Zometa - Osteoporosis Message Board

paulineg · 09-08-2004, 07:55 AM

Has anyone out there had the Zometa (Zoledronic Acid) injection? My Dad had it a couple of months back and he wants to know if anone has had any weird side effects from it. He recently had a very bad swelling appear around his knee, and the doctors still do not know exactly why, or what is causing it! Any feedback would be welcome.

SteveCal · 10-06-2004, 08:55 PM

Hi- Yes I am a 59 year old male who had a zometa infusion last year. Within two days of the infusion I had vomiting, swollen eyes with an eye infection, and severe flu like symptoms. Unlike some of the oral mediciations, zometa stays in your system. That is why you only get it once a year and they have to give it to you in 15 minutes or less because it can severely damage your kidneys. It is a serious drug normally used for bone cancer patients. With the results I have had I would SERIOUSLY think about any alternatives first.

Steve

Aleta145 · 10-07-2004, 01:00 PM

Hi Steve. I will be taking Zometa infusions someday to counteract the bone-thinning side effect of a breast cancer drug I'll be taking after menopause. In the meantime, I have been looking for all the information I can find on it.

The flu-like symptoms you describe are certainly no picnic, but they aren't considered serious. When given a choice between that and the potential problems of Fosamax or Actonel, I'll take a few days of flu per year. From what I've read, kidney problems are rare in people without previous kidney impairment, but my oncologist monitors my kidney function anyway so I'm not real concerned about that. He believes the Zometa will do a better job than Fosamax and the side effects will be much more tolerable.

Did your doctor say the eye infection was caused by the Zometa? I haven't read anything about eye problems in my research, but it may fall in the rather vague category of "other side effects may occur". Also, have you had a bone scan lately to show your progress?

SteveCal · 10-08-2004, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aleta145

Hi Steve. I will be taking Zometa infusions someday to counteract the bone-thinning side effect of a breast cancer drug I'll be taking after menopause. In the meantime, I have been looking for all the information I can find on it.

The flu-like symptoms you describe are certainly no picnic, but they aren't considered serious. When given a choice between that and the potential problems of Fosamax or Actonel, I'll take a few days of flu per year. From what I've read, kidney problems are rare in people without previous kidney impairment, but my oncologist monitors my kidney function anyway so I'm not real concerned about that. He believes the Zometa will do a better job than Fosamax and the side effects will be much more tolerable.

Did your doctor say the eye infection was caused by the Zometa? I haven't read anything about eye problems in my research, but it may fall in the rather vague category of "other side effects may occur". Also, have you had a bone scan lately to show your progress?

SteveCal · 10-08-2004, 09:55 PM

I guess it depends on your definition of what is serious and what isn't. If you think throwing up for a week, incredible aches and pains in your bones, and your eyes swollen shut, I guess it wasn't serious. Yes, the eye inflammation is one of the side effects. It affects everyone differently, just like all drugs I guess. I have also had cancer in the past, so my body isn't in the best of shape either.
I haven't had a dexa scan yet to see if it helped, but my doctor said that she wouldn't recommend me having an infusion again because of the side effects I had.
I hope it works for you with no side effects. Good Luck!