much harm as Prolia. The doctor wants me on Reclast but I am very afraid of the jaw problem and the pain in my mouth is horrible. My tongue and my lips have given me some kind of reaction allergic and feels swollen. I am also afraid of losing some teeth. ## Hello, Lala! How are you? It is a different type of drug, but to be honest, there have also been a lot of issues reported by those that have tried it. The best suggestion I can make is to go in and sit down with your doctor and have a heart to heart covering your fears and concerns. Have them give you the full side effect information, so they can help you make a fully informed decision. And remember, no matter what your doctor 'wants' ...

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My annual infusion is due this month. I need shoulder surgery. How long do I need to wait after the infusion to have it done? I am scheduled to have two dental implants at the end of June. May I presume that is far enough into the future? I am in my mid-70s and have had two infusions in 2015 and 2016. ## Had reclast infusion July 11, 2023 . Now need surgery for trigger finger. How long should I wait to schedule surgery.

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Hello. I am scheduled to get my first Reclast next week. Is it possible to switch to Prolia from taking Reclast after 3 years? I heard that I can switch to Reclast after taking Prolia. If that is true then I think I better start to take Prolia not Reclast. What is your advice or feedback?

I have been infused with Reclast 6 times, with a holiday in between. I cannot find info as to the limit in using this drug. The last 2 times I developed muscle pain and fatigue. Feeling of general unwellness. Lasted 2 weeks the last time. The first 4x I had no symptoms. ## There really isn't a limit, so to speak, it depends on what condition is being treated, and your response to the treatment. Muscle pain, fatigue, nausea, headache, dizziness, and joint pain can be normal side effects of Reclast. Are you still having symptoms? How far apart were your infusions? Does your doctor plan to do more?

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I have done Forteo, Prolia and now my doctor wants me to do Reclasp. I am 75 years old, haven't had any fractures I am aware of. Forteo caused more pain than usual, Prolia caused hair loss and the texture of my hair changed. The hair loss I mean bald spots. I have put off the Reclasp my doctor is wanting me to do, more poison going into my body and I don't feel any better. At my age, I have enough aches and pain without medication making me feel worse. ANYONE have anything positive to say about this drug. ## Unfortunately, I haven't read any posts from anyone that's had good experiences with Reclast, or most of the other medications that you've listed. They are all known to cause side effects, such as nausea, diarrhea, joint aches, bone pain, and elevated calcium lev...

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I had an infusion of Reclast at an infusion center in June 2010 and my Medicare HMO received a bill for over $7000 for which they paid $5800 claiming that was the average price that Medicare allows. My local pharmacy as well as an online quote was $1000 at the time. Why is there such a vast difference between a hospital charge and the retail market price? ## Reclast contains the active ingredient Zoledronic Acid, it is used to prevent bone fractures in cancer patients and people with certain other health issues. The reason there is such a huge difference is because, when at the hospital or infusion center, you are paying for a lot more than just the drug. You're also paying to use their equipment, the time you are taking up space to have it done there and the salaries/wages of any p...

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My mother (age 69) received a Reclast infusion 36 hours ago. She currently has a fever of 101.8 and has the chills and has felt shaky. She has called her primary care doctor and the doctor who prescribed Reclast but since it's after hours she can only talk to their help lines. They said to head to the ER only if her fever reaches 103 degrees. They said she can take Advil or Tylenol for the fever. I read on the FDA site that Reclast can affect the kidneys so I'm suggesting Tylenol for her (since that's processed in the liver not the kidneys). I also read she should drink a lot of water. Can anyone speak to a similar experience? Is there anything else we should be doing? ## How is your mother doing, now? As reported by the FDA, those can be normal side effects of Reclast. She ...

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I have osteoporosis. I had 2x reclast infusion. how many times does medicare cover this infusion? ## Hi Lucy, According to the link below, medicare seems to have stopped paying for Reclast infusions as of July 1st, 2013. However, they do list coverage for the generic version (Zoledronic Acid 1mg Infusions): cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Medicare-Learning-Network-MLN/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/MM8286.pdf That document might be old though and I'll also admit that certain information on their website comes off as if I'm reading hieroglyphs. So I would still encourage you to contact medicare directly just to be sure that you have updated information on specific coverage. Their contact page can be found at: questions.cms.gov/newrequest.php?id=5005&subtopicID=8296# I hope this ...

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I had reclast in September. That's when I got the information about doing dental work prior to infusion. Now in November I had a dental check up and have the beginnings of periodontal desease! I am 68 and never had my wisdom teeth removed. They are filled with bacteria and endangering my other teeth next to them but now I can't remove them. If I had been advised to get my dental work done prior to infusion by my doctor, I would have taken care of my teeth first. What can I do now? Is there an amount of time after infusion when it is safer to have this done? I have no other illness or desease and have had no after effects from the Reclast so far. ## I had Reclast a couple years a go after breast cancer treatment caused me to have mild osteoporosis issues. I had it in the infusion...

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I work for an osteoporosis physician and I was recently told that Novartis no longer supports the reclast and you portal. I was wondering if there is any other form that is used to get the same results or if I have to contact each individual patients insurance company for verification and copay information

I have had 3 Reclast infusions, Jan 2011, Feb 2012, Mar 2013. Also had chemotherapy in 2006 for a cancer diagnosis with no further evidence of disease and no further treatment. I have a 4-unit bridge that has been replaced 4 times in as many years. Dentist wants to replace with 2 implants and two crowns. Trying to assess my risks for ONJ. Finding mixed reviews, almost as many stating very low risk (less than 1%) to others indicating I should avoid any type of oral surgery at all costs. Seems like implants are my only option, though, if I want to keep my ability to eat properly, to say nothing of the cosmetic/visual issues. The bridge is very visible and loss of all 4 teeth is unacceptable. Any suggestions or evidence-based information on risks for going forward with implants? ## Hello, ...

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Does anyone know of anyone that is in their 30's or so that have done this treatment for osteoporosis. I know of only older people who have done it. I would just like to know what it is like for them. I have severe pain all the time and I did the treatment 4 months ago. I would like to try to get pregnant but do not know of anyone who has done this while on Reclast. IF there are women who have please respond. There is not much research about pregnancy and Reclast. Just that it is not a good idea. ## Do not take Reclast if you are trying to get pregnant. ## Liz is correct, while human studies on pregnant women are considered unethical, animals studies have shown that it is very dangerous. They found that Reclast caused seriously increased rates of miscarriage and stillbirth. It has a...

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I haven't taken Reclast in several years. Is it safe for me to have extensive dental work now? I will need to have 9 teeth pulled, an upper plate made and a partial made on the bottom. ## Hello, Sandra! How are you? Well, your dental work is a necessity, frankly, with all the problems I had over the years, it was relief to get my full dentures and I've never regretted it. However, Reclast can linger for years and still affect your body, so the best thing to do is to inform your dentist that you were on it and when, then they can decide if it's safe to do your work and, if so, they will know what problems to watch out for, since it's biggest danger in such cases, as reported by the FDA, is osteonecrosis of the jaw. If it's caught early, it can be treated. Is there any...

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Had my first infusion of Reclast last Thursday and have been a wreck ever since. Take Tylenol - hell second night I was taking the Norco I was prescribed when I broke my collar bone, which lead to the osteoporosis diagnosis!!!! Now I'm worried sick that I will have to take days off work as I don't know how I will be able to work feeling like crap. I also need to have a crown re-done next month, and I was never told anything about dental work needing to be done before the infusion. I work in healthcare and to be honest I "trusted" my doc - who never spent the time to discuss all these side effects with me. I should have known better! I have so many other health issues I'd rather just give up. ## Hello, Tami! How are you? I'm so sorry about what's happened. Are...

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I had a root canal competed on August 4th. I now need the filling replaced on my crown. Can I have the filling completed and receive a reclast inj. the following week? ## Hello, Mac! How are you? It would be best to double check with your doctor, since Reclast can cause some dental problems and there is a risk of your developing osteonecrosis of the jaw, as listed by the FDA. Many people are told to take care of any dental health issues, prior to starting Reclast, but I'm not sure how long they need to be separated. Other side effects may possibly include nausea, vomiting, weight loss, numbness and insomnia. Is there anything else I can help with?

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Can I drink coffee before reclast infusion? ## Hello, Carol! How are you? It's most likely not a good idea. There are warnings for Reclast that state that the patient must be appropriately hydrated, before the infusion is given and caffeine is a diuretic that removes fluid from the body. Unless your doctor okays it, it would be best to avoid anything caffeinated. Side effects to Reclast may include administration sight reactions, headaches, anorexia and diarrhea. Is there anything else I can help with?

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Will Medicare pay for my Reclast Infusion? ## Hi Frey, I believe it does, but only if you meet certain criteria. The information I found on this appears to be a few years old, so I don't know if anything has changed regarding their policies... but from what I could gather, Medicare will only consider the use of Zoledronic Acid (Reclast) to be medically necessary if it's being provided to you for either Paget's disease or for the treatment of osteoporosis "in postmenopausal women". However a Word document by the University of North Carolina School of Medicine notes that Medicare only requires documentation of medical necessity for infusions (with guidelines listed in the link below). So this is something I would encourage you to look into further if you don't meet...

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Is/has anyone taken Reclast (and perhaps has osteopenia) AND diagnosed with parathyroidisim??? Not sure whether to take the drug or go through the surgery (specifically since an abnormal parathyroid gland has not been found after having had 2 Sestimibi scans and 1 ultra sound). I've been told that happens with 20% of parathyroid patients....HELP!!

I had Reclast before under other insurance, the pamphlet Dr. gave me said it would cost me $60. But I was charged about $700 out of $4900( included Reclast and the charge of the use of the infusion center ) they charged to my insurance. It was a surprise. I am supposed to have another one but this time, I am under Medicare. I tried to get how much the Reclast infusion would cost me this time but no one seems to know!! I called Dr's office, they referred me to the infusion center, then they passed my call to the St. Luke's billing office, after several transfers, I ended up with an answering machine. I left the message but no return calls. Anyway, I am so fed up with this search. So I wonder anyone has any idea of the cost under Medicare here in Allentown PA? I know Medicare will pa