Reclast

Reclast is a prescription medication used to treat and prevent osteoporosis in postmenopausal women as well as to treat osteoporosis in men.

Reclast is used to treat and prevent glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis and is used to treat Paget's disease.

Reclast belongs to a group of drugs called biphosphonates, which slow the breakdown of bone. 

This medication comes in an injectable form to be given directly into a vein (IV) by a healthcare provider. How often you will receive Reclast will depend on what you are being treated for.

Common side effects of Reclast acid include fever, nausea, bone pain, and fatigue.

Reclast is a prescription medicine used:

• to treat and prevent osteoporosis in postmenopausal women Reclast helps reduce the chance of having a hip or spinal fracture (break)
• to treat osteoporosis in men
• to treat and prevent glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis in men and women
• to treat Paget's disease in men and women

​This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

• Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation

Common side effects of Reclast include:

• Fever
• Pain in your bones, joints or muscles
• Pain in your arms and legs
• Headache
• Flu-like illness (fever, chills, bone, joint, or muscle pain, fatigue)
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

This is not a complete list of Reclast side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• medicines which may be harmful to the kidney 
• medicines which are excreted by the kidney such as digoxin (Lanoxin)
• aminoglycosides such as amikacin (Amikin), gentamicin (Garamycin), kanamycin (Kantrex), neomycin (Neo-Fradin),  streptomycin, tobramycin
• certain diuretics ("water pills") such as bumetanide (Bumex), ethacrynic acid (Edecrin), and furosemide (Lasix).
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve)
• vancomycin (Vancocin)

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for a list of these medicines, if you are not sure.

This is not a complete list of Reclast drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Serious side effects have been reported with Reclast including the following:

• Low calcium levels in your blood (hypocalcemia). Reclast may lower the calcium levels in your blood. If you have low blood calcium before you start taking Reclast, it may get worse during treatment. Your low blood calcium must be treated before you take Reclast. Most people with low blood calcium levels do not have symptoms, but some people may have symptoms. Call your doctor right away if you have symptoms of low blood calcium such as:
  • Spasms, twitches, or cramps in your muscles
  • Numbness or tingling in your fingers, toes, or around your mouth

• Severe kidney problems. Severe kidney problems may happen when you take Reclast. Severe kidney problems may lead to hospitalization or kidney dialysis and can be life-threatening. Your risk of kidney problems is higher if you:
  • already have kidney problems
  • take a diuretic or “water pill"
  • do not have enough water in your body (dehydrated) before or after you receive Reclast
  • are of advanced age since the risk increases as you get older
  • take any medicines known to harm your kidneys

• Severe jaw bone problems (osteonecrosis). Severe jaw bone problems may happen when you take Reclast. Your doctor should examine your mouth before you start Reclast. Your doctor may tell you to see your dentist before you start Reclast. It is important for you to practice good mouth care during treatment with Reclast.
• Possible harm to your unborn baby. Reclast should not be used if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor right away if you are
  
  pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Reclast may harm your unborn baby.
• Bone, joint, or muscle pain. Some people who take bisphosphonates, such as Reclast, develop severe bone, joint, or muscle pain.

Do not take Reclast if you:

• are allergic to Reclast or any components of Reclast. Severe allergic reactions have occurred with Reclast use. These reactions, including rare cases of hives and swelling near the eyes and lips, and very rare cases of life-threatening allergic reactions, have been reported.
• are being treated with another medication containing zoledronic acid. Zometa is in a class of drugs called bisphosphonates, and contains the same active ingredient as that found in Reclast.
• have low levels of calcium in your blood.
• have kidney problems, tell your doctor. The risk of adverse reactions (especially related to the kidney) may be greater for you. It is important to get your blood tests while you are receiving Reclast. Your doctor will monitor your kidney function before each dose.

Tell your doctor if you are on other drugs, including aminoglycosides, loop diuretics, and drugs which may be harmful to the kidney. See "Drug Interactions" section.

Medicines can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of Reclast there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving Reclast.

Before you start Reclast, be sure to talk to your doctor if you:

• Are receiving another medication containing zoledronic acid. Zometa has the same active ingredient as found in Reclast.
• Are allergic to Reclast or any of its ingredients, or any other medication, especially bisphosphonates.
• Have low blood calcium.
• Have kidney problems.
• Had parathyroid or thyroid surgery (glands in your neck).
• Have been told you have trouble absorbing minerals in your stomach or intestines (malabsorption syndrome) or have had parts of your intestine removed.
• Have asthma (wheezing) from taking aspirin.
• Plan to have dental surgery or teeth removed.
• Are pregnant, or plan to become pregnant. Reclast may harm your unborn baby. Reclast should not be used if you are pregnant.
• Are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Reclast passes into your milk and may harm your baby.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Reclast falls into category D. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies of Reclast in pregnant women. Reclast may harm your unborn baby. Reclast should not be used if you are pregnant.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

It is not known if Reclast passes into your milk and may harm your baby. Because many medications can cross into human milk and because of the possibility for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants with use of this medication, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or stop the use of this medication. Your doctor and you will decide if the benefits outweigh the risk of using Reclast.

Reclast is given by intravenous (IV) infusion by a healthcare provider in a hospital or other medical facility.

• The infusion takes at least 15 minutes.
• Your doctor will monitor your kidney function before each dose.
• Your doctor may advise you to take oral calcium supplements and vitamin D daily.
• Administration of acetaminophen (Tylenol) following Reclast treatment may reduce the incidence of certain reactions such as chills, fever, joint pain, and bone pain.
• You may eat before your treatment with Reclast.
• Before you receive Reclast, drink at least 2 glasses of fluid (such as water) within a few hours as directed by your doctor.

Your doctor will tell you how often you will receive Reclast:

• Reclast is given once a year given for treating osteoporosis in postmenopausal women and treating osteoporosis in men.
• Reclast is given once every 2 years for preventing osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.
• Reclast is given once a year for treatment and prevention of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis.

Treatment of Osteoporosis in Postmenopausal Women: The recommended regimen is a 5 mg infusion injected into the vein (intravenously) once a year.

Reclast is usually administered by a healthcare provider in a medical setting making it unlikely for an overdose to occur. However, if overdose is suspected, seek emergency medical attention.

Keep all medical and laboratory appointments. If you miss an appointment to receive a Reclast, call your healthcare provider right away.