Being on ZOMETA Therapy

ZOMETA is an FDA-approved prescription drug developed by Novartis Oncology. It is used to treat patients with multiple myeloma. ZOMETA is also used to treat other cancers—including breast‚ lung and prostate cancer—that have spread to the bones‚ a process called bone metastasis. When cancer has spread to the bone‚ treatment with ZOMETA helps to protect bones and may reduce or delay such complications as:

• Bone fracture
• Need for radiation and/or surgery to bone
• Spinal cord compression

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Even patients who have already experienced bone complications from the spread of cancer to the bones may be helped by treatment with ZOMETA.

ZOMETA is used with cancer treatments such as radiation‚ hormonal therapy‚ or chemotherapy.

To help manage your treatment‚ see additional ZOMETA Patient Resources.

If therapy with ZOMETA is recommended for you‚ here are some things you should know.

• ZOMETA is given as an intravenous infusion every 3 to 4 weeks. You may receive it at your doctor’s office or at a clinic or infusion center. The infusion takes at least 15 minutes once ZOMETA is prepared.
• Concerns that you may have about receiving intravenous ZOMETA should be weighed against the potential benefits of treatment‚ as the complications of bone metastases can be devastating.
• While you are receiving treatment with ZOMETA‚ it is important to take certain dietary supplements daily. You should take a multivitamin that contains 400 IU of Vitamin D. You should also take an oral calcium supplement of at least 500 mg.
• In some cases‚ ZOMETA and other bisphosphonates have been known to cause kidney damage. Prior to each infusion‚ your doctor will routinely do blood tests or monitor your kidney function. If you have kidney problems‚ your doctor may determine that ZOMETA should be administered at a reduced dose or should not be given. Patients with severe kidney problems should not take ZOMETA.
• It is also important to keep up your fluid intake while on ZOMETA therapy. Signs and symptoms of low fluid intake include thirst‚ sagging skin‚ low urine output‚ and dry mouth. Be sure to drink plenty of water or other fluids.

Your doctor will closely watch your response to ZOMETA.

While taking ZOMETA‚ you may experience fatigue‚ nausea‚ vomiting‚ bone pain‚ headache‚ shortness of breath‚ or lack of appetite. When these adverse events were seen in patients taking ZOMETA‚ they were usually mild and transient. Your doctor can recommend a mild pain reliever to make you more comfortable.

ZOMETA should be used with caution in patients with aspirin–sensitive asthma. ZOMETA should not be given to women who are pregnant‚ because there is the potential that it might harm the fetus. Women given ZOMETA should not become pregnant during therapy.

Oral hygiene is very important for patients living with cancer. Some patients have reported problems with their jaw bones while being treated with ZOMETA―please talk to your doctor before undergoing invasive dental procedures such as tooth extractions or if you experience pain in your jaw or poor wound healing in your mouth.