DEAR DR. GOTT: This is to warn people with poor bone density of the severe side effects of taking a Reclast injection.
I have poor bone density and was advised by my doctor to have a Reclast injection. This would supposedly help rebuild my bone density. I was provided with a pamphlet that said a person might get fluid symptoms or joint pains that might last from one to two weeks. As of today, four months later, the pain remains and has turned my life into a living hell and me into a recluse. I was once an active 83-year-old woman who enjoyed going on trips and riding my stationary bike five miles, three times a week. Now, I am an 83-year-old who is limited to making short trips to the store, doctor and church and can no longer ride my bike because of the amount of pain I am in. I have had numerous tests trying to determine the source of the pain but all with no results. The situation is so bad that some mornings I don’t want to even get up to face another day and I don’t know where to turn for help.
I got the injection and 18 days later at 3 am I was awakened with an excruciating pain on the right side of my groin down to my knee. I have been in contact with my doctor several times for tests to determine the source of the pain but nothing can be found. These tests included X-rays, a bone scan and an MRI. The conclusion is now that it is something I will just have to live with.
What seems odd to me is that this injection is being given to everyone. That is, the dosage given does not matter what your height and/or weight are. I am only 4′ 8” and weight 120 pounds.
Please pass on my experience to others who may be considering getting this shot. If someone had shared this with me, I would never, never have agreed to take the shot.
DEAR READER: Reclast (zoledronic acid) is used in the treatment of osteoporosis in men and post-menopausal women, for glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis, and Paget’s disease of the bone. It is an intravenous injection given once a year.
As with other bisphosphonates, post-marketing has seen infrequent reports of severe and occasionally incapacitating bone, joint, and/or muscle pain. It can develop anywhere from one day to several months following the start of the drug. Most sufferers experienced relief after discontinuing the medication. This leads me to believe that because you experienced this side effect as a result of Reclast, your symptoms MAY last up to a year from the date if the injection while the medication slowly works out of your system; however, I may be entirely wrong. You should speak to your physician.
Because the severity of your pain, you should likely avoid bisphosphonate use in the future. Once you hit the one-year mark of your Reclast injection, you should speak with your physician about including up to 1500 mg of calcium and 800 IU of vitamin D into your daily diet in an effort to slow your bone loss if you aren’t already taking these supplements. You might also benefit from weight-bearing exercises.
In the meantime, while you are unable to ride your bike, you may wish to consider water aerobics or swimming, preferably in a heated pool. This may help ease some of your pain and will enable you to be more active. Your local YMCA may be the easiest to access but your physician can also give you a referral to a physical therapist who can work with you.
Readers who are interested in learning more can order my Health Report “Osteoporosis” by sending a self-addressed, stamped number 10 envelope and a $2 US check or money order to Dr Peter Gott, PO Box 433, Lakeville, CT 06039. Be sure to mention the title when writing or print an order form from my website, www.AskDrGottMD.com.