I am 46 years old and had my ovaries removed in 2006, 4 years ago. I have had two bone density scans, two years apart. In 2008, my spine was perfect, hips starting to show bone density loss. In 2008 was given Boniva. 1st month experienced severe hip pain and muscle aches, thought it was the flu. 2nd month, couldn't lay on either side for more than a few minutes...still didn't connect with taking the Boniva. 3rd month, I felt like a Barbie Doll whose legs were cracked off. Refused further doses. Two years later, started Fosamax. A fall resulted in x-rays, bone density scan and discovered that the spine was starting to show signs of bone density loss, and the hips are getting much worse. After the 4th dose of Fosamax, fingers swelled twice the normal size, feet swelled as well, severe hip pain, joint pain, muscle pain, heart palpitations....felt like I had the H1N1 all over again! Refuse to take another dose. Question I have is, if my doctor decided to prescribe Reclast, should I expect the same type of allergic reaction as I had to the Fosamax?
Hi arianasgrama, welcome and thanks for joining us. I'm so sorry you are having such trouble with both Boniva and Fosamax. Reclast is the same class of drugs that Boniva and Fosamax are, so it's possible that you'd have the same reaction. It's also possible that you won't. Usually if your chief complaint is of the gastrointestinal kind then I would say that Reclast should be easier to tolerate, but since your problem is with pain, then I think it's possible to have the same reaction from Reclast.
You could ask your Dr. if there is something else you could take, and go from there. The problem with Reclast is we don't know how long the side effects will last, "if" you have some.
You'll ultimately have to make the decision yourself since it's your body and you are the one who has to deal with any pros or cons from the drug.
Good luck, and don't forget to get enough vitamin d, calcium, weight bearing exercises and also magnesium, vit K2, phosphorus and potassium. If you have another question just post again. I hope the pain goes away soon; that's so horrible to deal with-unfortunately I know from personal experience.
Hi again, one thing I forgot to mention is that Reclast can cause atrial fibrillation (erradic heart beat), so if you already have this from Fosamax, I would be very careful since you don't want this to get worse. Since you have swelling from this, it also means you are probably allergic to it, so if you haven't discussed this with your Dr. please do so since anything that causes an allergic reaction should be dc'd.
The only other meds available that don't have these side effects are:
~Evista (SERM)
~Calcitonin (nasal spray from salmon calcitonin)
~HRT (hormone replacement)
But each of these are considered a second line of defense. If you scores are real bad you could consider one of these provided you don't have any reasons you couldn't take them.
Good luck again...
I had one injection of Reclast and almost a year to the date had dental problems. I had a crown over a root canaled molar which was done incorrectly and in short had to be extracted. During the extraction, I experienced extreme TMJ pain which was something with which I had never had problems.The area was prepared with a bone graft for future inplant. Then began the nightmare of my life. I experienced pain that was so unbelievable I couldn't think straight, eat or drive. I was taken back to the dentist three times with increasing pain each time. Pain medications were not even touching the pain. At one point I thought I had an aneursym in my head thinking tooth pain would never cause the intensity of pain I was experiencing. Went back to dentist and almost passed out with pain - he then contacted my primary care physician and I was taken to see him. Immedicately he know what the problem was: RECLAST!! I was given strong, strong pain meds and went to dentist the next day to have the bone graft removed. The pain was so intense the novacain would not effective despite five injections. Since then I have constant pain of some kind in the TMJ on that side of my jaw. It is getting worse daily, my bite is completely off and the TMJ sometimes is incredibly painful. I fear it will continue to decline and am petrified of the consequences. I would not recommend Reclast to anyone. I also think the company should be ashamed for not studying this more carefully and should be held accountable. I'm really at my wit's end.
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I am a 63 yo woman with severe osteopososis in my hips. I have pelvic/sacral insufficency and already have fractured both pelvis and sacrum as well as 5 ribs. I am on Evista, calium and vitamin D but unalbe to take any of the oral medications such as Fosamax, Actonel or Boniva due to Crohn's disease. I had a Mediport put in to facilitate infusion of one of the IV medications HOWEVER Medicare will NOT cover Reclast I was told unless one is bedbound, has NO stomach or intestines.
Boniva is not on the formulary of the local hospital.
Any suggestions?
The physician who had intended to prescribe Reclast was responsible for getting it on the formulary at two local hospitals and has implemented the training procedures for hospital staff thus I would think he was well versed in the specifics of Reclast. His nurse responsible for pre-approval spoke to Medicare today and that is what she says she was told.
I have a copy of the letter that the American Academy of Rheumatology wrote to former Adminstrator McClellan of CMS in 2006 asking that they reaccess their deniel of coverage for injectable Boniva so it appears that Medicare is not covering the various forms of IV/IM and subcutaneous drugs for osteoporosis.
I have emailed several people I know at Medicare and asked specifically to whom at CMS I can address this issue.
I would also like to find out the actual cost of these various biphosphonates.
This is obviosly a shortsighted stance considering the high cost complications and disability that denying these drugs will cause.
My grandmother just had her 1st dose 1mo ago in a FL hospital and medicare paid for it without question. Bill was $1500 for med and infusion. Medicare paid $1300. She felt in was more than fair since she was paying $50 mo for Boniva. Maybe you should check yourself.