zoledronic acid
Other Name: Zometa®
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Zoledronic acid may:
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help relieve bone pain and prevent broken bones in some cancers,
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treat too much calcium in the blood caused by certain types of cancer, or
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be used as part of anticancer treatment to prevent breast cancer from coming back.
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- Tell your health care team if you have or had significant medical condition(s), especially if you have / had:
- kidney, heart or dental problems,
- asthma plus an allergy to aspirin (ASA),
- take other medications for bone problems,
- have any other allergies,
- have sores in your mouth,
- or if you have any planned dental work.
- Tell your dentist that you are on zoledronic acid.
Remember to:
- Tell your health care team about all of the other medications you are taking.
- Keep taking other medications that have been prescribed for you, unless you have been told not to by your health care team.
- The use of this medication in men or women may cause harm to the unborn baby if pregnancy occurs. Let your health care team know if you or your partner is pregnant, becomes pregnant during treatment, or if you are breastfeeding.
- If there is ANY chance that you or your partner may become pregnant, you and your partner together must:
- ► Use 2 effective forms of birth control at the same time while taking this drug. Keep using birth control until 6 months after the last dose (general recommendation). Discuss with your healthcare team.
- ► Use 2 effective forms of birth control at the same time while taking this drug. Keep using birth control until 6 months after the last dose (general recommendation). Discuss with your healthcare team.
- Do not breastfeed while on this treatment.
- It is not known if this medication affects fertility (ability to get pregnant).
- Zoledronic acid is given by injection into the vein over 15 minutes.
Will this medication interact with other medications or natural health products?
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This medication can interact with other medications, vitamins, foods and natural health products. Interactions can make the treatment not work as well or cause severe side effects.
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Tell your health care team about all of your:
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prescription and over-the-counter (non-prescription) medications and all other drugs, such as cannabis/marijuana (medical or recreational)
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natural health products such as vitamins, herbal teas, homeopathic medicines, and other supplements
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Check with your health care team before starting or stopping any of them.
- To prevent lowering of your calcium level while using zoledronic acid, your health care team may tell you to take calcium and vitamin D supplements. Do not take calcium or vitamin D if you have/had high calcium levels in the blood. Talk to your health care team before taking these supplements.
What to DO while on this medication:
Rarely, some people may have jaw, teeth or mouth problems while using zoledronic acid.
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DO look for teeth, mouth or jaw problems. You may have pain and swelling, poor healing of mouth sores, unusual discharge from gums, loosening of teeth, and the feeling of numbness or heaviness in the jaw.
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DO contact your health care team as soon as possible if you get any of these symptoms.
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DO check with your health care team before getting any dental procedures.
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DO maintain good dental hygiene and have regular checkups with your dentist, to prevent jaw problems.
The following side effects have been seen in people using zoledronic acid with other chemotherapy drugs, so some of these effects may be caused by chemotherapy.
You may not have all of the side effects below. You may have side effects that are not listed.
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Nausea and vomiting May occur in hours to days after your treatment. If you have nausea or vomiting:
Also see Nausea & Vomiting pamphlet for more information. |
Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Fatigue (tiredness)
See our Fatigue pamphlet for more information. |
Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Cough; Feeling short of breath (May be severe) You may have cough and feel short of breath without any signs of infection, such as a sore throat or a stuffed nose. If you have severe chest pain, shortness of breath or are coughing up blood you should seek emergency medical help straight away. |
Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe |
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Diarrhea May happen days to weeks after you get your treatment. To help prevent diarrhea :
If you have diarrhea:
See the Diarrhea pamphlet for more information. |
Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Headache; mild joint, muscle pain (May be severe)
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Mild swelling in arms and legs; puffiness To help prevent swelling :
If you have swelling in your legs, keep your feet up when sitting. |
Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Dizziness
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Kidney problems (May be severe)
To prevent bladder or kidney problems, drink lots of water or other liquids. Drink at least 6 to 8 cups (2 L) of liquids per day on treatment days, unless you have been told otherwise. |
Get emergency medical help right away | ||||
Weight Loss, Low appetite
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Tingling, numb fingers and toes
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Depression Everyone feels sad sometimes and having cancer can cause you to feel down. Depression is when these feelings last for weeks or months. To help prevent depression :
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Salt imbalances It may cause muscle twitching, severe weakness or cramping, confusion and irregular heartbeat. |
Get emergency medical help right away | ||||
Flu-like symptoms
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe |
Other rare, but serious side effects are possible.
If you experience ANY of the following, speak to your cancer health care provider or get emergency medical help right away:
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severe bone pain
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irregular heartbeat or low blood pressure
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blurred vision or changes to your vision
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signs of an allergic reaction: fever, itchiness, rash, swollen lips, face or tongue, chest and throat tightness
Who do I contact if I have questions or need help?My cancer health care provider is: ______________________________________________ During the day I should contact:________________________________________________ Evenings, weekends and holidays:______________________________________________
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Other Notes:
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December 2023 Updated information sheet
For more links on how to manage your symptoms go to www.cancercareontario.ca/symptoms.
The information set out in the medication information sheets, regimen information sheets, and symptom management information (for patients) contained in the Drug Formulary (the "Formulary") is intended to be used by health professionals and patients for informational purposes only. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or side effects of a certain drug, nor should it be used to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for a given condition.
A patient should always consult a healthcare provider if he/she has any questions regarding the information set out in the Formulary. The information in the Formulary is not intended to act as or replace medical advice and should not be relied upon in any such regard. All uses of the Formulary are subject to clinical judgment and actual prescribing patterns may not follow the information provided in the Formulary.