I had my first round of Zometa recently as bone-directed therapy. It was a rough ride for a few days after that first infusion.
I read that basically that first-round risk isn't too unusual. But, I'm wondering if anyone reading this has had a similar experience, and then subsequent rounds of it with different, less, or nonexistent 'almost major' side effects?
I drink lots of water the day before and the day of the injection. I also insist that it take at least 35 minutes to administer. The slower the drip the better. Finally, I take a Claritin a couple of hours before the IV. These actions have all helped me a lot. Moreover, a week after the IV, my bone pain is almost non-existent, so the short-term pain is worth it.
My experience was that the first round was the worst and it got a lot better after that. I did have a weird pain in different places for a few days after each round, but not flu like symptoms. I imagined the pain as the drug targeting my cancer and curing it. I had to come off the drug after a few months due to jaw issues but it worked to stop the spread of my bone mets very effectively.
I'm sorry you had jaw issues. Did that take a few months to start up? How are you doing?
It took a few months, but happened after I had a wisdom tooth removed. I wish I had had the tooth removed before starting treatment. Oh well. Two years later, the dead bone in my jaw has fallen off and I'm back to almost normal. I had a couple of infections which were cleared up with antibiotics. My onc. does not want me taking Zometa anymore but my oral surgeon said its okay now. Since I haven't had any bone progression, I'm fine not taking it. The drug stays in your system 11 years according to my oral surgeon who is a specialist in this area.
Yes, after my first Zometa I had severe flu like symptoms. I have had three more (every three months) and no symptoms from the last three. I believe I read somewhere that this can happen. Best wishes to you.
Hi - I had same side affects after my first shot of Zometa. The day after the shot I had to call out sick from work for a few days. I complained to my onc and she switched me to Xgeva (nurse practitioner told me it was actually better drug). With Xgeva I had no side affects. I get the shot monthly and have been on it for about a year.
I have one every month and I too had the same reactions as everyone else. I hope yours gets easier. Please check with your doctor but I just take Claritin every day. The allergies where I live are awful so I need something every day anyway. I also take Tylenol a few hours before my infusion and then again every 6 (whatever the bottle says) hours for the rest of the day. I've had 3 now and the 1st was the worst. I also tell myself I need to get my entire to do list done before the infusion because I'll get sick from it and won't be able to do anything. I've done this the last two times and it worked....minimal side effects ...lol....
About 2 years ago I was very ill with mets to my lungs and ribs and on May 31st I had Zometa and started my first pill of Xeloda. I was just as sick as all get out on June 1st. I think it may have been the 2 things started on the same day. I felt better the next day. However, I have been on Zometa every 3 months ever since and have had no reaction whatsoever.
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