[Jainsie]

How long to stay on Aredia (pamidronate)?

by Jainsie on Tue Mar 18, 2014 8:01 pm

My husband was on monthly Aredia for 2 years and then the treatment was stopped. Six months later he developed severe lower back pain due to bone involvement in the vertebrae and received radiation treatments with excellent results.

At that time the monthly Aredia was restarted and has now continued for 6 months and his oncologist feels that this should continue.

I recall hearing that after the initial 2 years of monthly treatment, a reduction to every 3 months is just as effective as monthly due to the long half life of Aredia and the build up in the bones.

Is this true? Thank you.

[Ron Harvot]

Re: How long to stay on Aredia (pamidronate)?

by Ron Harvot on Fri Mar 21, 2014 10:02 am

Jainsie,

I was diagnosed in February of 2009 and started monthly infusions of Aredia. I am now on a once every 3 month protocal and have been for the last 3 years. I have not had any bone issues.

Ron

[Dr. Peter Voorhees]

Re: How long to stay on Aredia (pamidronate)?

by Dr. Peter Voorhees on Sun Mar 23, 2014 9:48 am

Every 3 month dosing should be sufficient, provided the myeloma is under good control.

Good luck!

Pete V.

[Colin]

Re: How long to stay on Aredia (pamidronate)?

by Colin on Fri Oct 05, 2018 2:16 pm

I realize this is an older thread, but I am interested in knowing if this recommendation for reducing pamidronate to once every three months after two years of monthly infusion is still accurate? My monthly infusion has just ended after two years and I will be speaking with my myeloma specialist next week about the future.

[Ron Harvot]

Re: How long to stay on Aredia (pamidronate)?

by Ron Harvot on Mon Oct 08, 2018 5:26 pm

Colin,

Updating my post from 2014, I am still receiving Aredia once every 3 months. I have had no issues with it and also have had no bone lesions I healed well from both an open heart surgical procedure in August of 2014 and a broken neck and disc fusion surgery on Christmas eve of 2016.

The cut back from 1 month to every 3 will depend upon whether or not your oncologist believes your bone density is high enough. If so, then the once every 3 months is maintenance.