What is zoledronic acid?
Zoledronic acid (sometimes called zoledronate) is in a group of medicines called bisphosphonates (bis FOS fo nayts). Zoledronic acid inhibits the release of calcium from bones.
Zoledronic acid is used to treat Paget’s disease, and high blood levels of calcium caused by cancer (hypercalcemia of malignancy). Zoledronic acid also treats multiple myeloma (a type of bone marrow cancer) or bone cancer that has spread from elsewhere in the body.
Zoledronic acid is also used to treat osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, and to increase bone mass in men with osteoporosis. Zoledronic acid is used to treat or prevent osteoporosis in people who will be taking certain steroid medicines for 12 months or longer.
Zoledronic acid may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
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Precautions
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Instructions
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Side Effects
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Interactions
Precautions
You should not receive this medication if you are allergic to zoledronic acid or similar medicine such as alendronate (Fosamax), etidronate (Didronel), ibandronate (Boniva), pamidronate (Aredia), risedronate (Actonel), or tiludronate (Skelid).
You should also not receive zoledronic acid if you have:
- low levels of calcium in your blood; or
- if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.
Zometa and Reclast are two different brands of zoledronic acid. You should not be treated with Reclast if you are already receiving Zometa. Before receiving a Reclast injection, tell your doctor if you are already being treated with Zometa.
Before receiving zoledronic acid, tell your doctor if you have:
- aspirin-sensitive asthma;
- a thyroid or parathyroid disorder;
- malabsorption syndrome (an inability to absorb food and nutrients properly);
- a history of surgical removal of part of your intestine;
- bone cancer; or
- kidney disease.
Your doctor may recommend you have a dental exam for preventive tooth and gum care before you start your treatment with zoledronic acid. This is especially important if you have cancer, if you are undergoing chemotherapy or using steroids, or if you have poor dental health.
Some people using medicines similar to zoledronic acid have developed bone loss in the jaw, also called osteonecrosis of the jaw. Symptoms of this condition may include jaw pain, swelling, numbness, loose teeth, gum infection, or slow healing after injury or surgery involving the gums.
You may be more likely to develop osteonecrosis of the jaw if you have cancer or have been treated with chemotherapy, radiation, or steroids. Other conditions associated with osteonecrosis of the jaw include blood clotting disorders, anemia (low red blood cells), and dental surgery or pre-existing dental problems.
FDA pregnancy category D. This medication can cause harm to an unborn baby. Do not receive zoledronic acid without telling your doctor if you are pregnant. Use an effective form of birth control, and tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment.
Zoledronic acid can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not receive this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Avoid having any type of dental surgery while you are being treated with zoledronic acid. It may take longer than normal for you to recover.
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Instructions
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have received too much of this medicine. Overdose symptoms may include numbness or tingling in your hands and feet, muscle stiffness, spasms in the muscles of your face, uneven heartbeats, and wheezing or trouble breathing.
Contact your doctor if you miss a dose of zoledronic acid.
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Side Effects
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
- urinating less than usual or not at all;
- muscle spasms, numb or tingly feeling (especially around your mouth);
- fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;
- pale skin, easy bruising, unusual weakness;
- severe joint, bone, or muscle pain; or
- bronchospasm (wheezing, chest tightness, trouble breathing).
Less serious side effects may include:
- cough;
- loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting;
- diarrhea, constipation;
- headache, tired feeling;
- mild joint or muscle pain; or
- redness or swelling where the needle was placed.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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Interactions
Before receiving zoledronic acid, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:
- a diuretic (water pill);
- an antibiotic such as amikacin (Amikin), gentamicin (Garamycin), kanamycin (Kantrex), neomycin (Mycifradin, Neo-Fradin, Neo-Tab), netilmicin (Netromycin), streptomycin, tobramycin (Nebcin, Tobi);
- other medicines that can harm your kidneys, such as pentamidine (Nebupent), tacrolimus (Prograf), amphotericin B (Fungizone, AmBisome, Amphotec, Abelcet), capreomycin (Capastat), rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, Rifater), vancomycin (Vancocin, Vancoled), acyclovir (Zovirax), adefovir (Hepsera), cidofovir (Vistide), or foscarnet (Foscavir);
- cancer medicine such as aldesleukin (Proleukin), carmustine (BiCNU, Gliadel), cisplatin (Platinol), ifosfamide (Ifex), oxaliplatin (Eloxatin), plicamycin (Mithracin), streptozocin (Zanosar), thalidomide (Thalomid), or tretinoin (Vesanoid); or
- a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren), etodolac (Lodine), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen (Orudis), piroxicam (Feldene), and others.
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with zoledronic acid. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
Other Names
Aclasta, Reclast, Zometa, Zometa Concentrate, and zoledronic acid
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Disclaimer
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Copyright 1996-2004 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version 2.05. Revision date 8/23/04
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