Zometa infusions to help prevent bone loss from cancer treatments

Posted by trixie1313 @trixie1313, Jun 13, 2019

Has anyone had Zometa infusions to help combat the effects of aromatase inhibitors (bone loss). I have osteoporosis of my spine and osteopenia of the hip and am told I need this to prevent future fractures.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Breast Cancer Support Group.

I just checked my instructions regarding upcoming 1st Zometa infusion. Specifically it tells me to take Claritin daily a week prior and a week after infusion. Tylenol 650mg after infusion if/as needed for pain. And lots of water to hydrate before. This last one I had read about from people who use Zometa. The Claritin - not so much. Any input if this is a standard recommendation, if someone has tried it, if it helped?

REPLY
@auntieoakley

I have not had this test, but my husband has. The simplest explanation is that it tests for bone remodeling activity. This gives the doctor a reasonable piece of information to decide if Zometa is right for you. This article from Australia gives a more complex explanation.

https://www.nps.org.au/assets/160b500bb0e8e8b4-42e762c36a33-b4361b6f9bd167a83bc79916dfa0bc09ad7c80ad8347b72b1f36e8d54ae2.pdf#:~:text=Markers%20of%20bone%20turnover%20are%20proteins%20originating%20from,while%20larger%20fragments%20may%20be%20detected%20in%20blood.

Jump to this post

Chris, Thank you.

REPLY

Thought I had posted this earlier, but it has disappeared. Anyway, my oncologist’s instruction sheet mentions to take Claritin daily 1 week prior and 1 week following Zometa infusion, Tylenol 650 mg. after for pain, lots of water days before, of, and after infusion. The water I had read about in other posts, never saw mention of Claritin. Any input? Anyone else used this? 1st infusion 11/11, so I need to start soon.....

REPLY
@ellerbracke

I just checked my instructions regarding upcoming 1st Zometa infusion. Specifically it tells me to take Claritin daily a week prior and a week after infusion. Tylenol 650mg after infusion if/as needed for pain. And lots of water to hydrate before. This last one I had read about from people who use Zometa. The Claritin - not so much. Any input if this is a standard recommendation, if someone has tried it, if it helped?

Jump to this post

@ellerbracke
My only instructions were to have labs the prior week and take Tylenol 1 hour prior to infusion. I had trouble with my second infusion, i.e. started to pass out, and they had the IV drip go slower on subsequent ones which negated that problem. Five down and one to go now! Just be sure that any dental procedures you need to have done are finished and healed prior to the infusion. Best of luck to you.

REPLY
@ellerbracke

Thought I had posted this earlier, but it has disappeared. Anyway, my oncologist’s instruction sheet mentions to take Claritin daily 1 week prior and 1 week following Zometa infusion, Tylenol 650 mg. after for pain, lots of water days before, of, and after infusion. The water I had read about in other posts, never saw mention of Claritin. Any input? Anyone else used this? 1st infusion 11/11, so I need to start soon.....

Jump to this post

Hi @ellerbracke, I actually moved your post to a post where a number of members are already talking about Zometa. I did this so you could connect with them, but there was an outage in the Connect system and it wasn't sending notifications. It is all up and working now.

REPLY
@trixie1313

@ellerbracke
My only instructions were to have labs the prior week and take Tylenol 1 hour prior to infusion. I had trouble with my second infusion, i.e. started to pass out, and they had the IV drip go slower on subsequent ones which negated that problem. Five down and one to go now! Just be sure that any dental procedures you need to have done are finished and healed prior to the infusion. Best of luck to you.

Jump to this post

@trixie1313 Thanks. I’ll call my oncologist’s office to see what’s up with the Claritin suggestion. I’m hoping for a problem-free infusion. Usually I handle any and all medical procedures/anesthesias/medications etc. with minimal side effects, so I hope that holds true. And yes, I had extra dental x-rays taken and anything that needed fixing (minor) has been fixed. Nothing looming, according to my dentist of 35 years.

REPLY

I was never told about the Claritin either, it would be interesting to know the reason. I hope you breeze through as easy as I do.

REPLY

Instead of Zometa, I get XGEVA for the same purpose.

REPLY
@survivorjennifermoreno

Instead of Zometa, I get XGEVA for the same purpose.

Jump to this post

Please, tell me more, how many, how often, how is it going? How about the third degree, hahaha

REPLY

I was never told about Claritin or Tylenol. Drink fluids before and after. I usually had slight flu symptoms for few days after, headaches and aches so Tylenol makes sense. Was told to arrange dental appointments so any work is done prior to infusions. I had mine every 6 months while on AIs.

Laurie

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.