ry. If you are undergoing dental treatment or will undergo dental surgery, tell your dentist that you are being treated with Zometa.
A dental condition called jaw osteonecrosis has been reported in some patients being treated with Zometa or with other drugs in the same class as Zometa. You may need to have dental treatments completed before starting it.
Ensure sufficient intake of fluid (water) prior to infusions as directed by your doctor as this will help prevent dehydration.
Your doctor may want to take special precautions if you have any of the above conditions.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including medicines that you buy without a prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines and Zometa may interfere with each other. These include:
medicines that may have side effects on your kidneys
aminoglycoside medicines, used to treat severe infections. The combination of aminoglycoside and bisphosphonate medicines may cause the level of calcium in the blood to become too low.
thalidomide, a medicine used in clinical trials to treat multiple myeloma
You may need to take different amounts of these medicines or you may need to take different medicines. Your doctor and pharmacist have more information.
If you have not told your doctor about any of these things, tell him/her before you have Zometa.
How Zometa is given
How it will be given
Zometa is given as a 15- minute infusion into a vein.
You may also be given an infusion of fluids to ensure that you do not become dehydrated.
How much you need
To lower the amount of calcium in the blood, the usual dose of Zometa is 4 mg, given as a single infusion.
To treat cancer in the bone, the usual dose is 4 mg, given as an infusion every 3 to 4 weeks. Your doctor may give you a lower dose if you have a mild kidney problem. Your doctor may also prescribe a daily calcium supplement and a multiple vitamin containing Vitamin D.
You will have a blood test before each dose of Zometa to make sure the medicine is not affecting your kidneys.
If you have too much
Tell your doctor if you have any of the following symptoms. They may mean that the level of calcium in your blood has fallen too far.
unusual light headedness, dizziness or faintness
numbness or tingling sensation
muscle cramps
While you are having Zometa
Things you must do
Make sure you follow your doctor's instructions carefully and keep all appointments.
You will need regular blood tests to make sure the treatment is working. Regular blood tests can also find side effects before they become serious.
Tell your doctor immediately if you become pregnant while having treatment with Zometa.
Your doctor can discuss with you the risks of having it while you are pregnant.
Tell your doctor and dentist immediately about any dental symptoms including pain or unusual feeling in your teeth or gums, or any dental infections.
A dental condition called jaw osteonecrosis has been reported in some patients being treated with Zometa or other drugs in the same class as Zometa.
Tell your dentist that you are being treated with Zometa.
Your dentist may need to take special precautions.
If you are about to be started on any new medicine, remind your doctor and pharmacist that you are having Zometa.
Tell any other doctor or pharmacist who treats you that you are having Zometa.
Things to be careful of
Be careful driving, operating machinery or doing jobs that require you to b |
