Before starting today’s post, we wanted to first urge all of our existing and future patients to stay safe. Houston has been hit particularly hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and we want all of our patients to know that we still recommend observing all possible precautions against community spread including regular hand washing, wearing face coverings over both the mouth and nostrils in public spaces, and practicing social distancing. As always, The Endocrine Center is here to serve our community during these times of great medical need.
With that, today we will be talking about a medication that we administer in the office known as zoledronic acide or Reclast.
Reclast is a prescription medication that is primarily used to treat or prevent osteoporosis. Typically, this will be in post-menopausal women, men who have suffered abnormal loss of bone mass, or any patient who will be taking corticosteroid medicines for at least one year. Reclast can also be used as treatment for Paget’s disease. The primary goal of Reclast is to reduce the chance of having a hip or spinal fracture.
Your doctor will determine how often you should have a Reclast infusion, typically every 6 months. The procedure is an infusion that will take 30 minutes with another 15 minutes spent in the office for monitoring
As with all medications, Reclast has its share of possible side effects. The main side effects are low blood calcium levels (hypocalcemia), kidney problems, rare jaw bone issues (osteonecrosis), rare unusual thigh bone fractures, and bone, joint, or muscle pain. You shouldn’t have a Reclast infusion done if you are already receiving Zometa as that medication also contains zoledronic acid. Al always, you should always call your doctor right away if you start experiencing any of the above side effects.
To help mitigate the possibility of some of those side effects, The Endocrine Center screens patients before administering a Reclast infusion. On the day of their appointment, a patient will need to verify that they have had no dental work in the past 3 months and have none planned for the next 3 months. They will also need to confirm they have no current tooth pain or tooth infection. These steps point to a patient that is less likely to experience jaw bone problems. We will also verify that the patient has had no fractures in the last 6 months and have had a recent normal result of creatinine and calcium blood levels. These steps will ensure the patient has a lower chance of experiencing hypocalcemia, kidney issues, or thigh bone fractures.
If you or your doctor feel like you may have osteoporosis and would like to inquire about Reclast, please give us a call at 713-973-3459 to schedule an appointment or visit our website at www.endocrinecenter.com.
