Zoledronate
Description
Zoledronate is used to treat or prevent osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. It is also used for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in men and women who are on corticosteroid therapy. This medicine can also be used to bring down high levels of calcium in the blood that may be caused by some cancers. It is also used to treat Paget's disease. In cancer therapy, this medicine can be used to prevent or treat bone damage caused by cancer cells.
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Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Zoledronate
- Hypersensitivity
- Redness or swelling of eyes
- Abdominal and stomach pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Heartburn
- Difficulty with swallowing
- Irregular heartbeat
- Loss of appetite
- Trouble sleeping
Uses of Zoledronate
What is it prescribed for?
- Osteolytic bone lesions of multiple myeloma
- Osteolytic bone metastases of solid tumours
- Hypercalcemia of malignancy
- Paget's disease
- Osteoporosis
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Concerns
Commonly asked questions
- Onset of actionThe therapeutic effect of this medicine can be observed within a week of administration of the dose.
- Duration of effectZoledronate remains active in the body for up to 28 to 32 days after administration.
- Safe with alcohol?Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
- Is it habit forming?No habit forming tendencies were reported.
- Usage in pregnancy?This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnant women.
- Usage while breast-feeding?This medicine is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women unless absolutely necessary. All the risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before taking this medicine. Your doctor may advise you to discontinue breastfeeding or to discontinue the drug based on your clinical condition.
Allergy
This medicine is not recommended for use in patients with a known allergy to zoledronate or any other components present along with it.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnant women.
Breast-feeding
This medicine is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women unless absolutely necessary. All the risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before taking this medicine. Your doctor may advise you to discontinue breastfeeding or to discontinue the drug based on your clinical condition.
General warnings
Use in pediatrics
This medicine is not recommended for use in children or adolescents.
Severe bone, joint and/or muscle pain
This medicine may cause severe bone, joint, and/or muscle pain. Report any such symptoms to the doctor on priority. Your doctor may advise you to discontinue therapy based on your clinical condition.
Flu-like symptoms
This medicine may cause flu-like symptoms after the dose administration. Consult the doctor if the symptoms do not resolve within 14 days.
Thigh bone fracture
Treatment with Zoledronate may increase the risk of thigh bone fracture. Care should be taken to avoid any falls or other trauma to reduce this risk.
Missed Dose
If you miss an appointment for a dose of Zoledronate, contact your doctor immediately and schedule the dose as soon as possible.
Overdose
Since this medicine is administered in the clinical setting by a qualified healthcare professional, the likelihood of an overdose is very less. However, emergency medical treatment will be initiated by the doctor if an overdose is suspected.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Instructions
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine
Deferasirox
Immunosuppressants
Contrast media
Cidofovir
Disease interactions
Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ)
This medicine should be used with caution in patients undergoing invasive dental procedures due to increased risk of osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ). Therapy with the medicine may need to be discontinued based on the clinical condition of the patient.
Hypocalcemia
Zoledronate is not recommended for treating osteoporosis in patients with decreased calcium levels (hypocalcemia). Calcium and vitamin D levels should be checked before starting therapy with this medicine. It is also important to continue appropriate supplementation of calcium and vitamin D during treatment with this medicine.
Renal Dysfunction
Zoledronate is not recommended for use in patients with creatinine clearance less than 35 ml/min due to the increased risk of acute renal failure. Close monitoring of kidney function is necessary during treatment with this medicine. For patients with creatinine clearance greater than 35 ml/min, appropriate dose adjustments should be made to avoid adverse effects. Therapy should be discontinued immediately if patients exhibit any signs of dehydration.
Asthma
Caution is advised while using this medicine in patients with asthma due to the increased risk of worsening of the patient's condition. Close monitoring of such patients for any adverse effects is necessary during treatment with this medicine.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
This medicine is usually administered by a qualified healthcare professional. Follow all the instructions given by your doctor and do not miss an appointment to receive this medicine. Consult the doctor if you experience any undesirable effects. Ensure that the treatment course is completed. Do not stop the use of this medicine without consulting your doctor.
Miscelleneous
How it works
Zoledronate increases bone thickness and reduces the chances of bone breakage.
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Bisphosphonates
Schedule
Schedule H
Zoledronic Acid Injection: MedlinePlus Drug Information [Internet]. Medlineplus.gov. 2017 [cited 9 August 2017]. Available from:
Zoledronic acid - DrugBank [Internet]. Drugbank.ca. 2017 [cited 9 August 2017]. Available from:
[Internet]. 2017 [cited 9 August 2017]. Available from:
TOXNET [Internet]. Toxnet.nlm.nih.gov. 2017 [cited 9 August 2017]. Available from:
Zoledronic acid [Internet]. Snomedbrowser.com. 2017 [cited 9 August 2017]. Available from:
Prescribing medicines in pregnancy database [Internet]. Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). 2017 [cited 9 August 2017]. Available from:
Information on this page was last updated on 11 Aug 2017
Disclaimer
We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.