New osteoporsis yearly Intravenous injection is it Reclass? Preclass? Who knows about this?

By carol jo Friday, February 29, 2008

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I heard about a new osteoporsis treatment where it takes 15 minutes to get an IV yearly. It is covered by insurance. I need to know the name of this and the manufacturer. Is it Reclast? I now take a Boniva IV injection every three months. It costs $439.00 each time. I am a senior and run out of RX money in June every year. I believe this new IV is covered by medicare and is given at a hospital out patient facility. If I could find out about this it might save me $$ because it might be covered by the medicare side rather than the $2,510 rx's allowed each year -- or it might be cheaper once a year. My e-mail is carol.jo1@verizon.net. Thanks.

Comments (14) | Add comment

Maria Gifford, Editor

3/ 1/08 8:33pm

Hello Carol Jo,

The new osteoporosis drug you're referring to is Reclast (zoledronic acid). Here's some information for you:

Reclast (Zoledronic Acid) vs. Fosamax, Boniva and Actonel

http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoporosis/c/73/13598/reclast-acid/

Reclast Once a Year: When to Discuss Reclast (Zoledronic Acid) with Your Doctor

http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoporosis/c/9487/12610/year-acid/

Reclast: How to Talk to Your Doctor About Zoledronic Acid for Osteoporosis Treatment

http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoporosis/c/9487/12611/talk-acid/

If you'd like to know more, just let me know. Keep us posted on what you decide and how it goes.

Best,

Maria

carol jo

4/ 7/08 2:15pm

Thanks for the info on Reclast. I talked to my doctor and they tried to get me approved. I have osteopenia -- borderline osteoporosis so Medicare wouldn't approve me for Replast. I have to take a Boniva injection every three months that goes to my RX limit of $2,510. I meet my max in June of each year. It is kind of dumb they won't pay for the Reclase infusion under medicare Part B. It is very difficult for me to come up with the money to pay for the Boniva each year. Does anyone know what Reclast costs if I pay for it myself or how I could find that out. I know I would also have to go to an infusion clinic. Thanks for your reply.

reclast user

4/29/08 10:21pm

I just got my bill today for my infusion of reclast. My share is $2,404 (out of $4,500). I won't get another infusion. Insurance cos. and drug cos. are complete rip offs.

lynn

1/ 2/09 7:10pm

I have blue cross blue shield- I went on line and researched reclast, it also lets you find iv infussion clinics near you. I then got with my dr.and gave her the info, she then called the clinic and sent them a referal. They contacted my ins as I had met my 1000.00 ded the only cost I had was my 20% out of pocket. Which cost me 340.00 for the year as aposed to 50.00 a month for the pill. Lynn

Carol

1/25/10 10:48am

I had the (15 minute) Reclast IV injection performed in December 2009. My insurance company was charged over $8,000.00.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am trying to investigate if this is insurance fraud. This cannot cost this much.

I am not on Medicare or Medicade. My private insurance paid 90%, however, if you call the drug Manufacturer (Novartis) about the cost, they read from a script and talk about "If you are on Medicare" blah, blah, blah. Otherswise, Contact your private insurance company!!!

Anonymous

1/30/10 1:18pm

I use Forteo for 2 months. Read about Reclasp. Which is safer, have better results and pricewise better to use. Will the Reclasp build bone like the Forteo?

Patient

3/ 8/11 1:03pm

My total bill for the infusion was $6539.51. I'm on Medicare and my share of cost was (is) $244.16. This makes my second. I'm going to do a bone density and see if it has improved since my last bone density four years ago. Told my Doctor I could save some money if no improvement showed. He replied that even if it shows no improvement it would help it from getting worse. Seems pretty pricey to me.

Marcia

3/14/12 1:27pm

I have taken reclass for the second time. After the first time i did a bone density test and it showed that I am doing better. Before the reclass my bone density test were never good. I am really happy with once a year. It is expensive but in the long run it is going to help my bones, nothing else has.

Lila de Tantillo, Health Guide

3/ 2/08 2:37pm

Thanks so much for sharing your excellent question. Yes, Reclast was approved last year for use in osteoporosis patients, so a discussion with your doctor about this alternative may be in order. While prices may vary, it sounds like the single annual dose costs about the same as two of your quarterly doses of Boniva together, which might be more affordable. Of course the most important issue is whether your physician considers you a suitable candidate for this type of treatment, so please do consider the potential benefits and risk factors carefully as you explore this option with your doctor.

Gemma

12/ 5/09 8:58am

I had this injection on26th October 2009. After 12 hours I became very poorly and I thought I was going to die. Nobody wants to talk to me about it. I still do not feel well. Read the leaflet before having injection its covers everything. !!!

3/18/11 5:56pm

I received this drug ,the year before last ,in December. About a month after I noticed that the first knuckles on my fingers on both hands are very enlarged. I called the doctors office and spoke with the doctors assistant and she said to come in and see the doctor. I asked her did she think he would accept respondsability for this and she laught. I did not go to see him. I am still experiencing this problem. I never had this before the shot. I will never take it again.Please warn people of this side effect. Thank you, L

Pam Flores, Health Guide

3/23/11 6:02pm

Hi L, welcome... Sorry to hear about your side effects from Reclast (zoledronic acid). I'm also sorry your Dr.'s nurse reacted that way, but I'm not all that surprised.

I haven't heard of this particular side effect, so if you want to report it to the FDA, here's the link to report side effects of drugs.

I hope this goes away soon, and maybe you might want to have another Dr. look at it. If so, you might be able to get some treatment for it.

Good luck.

CLARE

7/31/11 8:51pm

i TOOK FOR THE FIRST TIME. tHE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS i HAVE HURT VERY BAD AND FELT LIKE I HAD THE FLU

carol jo

8/ 1/11 10:26pm

I had to stop all injections. I understand the only RX I can take now is Forteo. I had a scare at a dental surgeon's office. I mave osteopenia of the jaw. He said it could turn into a terrible disfiguring jaw problem that is caused by Fosamax, Boniva and the injection and recommended I not take it anymore. He teaches at Baylor. I had to have a tooth removed and that doctor said he was in a study on the effects of these drugs on the jaw. Be sure to have an all over xray of your jaw or some type of blood test. THis was noticed by the surgeon when I had a xray and fortunately the blood test showed at that time that I was okay - just have osteopenia of the jaw. This is supposedly very rare but I recommend everyone be checked in case you are one of the rare patients. Thank goodness I found out early enough. Carol

New osteoporsis yearly Intravenous injection is it Reclass? Preclass? Who knows about this?

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