home > drugs a-z list > zometa (zoledronic acid for inj) drug center > zometa (zoledronic acid for inj) drug - medication guide and patient information

• Patients should be instructed to tell their doctor if they have kidney problems before being given Zometa.
• Patients should be informed of the importance of getting their blood tests (serum creatinine) during the course of their Zometa therapy.
• Zometa should not be given if the patient is pregnant or plans to become pregnant, or if she is breast-feeding.
• Patients should be advised to have a dental examination prior to treatment with Zometa and should avoid invasive dental procedures during treatment.
• Patients should be informed of the importance of good dental hygiene and routine dental care.
• Patients with multiple myeloma and bone metastasis of solid tumors should be advised to take an oral calcium supplement of 500 mg and a multiple vitamin containing 400IU of Vitamin D daily.
• Patients should be advised to report any thigh, hip or groin pain. It is unknown whether the risk of atypical femur fracture continues after stopping therapy.
• Patients should be aware of the most common side effects including: anemia, nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, fatigue, pyrexia, weakness, lower limb edema, anorexia, decreased weight, bone pain, myalgia, arthralgia, back pain, malignant neoplasm aggravated, headache, dizziness, insomnia, paresthesia, dyspnea, cough, and abdominal pain.
• There have been reports of bronchoconstriction in aspirin-sensitive patients receiving bisphosphonates, including zoledronic acid. Before being given zoledronic acid, patients should tell their doctor if they are aspirin-sensitive.

Last reviewed on RxList: 3/26/2012
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.