What Are the Dangers of Reclast for Osteoporosis?

Reclast is a brand name for the injectable prescription medication zoledronic acid. Despite its effectiveness in the treatment of osteoporosis in men and post-menopausal women, Reclast poses a risk for some potential dangers.

Common Side Effects

• The most common side effects of Reclast for osteoporosis are not normally dangerous and include loss of appetite, headaches, dizziness, vertigo, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, upper abdominal pain, indigestion, muscle or joint pain, bone pain, muscle spasms, fever, fatigue, chills, malaise and weakness.

Significance

• In U.S. Food and Drug Administration clinical trials published on RxList, between 5.7 and 9.1 percent of Reclast users developed osteoarthritis and between 4.4 and 5.3 suffered from a shortage of red blood cells or anemia. This makes the danger of arthritis or anemia the most significant or likely dangers of Reclast.

Drug Interactions

• Taking Reclast with loop diuretics like furosemide poses a risk for calcium deficiencies. When taken with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, Reclast increases the danger of developing kidney failure, warns RxList.

Risks

• Infrequently, use of Reclast for the treatment of osteoporosis causes osteonecrosis or death of the jaw bone, which can cause pain and loose teeth. Additionally, there is a danger for kidney failure and the need for dialysis associated with the use of Reclast in patients with osteoporosis, cautions RxList.

Considerations

• Reclast poses a risk for birth defects or miscarriages, but is rarely prescribed for the treatment of osteoporosis in any woman who has not yet gone through menopause. If you have a history of anemia, cancer, dental disease or poor dental hygiene, asthma, heart or kidney disease, hypoparathyroidism, thyroid surgery, stomach absorption problems, calcium deficiency or dehydration, it may not be safe for you to take Reclast for the treatment of osteoporosis, warns the Mayo Clinic.