Retired physician John R. Agnew has an amusing take on Big Pharma’s bombardment of consumers with DTC advertising. Writes Agnew:
The drug commercials seem to me to be insulting. They overstate the benefits, minimize the side effects and ignore the cost: “Panacea is not for everyone,” they warn. “Let your doctor know if you have liver disease (he is too dumb to figure it out for himself) or are allergic to this drug (which you wouldn’t know in advance anyway). Side effects include fainting, jaundice, suicidal thoughts, constipation and sudden death. Do not operate heavy machinery after taking the first dose, and tell your doctor right away if you are dying”…
My favorite is Reclast, a once-a-year treatment for osteoporosis. It comes with many warnings, of course, including “jaw problems have been reported.” Jaw problems? What does that mean? Lock-jaw? Fossy-jaw? (I looked it up, and you don’t want to know while eating breakfast).
Reclast, like Fosamax and Boniva, is a treatment for osteoporosis, which refers to an extreme loss of bone density, most common in postmenopausal women. All three drugs are known as bisphosphonates.
The difference is that Reclast offers a level of convenience that the others don’t. Reclast is the first drug approved by the FDA (in 2007) as a once-a-year, intravenous treatment. As Novartis states on the Reclast Web site:
A single dose, along with daily calcium and vitamin D, helps strengthen your bones and protect them from fracture for 12 full months.
Reclast, along with Fosamax, Boniva and other bone-building drugs, have a number of side effects — but currently the FDA is most concerned about studies that show these drugs can produce irregular heartbeats in some patients. The most recent study, focusing on Fosamax, came out just last month.
Reclast’s jaw side effect, by the way, is osteonecrosis (“bone death”) of the jaw bone; it has occurred only in rare cases. Here’s a full list of Reclast warnings and precautions.
More on Reclast vs. Fosamax here.
30 responses so far ↓
1 Jo Coudray // Jul 16, 2009 at 9:38 pm
I just cancelled an infusion for Reclast after reading of the side effects. I think I would prefer to shrink and die naturally rather than go through all the worries of the pharmaceutical industry profit. Thank you very much!
2 Summer Smith // Oct 14, 2009 at 9:20 am
I had my Reclast infusion in June, and it altered my body chemistry dramatically! I am now allergic to eggs, cheese, dairy and any and all calcium supplements! In addition to which, I have also developed an extreme allergy to antibiotics. Another side effect for me has been the loss of energy — I used to be much more active and could stay up later at night. Not any more! All I can say is this: I sure hope the Reclast infusion is doing something for my bones, because it sure has messed me up in other ways!!
Bottom Line: I won’t do it again!
Summer Smith
3 Gini // Oct 16, 2009 at 11:25 pm
I had this infusion two days ago. It will be my last!! I was up all night… never so sick in my life…a headache that would not quite, chills, all over body aches, weakness, etc. It was awful.
4 Pat // Nov 10, 2009 at 8:04 pm
I had an appointment today to get reclast, but cancelled after reading all of the side effects, especially the loss of jawbone, not to mention kidney problems, and low blood calcium.
5 Brittany // Feb 21, 2010 at 4:33 pm
I am a student at the University of Oklahoma and am working on my capstone project which requires me to interview women with osteoporosis. It’s upsetting to hear what you women have gone through and I am curious if you have started any new treatments to help prevent your osteoporosis from worsening?
6 Pam // Feb 24, 2010 at 8:22 am
This drug sucks! Never again!!
7 nancy // Mar 26, 2010 at 9:55 pm
read this too late.Information on Bisphosphonates (marketed as Actonel, Actonel+Ca, Aredia, Boniva, Didronel, Fosamax, Fosamax+D, Reclast, Skelid, and Zometa)
FDA ALERT [1/7/2008] – FDA is highlighting the possibility of severe and sometimes incapacitating bone, joint, and/or muscle (musculoskeletal) pain in patients taking bisphosphonates. Although severe musculoskeletal pain is included in the prescribing information for all bisphosphonates, the association between bisphosphonates and severe musculoskeletal pain may be overlooked by healthcare professionals, delaying diagnosis, prolonging pain and/or impairment, and necessitating the use of analgesics.
The severe musculoskeletal pain may occur within days, months, or years after starting a bisphosphonate. Some patients have reported complete relief of symptoms after discontinuing the bisphosphonate, whereas others have reported slow or incomplete resolution. The risk factors for and incidence of severe musculoskeletal pain associated with bisphosphonates are unknown.
This severe musculoskeletal pain is in contrast to the acute phase response characterized by fever, chills, bone pain, myalgias, and arthralgias that sometimes accompanies initial administration of intravenous bisphosphonates and may occur with initial exposure to once-weekly or once-monthly doses of oral bisphosphonates. The symptoms related to the acute phase response tend to resolve within several days with continued drug use.
Healthcare professionals should consider whether bisphosphonate use might be responsible for severe musculoskeletal pain in patients who present with these symptoms and consider temporary or permanent discontinuation of the drug.
I have been severely suffering since I was given Reclast. Only thing I can do it take prednisone to get sed rate (imflamation down) this round of that terrible drug(which only treats the symptons) was 20 days ago. My ACL that was replaced and was in great shape 12/08 just dissapeared 12/09. No injury or acccident…… Reclast is killing me Still!
8 nancy // Mar 26, 2010 at 9:59 pm
I have been severely suffering since I was given Reclast. Only thing I can do it take prednisone to get sed rate (imflamation down) this round of that terrible drug(which only treats the symptons) was 20 days ago. My ACL that was replaced and was in great shape 12/08 just dissapeared 12/09. No injury or acccident…… I believe that Reclast is killing me Still
9 Judith Peck // Apr 4, 2010 at 8:02 pm
Thrilled with it. Osteoporosis since age 50 curtailed lots of fun activities with my grand kids. Made some progress on orals, but GERD necessitated gut biopsies and esposphogeal dilatation.
I can tell you after 35 years as a nurse, this is a great drug. If you think it is not worth a few punny side effects what will you be saying after you are in the nursing home when you fracture your hip (no hip pinning for people with osteoporosis) or have horrible chronic back pain from vertebral fractures. Or dead. Good luck, I see it every day!
10 Linda Jordan // May 23, 2010 at 10:56 am
I’m 58 years old with osteoporosis. I have taken reclast 2 times. The first year I did have flu like symptons and this went away after 2 days no problems at all after this. The second infusion, the following year in 2009,I had no problems whatsoever. I can say with the reclast treatment and I also take Citracal -2 tablets- twice a day and a vitamin D supplement. I feel much stronger than before
11 sharon frickey // Jul 8, 2010 at 10:03 pm
Ihave had REclast twice. The first time I done very good. This last time I thought I was doing okay but have had alot of trouble with my feet hurting and burning causing me pain to walk. Also have had sprained thumb that took forever to heal and alot of aching. Not sure if I should go on with this
12 L Hotra // Sep 17, 2010 at 11:49 am
I’m curious what percentage of women had bad side effects vs the ones that did not. My doctor just recommended that I take reclast and now I’m very concerned since reading all these posts about the negative side effects.
13 Joyce // Sep 28, 2010 at 11:01 am
I have had ReClast twice now and have had NO side effects. I take Citracil twice a day and a Vit.D supplement. I will continue with ReClast. It works!
14 Kathy // Oct 18, 2010 at 10:18 am
My Mother had 2 infusions of reclast before she had bottom teeth pulled for dentures. She has been through hell and back. Has osteonecrosis of the jaw bone. Has been through 2 hospitalizations, 2 sessions of picc line antibiotics, one 40+ days, one 57 days, also still doing hyperbarics, on 40+ visit. Also on second hospitalization, had the dead portion of jaw removed, still a small area of dead bone exposed. Hopefully she can wear some sort of dentures. This has been ongoing for one year. She is 80 years old and has lost prob. 30 pounds. On the second hospitalization, she stayed 5 weeks due to antiobiotics every 6 hrs and hyperbarics. DO NOT TAKE THIS DRUG!!!
15 Judith Peck // Nov 20, 2010 at 8:11 pm
Kathy,
Total disaster for your mom. I am kind of surprised that a clinician would start an 80 yr old on bisphos. The horsers are pretty much out of the barn. Not that you can’t get some bone remodeling at 80, but unless you have long lived relatives, like into their mid 90′s it is probably not worth the risk, even a small risk. I assume your mom was not a smoker as she still had some of her own teeth at 80. AND I hope he physician, either checked her mouth and dental hygiene or sent her to a dentist before she got her medication. These drugs have been great for me, as I was in my late 40;s with full on osteoporosis, with only thin and white as risk factors. It did rebuild my bone so that I only have osteopenia. I had a lifetime of being a big dairy consumer and weighbearing exercising. That is another problem, clinician’s offen provide this medication for osteopenia when it should be reserved for those with osteoporosis. Diet, exercise, estrogen, home saftety are all other things that should be tried first. I am due this year for my BMD, if it is not continuing to improve I am going to take a 2 year holdiay to see if I get reversal. I can also wait out the study on the atypical femur fx that are occuring. Overall these are very powerful drugs (all are) and I am glad that they are available as I am sure they have kept me without fracture and able to keep up with my grandkids. It is ALWAYS important to remember that all drugs are just controlled poinsoning and anthsesia is a controlled OD.
Good Luck,
Judith Peck
16 shirley // Mar 16, 2011 at 12:25 pm
I am undecided if I will take the second dose in May. Suggestions?
17 Susan // May 10, 2011 at 1:01 pm
I took Reclast in 2009 after having done daily Forteo injections for 14 monts and Fosamex for almost 2 years before. I got worse of the Fosamex. Bone density improved dramatically on Forteo and my last fun body bone density done last months was a report of bones NORMAL. I am 68 and began this journey in my early 60′s. I felt like I had the flu for a couple days after being given Reclast. In addition, I had some aches a couple times during the year. I decided they were ‘growing pains’ and maybe they were.
18 Amy // May 18, 2011 at 3:12 pm
I too would like to know the percentage of women who have had bad side effects vs the ones that did not. After a bad reaction to Fosamax, it was suggested to try Reclast. Do not want to go through that pain and suffering again.
19 Joyce Peters // May 26, 2011 at 6:41 am
I have had 2 treatments and have had no problems. Dr very pleased with my improve. Will continue with Reclast along with Citrical and vit D
20 Lakin Alexander // Jun 4, 2011 at 1:34 pm
My mothers doctor recommended reclast for her oosteo eleven days later she was dead. She was 54 years old and had heart disease. The doctor had never checked her heart the reclast restricts blood flow and the restricted blood flow caused her a massive heartattack. that whole day she cried that her bones (especially her jaw which she had packed with ice all day)hurt immensely. please read ALL of the side effects.
21 EVELYN // Jun 18, 2011 at 9:41 am
MY DR. HAS SCHEDULED ME TO HAVE THE RECLAST INFUSION; BUT I HAVE CHANGED MY MIND…I WILL TAKE CALCIUN AND VITAMIN D…
22 Mary R // Jul 4, 2011 at 8:17 am
Wow am I confused, I have taken Fosamax and Actonel for years and recently Forteo for about a year. I have a new doctor and she is recommending Reclast. I am suppose to go in a couple days for the infusion but after reading these blogs I am considering canceling. I have had a heart stent am only 62. Is there any real reliable info out there? I tend to believe the bloggers rather than the drug makers. Any of your opinions would be much appreciated.
23 Lucy // Nov 4, 2011 at 11:07 pm
Took Reclast last week. Horrible, painful side effects, unrelieved by narcotics.
No pain/No gain.
Hope & pray it is doing all that it needs to do.
Blessings!
24 Linda // Nov 10, 2011 at 11:06 pm
My reclast appointment was cancelled because the Dr. neglected to inform that I needed blood and urine tested prior to the infusion. I had my first Reclast last year with no bad affects, that I know of; maybe that is why my joints hurt. Wish I knew what to do, don’t want to be a stooped over old lady, I am now 66 years old.
25 Liz // Nov 11, 2011 at 10:36 am
The doctor has recommended reclast for my daughter that is physically and mentally disabled, she has been on fosomax the last two years and has had problems with upset stomach. The once a year would be great but after reading the blogs not sure if it would be good idea since she in non-verbal and not able to let us know what reactions she might would have. Any opinions would be appreciated.
26 Esther // Dec 3, 2011 at 2:28 pm
I have had reclast twice now and have had no reactions. I will go next year and have the 3rd. I also go to a endocrinologist for my osteoporosis.
27 Phyllis // Dec 4, 2011 at 12:20 pm
I’m 68 and have osteopenia my hip. My doctor wants me to take Reclast but I am having second thoughts. This is really scary! How does one make a decision?
28 LITA // Dec 18, 2011 at 5:55 pm
Had my 3rd reclast in mid Nov. The
first one I reacted with a 30 minute dizzy spell & then fine.If happened 15 minutes sooner, I was driving home home & would have stopped on the spot and waited fo some help
The 2nd had no reaction but I usid a driver
This time I am still so dizzy that I have to use a cane and at times a walker.
I am a care taker of my disabled husband but if this does not improve, I will need a czretaker also
This gets very expensive.I still have to hire a driver
It already 6 or 7 weeks
It was reported to the FDA & the manufacturer
Women s
& doctors should be warned
It is not listed as apotentiol side effect
29 Andrea // Dec 27, 2011 at 10:38 pm
My father took his first and only infusion of reclast in Sept. 2010, and he was dead 54 days later. This drug is poison pure and simple. It is a big fat drug company lie, as it doesn’t really help anyone, it gives a false appearance of denser bones in some people. It destroys osteoclasts a key component in our bone making cycle. It may not cause side effects in all people ( in hundreds of thousands it does) but in the people that have reactions there is no antidote or way to reverse this drug once it is in your system. This is a tragic game of Russian Roulette. My father was healthy before Reclast, and only taking one prescription drug, after Reclast he was in severe pain, renal failure, A. Fib, muscle spasms, just to name a few. He had a full battery of blood work before his infusion, and all was normal, yet he was dead less than 2 months later. I would tell anyone to run away from this drug as fast as you can. Even if you have taken it without problems , you are in for trouble down the road most likely. Why is a drug that is suppose to help your bones causing our bones to die, and become diseased?? Why are our strongest bones, the femur, snapping in two after these drugs??? Does this make sense people?? No, these drugs are a lie, and should be banned from the market. I just read that 514 people have died due to Reclast in the last year, and countless others ( hundreds of thousands ) have experienced severe adverse reactions. In one study 67% of Reclast patients suffered severe adverse reactions. I hate this drug, and will celebrate when it is gone forever, never to harm another person. Shame on Novartis , and these drug companies for putting profit over people . We trust them, and they abuse that privilege!
30 Grandma Cookie // Jan 19, 2012 at 1:49 pm
I am scheduled for a Reclast infusion. I am cancelling. I do not like what I am reading about you having such horrible effects from this drug. It is bad enough to get older, but to make things so much worse is not a good thing. Thank you all for commenting on the drug.
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