My experIence with Zometa after first injection was horrible. I was traveling on a long distance overseas flight and my situation immediately after leaving home started deteriorating. I had fever, I could not walk as my both leg became as hard and tough as if I had plaster on them. I took wheel chair at Chicago Airport and I was lifted from wheel chair to my seat in the plane.
I wanted to give up on Zometa. However, my physician suggested/ recommended reduced dose, 3mg from 4 mg and inject it over longer duration, 1hour from fifteen minutes. Second and third time with 3 mg and IV over one hour gave absolutely no side effect. I am due for my fourth in first week of January.
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MMFeb16,15 - Who do you know with myeloma?: Self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: February 16, 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 66
Re: Zometa - bad side effects - why continue?
I am getting Zometa IV drips once a month. I started in November and had two treatments so far. I have not had any side affects that I can tell.
I have multiple myeloma (diagnosed in November 2015) in my T7 vertebrae. I still have pain in my back after undergoing 17 radiation treatments to reduce the spot to prevent paralysis since the disease was on my spine. That part of the treatment, I was told, did its job.
I am on dexamethasone, but I am to stop December 26, 2015. No other meds at this time for the myeloma.
I have multiple myeloma (diagnosed in November 2015) in my T7 vertebrae. I still have pain in my back after undergoing 17 radiation treatments to reduce the spot to prevent paralysis since the disease was on my spine. That part of the treatment, I was told, did its job.
I am on dexamethasone, but I am to stop December 26, 2015. No other meds at this time for the myeloma.
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TheQuill - Who do you know with myeloma?: No one
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Nov 16, 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 68
Re: Zometa - bad side effects - why continue?
Hello Susan
You raise some very good questions.
In my case, I never experienced a bad reaction to Zometa infusions, but I am beginning to question its effectiveness, given its potential to cause damage to the jaw, bones, and kidneys.
I have been on monthly infusions for almost ten months, and just found out that, despite these treatments, I have new bone damage.
Also, if you read what is available on the Internet concerning a very serious side effect of Zometa, osteonecrosis of the jaw, you will find estimates of its frequency of occurence ranging from 2-3% to 6% of those receiving Zometa. At first, it was also thought to occur only among patients receiving Zometa who had invasive dental procedures done during treatment. But now it has been found to occur among some patients who had no dental procedures whatsoever performed.
It also can cause atypical fractures of the thigh bone, as well as kidney damage.
I plan to have a serious discussion with my oncologist about continuing the monthly infusions for the planned two year cycle. The Mayo Clinic now recommends doing monthly infusions for only one year, followed by quarterly infusions.
You raise some very good questions.
In my case, I never experienced a bad reaction to Zometa infusions, but I am beginning to question its effectiveness, given its potential to cause damage to the jaw, bones, and kidneys.
I have been on monthly infusions for almost ten months, and just found out that, despite these treatments, I have new bone damage.
Also, if you read what is available on the Internet concerning a very serious side effect of Zometa, osteonecrosis of the jaw, you will find estimates of its frequency of occurence ranging from 2-3% to 6% of those receiving Zometa. At first, it was also thought to occur only among patients receiving Zometa who had invasive dental procedures done during treatment. But now it has been found to occur among some patients who had no dental procedures whatsoever performed.
It also can cause atypical fractures of the thigh bone, as well as kidney damage.
I plan to have a serious discussion with my oncologist about continuing the monthly infusions for the planned two year cycle. The Mayo Clinic now recommends doing monthly infusions for only one year, followed by quarterly infusions.
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MrPotatohead - Name: MrPotatohead
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: March, 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 65
Re: Zometa - bad side effects - why continue?
I have been taking Zometa once every 30 days for almost a year. I have multiple myeloma in partial remission (PR). My back hurts off and on, especially right before treatment or if I have been sitting long at work. But I do not have any other problems with Zometa.
When I was diagnosed, I had a bone marrow transplant and and I was VERY SICK for about the first 10 months and decided that I could not live like that. I was on a pain medication, so I quit the pain medication, and after about 4 months I started feeling better. The nausea stopped, which was the worst symptom I had.
I was blaming the disease for all the nausea when all along it was the pain medications.
I chose to live a life without pain pills. I recently had a knee transplant without ANY pain meds and only had minor discomfort. Today it is about 7 degrees F outside (-14 C), and my knee is a little swollen and my back hurts somewhat, but I will make it through this day with out any meds and God's blessing!
When I was diagnosed, I had a bone marrow transplant and and I was VERY SICK for about the first 10 months and decided that I could not live like that. I was on a pain medication, so I quit the pain medication, and after about 4 months I started feeling better. The nausea stopped, which was the worst symptom I had.
I was blaming the disease for all the nausea when all along it was the pain medications.
I chose to live a life without pain pills. I recently had a knee transplant without ANY pain meds and only had minor discomfort. Today it is about 7 degrees F outside (-14 C), and my knee is a little swollen and my back hurts somewhat, but I will make it through this day with out any meds and God's blessing!
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Sharon C
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