Zomeda side effects question

Hello- I started ibrance 2 days ago and received Zomeda infusion yesterday. Experiencing a lot of bone aches, headaches and most frustrating- nausea & vomiting. The doctor prescribed compazine today, but I still feel sick. Has anyone else dealt with this? Does it last past 48 hours which I was told might happen? Any suggestions for the nausea? ? I tried compazine when I was first diagnosed in 2004. I don’t recall getting g any relief.

[marybv]

One of the best things that I was told when I was going through treatment and experienced nausea, and was not getting relief from the medication that was prescribed to help, was to tell my doctors and nurses, over and over, until I was given a medication that worked. There are a lot of anti-nausea meds out there, hopefully one will work for you.

[Jamie724]

Hi MV, yep had all the same side effects but copazine did help some. The headache lingered for a week but the aches did subside. I have another infusion today but we are cutting it in 1/2. I don't understand why docs start at the highest dosage. I think it is best to build up resistance gradually. Same with the ibrance which devastated me after 14 days. I'm on the marijuana path! It's the only thing that eases the pain. Also hot baths.

[blms in reply to Jamie724]

So what combination do you take for pain? What state are you in?

[Jamie724 in reply to blms]

Up until today I was on 125ML Ibrance, every 2 weeks Flaslodex and once a month Zometa. It was overkill. Everything has been adjusted due to blood count taking a nose dive, severe headaches and body pain (not ache). I was missing too much work and too much life. My doc removed the Zometa completely until I can get on a healthy schedule with the other 2. Dropped to 75ml Ibrance to stabalize and 1 a month Flaslodex. She said of the 3 drugs Zometa is the least important right now. We'll add it back in later. I agree with Lisa T23, hot bath with salts and whiskey.

4 months into treatment.

[Jamie724 in reply to Jamie724]

I have some landocane stick on pads, perscription that actually help. Muscle relaxers help but make me too tired. Heat works the best.

[Hidden in reply to Jamie724]

What kind of marijuana system do you use? Don't like smoking or the THC effects. Didn't like the tincture either. Every tried a patch? Not crazy about the taste of the brownies. Ever tried gummy bear mj?

[Jamie724 in reply to Hidden]

I'm the old fashion type and smoke it. But I'm going to get some edibles. Easier. My friend only does gummy bears and they work well for her.

[Snowcone16 in reply to Jamie724]

Gummy bears are perfect. None of them really taste good but there was an amazing bakery in my old neighborhood w Oreo brownies and peanut butter brownies. You would never know! Just hits you differently and longer w edibles. Usually need 10mg and wait 90 minutes. Eating lightly after you ingest the edible will accelerate it.

[Snowcone16]

Is zomeda similar to xgeva for protecting bones? If so, I had nausea at certain parts of the cycle when combined w Ibrance. And every cycle was a little different with when it hit me. I did find taking compazine or ondansetron WITH the Ibrance simultaneously stopped it. Triscuits and ginger ale helped too.

[LisaT23]

Hi,

I tried Zometa but it gave me a fever of 103 for 5 days. I also had a headache bone pain and it upset my stomach. The next month we tried 1/2 dose given slower, but I had the same reaction.

The doctor switched it to Xgeva the next month. No fever but I still get bone pain and my stomach is sensitive, just not as bad. He recently switched the xgeva to "every 3 months" so I get a good amount of time to recover.

Dr said that some people react more to one than the other, as long as I am on the Xgeva he is happy.

I am also on Ibrance and Faslodex, which I get side effects from as well. I find a long hot bath with epsom salts help for the aches. A sip of whiskey helps also. LOL

[Rhwright12 in reply to LisaT23]

Hi Lisa!

Thanks for the every 3 month info...my Onc is thinking of changing my Zometa to Xgeva and I wasn’t happy about the monthly thing since I already get Herceptin and Perjeta very 3 weeks...I’ll mention it...I feel like a hostage to the infusion room for the last 2 years...plus I work full time and go to the gym and volunteer at the church...

God bless!

[Hidden]

Hello,

I had my first infusion of Zometa in June, and I had some aches and pains afterwards (although I don't know if it was from that or the other medications I was taking). When I had my second dose last Friday I did not experience any pain. In fact, I felt stronger afterwards. I would let your oncologist know how you are feeling so that they can do something about it. Remember, we do not all react the same way to treatments. That's one of the first things I was told when they sat me down and went over side effects of treatment with me. So even if you are on the same treatment plan as someone else, your body might react differently to theirs.

In the meantime, you might want to try adding Epsom Salts to your bath. I find that helps for general aches and pains I get. When I first ran it by one of the oncology nurses she asked if I was suffering from constipation. I told her I wasn't, so she said not to take it. It turns out, she thought I was going to ingest it! That wasn't what I had in mind!

I hope you feel better soon.

All the best!

Sophie

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

LOL!

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I try to find the humour in situations when I can. If people heard me joking with my husband about cancer they would probably think we had both lost the plot! But we laugh about things when we can and that really lightens the mood.

[Garnet131]

I had my first Zometa last October and then every 3 months since then. Was really knocked out the first time--ached all over and miserable for several days (though no nausea). I read on this site to ask nurses to double the infusion time so it goes in slower. Did that on my next visit and it made a big difference for me. Haven't had the major aches since then--maybe just a few random for a day or two. Next time I asked nurse to make it a half hour instead of 15 minutes. She questioned me, but said OK when I explained why. Different nurse on next visit, said OK and told me she changed my chart/protocol to half hour. Just realized that last time I didn't say anything and it was half hour, so she must have done so. Hope you can try that next time and get some relief.

[PJBinMI]

I was on Zometa for several years and I found that the first few infusions left me pretty tired and needing naps, but after about the third one, I felt much better on infusion day. Most oncs only give it monthly a few times and then switch to every 3 or 6 months. You could ask your onc to coordinate it with other times you will be in the infusion room. Every six weeks to begin with should be fine. I've been dealing with mbc with bone mets only for over 14 years and had to take a break of a few years from the bone meds because my bones became like bones with osteoporosis. That was discovered during back surgery totally unrelated to the bone mets . The bone drugs have been real miracle drugs for those of us with bone mets only and we rarely die from bone mets now. Before drugs like these, multiple fractures would limit mobility and people would develop pneumonia and die from that. I have never had symptoms from the bone mets--no pain, no limitations. I hope you will do well too.

[Cshipley123]

I had the same reaction to my first infusion of Zometa. It was terrible! The severe side effects...nausea...bone aches ..fever...chills...lasted a few days. Zofran helped with the nausea. I felt like I had the flu for a week. The good news is that I’ve had three more infusions and the only side effect now is that I’m really tired for about three days. I hope you are feeling better soon!

[BeckyHobson]

I’m so sorry to hear you are going thru this initial tough part. I personally got “flu” like symptoms after my first Zometa but just the first time. Every one I’ve had sense has had virtually no side effects.

The Ibrance takes a good month or two for the doc to figure out what dosage will work besr for you and your blood counts.

Hang in there, it does get better. Fatigue and some joint pain has been an ongoing issue for over 2 1/2 years now but I figure it’s worth it if it keeps this cancer under control

[morty87]

Oddly enough, taking a daily Claritin has helped with the nausea. I am on a combo of Femara/Ibrance and monthly Zometa. Good luck.