Reclast Information and Uses

Reclast

Reclast Overview

Reclast (generic: zoledronic acid) is a prescription medication used to treat and prevent osteoporosis (thinning and weakening of bones) and Paget's disease in adults. Reclast belongs to a group of drugs called biphosphonates, which slow the breakdown of bones.

This medication comes in an injectable form to be given directly into the vein (IV) by a healthcare provider. It is given once yearly or once every 2 years (for treatment or prevention of osteoporosis) or as a single dose for the treatment of Paget's disease.

Common side effects of Reclast include fever, pain, and headache.

Uses of Reclast

Reclast is a prescription medicine used to:

Treat or prevent osteoporosis in women after menopause.
Increase bone mass in men with osteoporosis.
Treat or prevent osteoporosis in either men or women who will be taking corticosteroid medicines for at least one year.
Treat certain men and women who have Paget’s disease of the bone.

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

Side Effects of Reclast

Reclast may cause serious side effects.

See “Drug Precautions”

The most common side effects of Reclast included:

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

Talk to your doctor about things you can do to help decrease some of these side effects that might happen with a Reclast infusion.

You may get allergic reactions, such as hives or, in rare cases, swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

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

These are not all the possible side effects of Reclast. For more information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Reclast Interactions

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Certain medicines may affect how Reclast works.

Especially tell your doctor if you are taking:

An antibiotic. Certain antibiotic medicines called aminoglycosides may increase the effect of Reclast in lowering your blood calcium for a long period of time. Some examples of aminoglycosides:
- gentamicin (Garamycin)
- streptomycin
- amikacin (Amikin)
- tobramycin
- neomycin
A diuretic or “water pill” such as bumetanide (Bumex), ethacrynic acid (Edecrin), and furosemide (Lasix).
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDS) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) and naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn).

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

Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them and show it to your doctor and pharmacist each time you get a new medicine.

Reclast Precautions

You should not receive Reclast if you are already receiving Zometa. Both Reclast and Zometa contain zoledronic acid.

Reclast can cause serious side effects including:

Low calcium levels in your blood (hypocalcemia)
Severe kidney problems
Severe jaw bone problems (osteonecrosis)
Bone, joint or muscle pain
Unusual thigh bone fractures

1. 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

Your doctor may prescribe calcium and vitamin D to help prevent low calcium levels in your blood, while you take Reclast. Take calcium and vitamin D as your doctor tells you to.

2. 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

You should drink at least 2 glasses of fluid within a few hours before receiving Reclast to reduce the risk of kidney problems.

3. 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.

4. Unusual thigh bone fractures.

Some people have developed unusual fractures in their thigh bone. Symptoms of a fracture may include new or unusual pain in your hip, groin, or thigh.

5. 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.

6. Bone, joint, or muscle pain

Some people who take bisphosphonates develop severe bone, joint, or muscle pain.

Call your doctor right away if you have any of these side effects.

Do not take Reclast if you:

Have low levels of calcium in your blood
Have kidney problems.
Are allergic to zoledronic acid or any of its ingredients. A list of ingredients is at the end of this leaflet.

Reclast Food Interactions

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.

Inform MD

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

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.

Reclast and Pregnancy

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.

Reclast and Lactation

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Reclast is excreted in human breast milk or if it will harm your nursing baby.

Reclast Usage

Your doctor will tell you how often you will receive Reclast.
Reclast is given by infusion into your vein (intravenously). Your infusion should last at least 15 minutes.
Before you receive Reclast, drink at least 2 glasses of fluid (such as water) within a few hours as directed by your doctor.
You may eat before your treatment with Reclast.
If you miss a dose of Reclast, call your doctor or healthcare provider to schedule your next dose.

Reclast Dosage

For prevention of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, the recommended Reclast dosage is 5 mg, given intravenously, once every 2 years.

For the treatment of osteoporosis in men or postmenopausal women, the Reclast dosage is 5 mg, given intravenously, once a year.

For the treatment and prevention of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis the recommended Reclast dosage is 5 mg once a year given intravenously.

For Paget's disease of the bone, the Reclast dosage is 5 mg given intravenously. It is given as a single dose, although, sometimes re-treatment is recommended.