Does Zometa get easier?

[Barbara H.]

Hi,
I recently developed bone mets and yesterday I just had my second infusion of Zometa, along with Navelbine. I feel quite achy as if I had the flu, although it is not quite as bad as the first time. Has anyone had this reaction? Does it it get better, or does your body get used to it.
Any encouragement would be appreciated.
Barbara H.

[VaMoonRise]

Hi Barbara,

I am so sorry to hear that you have developed bone mets. I receive Zometa once a month and my experience has been that my legs get very achy especially my knee joints. It seems to happen every time I get it and it lasts for about a week or two then it gets better until the next infusion. I have found that walking and long soaks in a hot bath really help me. I have also heard that tonic water helps with the aches too because of the quinine in it. I haven't tried that as I am not sure that I could stomach it. Maybe something as simple as Tylenol would help if you are allowed to take it and tolerate it well.

I wish you all the best Hon.

Big Hugs,
Nicola

[Becky]

I feel extremely flu like with Zometa. I only receive it every 6 months (2 more to go) for trial in prevention of bone mets. I get the same reaction everytime. I get my next one in June. My onc says that this "sometimes" happens to some people but I haven't met a person yet (even some guys with prostate bone mets) that hasn't felt this way.


Becky

[lkc Gumby]

Becky,

I am starting Zometa next week for prevention of bone mets.
How long was your trial?Alos do you know when it will end ?
Thanks,

Linda

[kat in the delta]

Zometa made me have flu-like symptoms ( fever102,aches) except for no stopped-up nose nor cough. I took it for osteopo.only 1x. Another person taking it for osteopo. said that she has been taking it every 6 months, and she thinks the symptoms lessen with each add. treatment. Kat

[heblaj01]

Hello Barbara,

Based on the experience of an elderly lady in my family who has taken 12 Zometa I.V.s over an 18 month period here is what happened:
After the first infusion there was in the following 24 hours:slight fever, intense heat feeling in the back, pain in the joints (not all at the same time). Then no symptoms.
We asked advice from the hospital nurses & pharmacist who recomanded taking Tylenol just before & after infusion every 4 to 6 hours for 12 to 24 hours.
This worked perfectly for all subsequent infusions even when she took only one or two tylenol which may well indicate that the body got used to Zometa.

She was also taking coenzyme Q10 for a long time before starting Zometa.
This may inadvertandly have protected her from kidney damage by Zometa as her creatinine marker remained very stable. I can't be sure of this since no trial involving CoQ10 & Zometa has ever been done. But several clinical trials have shown the kidney protective (& even curative) properties of CoQ10 in other settings.
Further protection may result from extending the standard 15 minutes infusion time to 30 minutes.

Finally, a far more serious but fortunately rare side effect of Zometa called
avascular osteonecrosis of the jaw can be avoided by taking some precautions such as avoiding dental work while on Zometa, avoiding severe damage to gums (as with poorly fitted dentures)...
This is a severe side effect since,as far as I know, there is no effective treatment with antibiotics or surgery.

[Karen t]

The first and only time I had Zometa, I had a fever that went over 102 and lasted for a week. Other side effects include swelling in some finger joints that looked like bad arthritis. My onc switched me to Aredia and there were NO side effects. I also have the infusion over a longer period of time (2 hours?) which apparently helps. Right now I am doing this quarterly.

[jojo]

I am quite confused about Zometa... is it really just a bone strengthener or a regular conventional chemo for bone mets only???

[Barbara H.]

Thank you to all who have replied to my question. Zometa is a very strong bone strengthener used for bone mets and for multiplle myeloma, and in certain cases for osteoporosis. I don't know why it is used instead of fosamax. There are trials so see if it can prevent bone mets from developing. It is not a chemo, and I was surprised that I felt so awful after my first treatment. My second treatment was somewhat easier, but I was still pretty wiped out the second day. I will try taking more advil this time. I am wondering if that is better than tylanol due to the cox2 association with HER2 breast cancer. I tried to go without the meds to see how bad the reaction would be. That was a big mistake, but I was doing my own experiment. Won't do it again.
Thanks again to those of you who replied.
Barbara H.

[Karen t]

I'm not sure that Zometa actually strengthens bones; rather, doesn't it simply prevent further disintegration (resorption)?

fromwebstite; http://www.chemocare.com/BIO/zometa.asp


How Zometa Works:
Cancer cells that spread to the bone can secrete substances that can cause cells found in the bone called osteoclasts to dissolve or "eat away" a portion of the bone. These tumors or lesions weaken the bone and can lead to complications. Some of the complications resulting from this bone breakdown are bone pain, fractures and less commonly, hypercalcemia (increased levels of calcium in the blood).

Zometa is a biphosphonate. Biphosphonate medications are used to slow down the osteoclast's effects on the bone. In doing this it can be useful in slowing down or preventing the complications (bone pain, fractures, or high calcium levels) of the bone breakdown.

belssings from Minnesota!

[kat in the delta]

Thank you for the explanation of Zometa!!!!!!!!!!! Kat in the delta kat

[Ginagce]

I recently had my first infusion of zometa along with my herceptin. In my case it will be given every 6 months for ostopenia; and hopefully to prevent bone mets.

I'm one of the unusual cases that experience substantial bone and joint pain after herceptin treatments. The day after I received both drugs, I literally could not get out of bed. My body ached so badly I felt as though I couldn't sit up.

The pain passed within 24 hours and I have been feeling fine since.

Don't know if this info helps but wanted to add my experience to the pile.

Ginagce