Zoledronic acid injection, also addressed as zoledronate, specifically is a drug prescribed for the treatment of bone diseases including high blood calcium due to cancer, bone breakdown due to cancer,
osteoporosis, and Paget’s disease of bone.
Mechanism of Action: Zoledronic acid falls under a class of substances named Bisphosphonates. It binds specifically to bone and it does not stay in your blood. The zoledronic acid injection helps in order to slow down the bone resorption (caused by osteoclasts) which enables the bone-forming cells (osteoblasts) time in order to rebuild the normal bone.
Dosage & Administration: The zoledronic acid injection is administered as an infusion into a vein for 15 minutes by your healthcare practitioner.
Your healthcare practitioner will recommend you to consume at least 2 glasses of water (500 mL or 2 cups) prior to and following the treatment.
In order to prevent Osteoporosis, 5 mg should be given as a single dose.
In order to prevent Paget’s disease, 5 mg should be given as a single dose.
The zoledronic injection may work for over 1 year, and your healthcare professionals will inform you in case you need to be treated again.
It is crucial to take calcium as well as vitamin D supplements as directed by your healthcare practitioner in order to reduce the probability of having reduced blood calcium levels, to prevent the loss of bone and to help rebuild the bone.
Possible Side Effects: Like all drugs, zoledronic acid injection may also be responsible for causing some unwanted adverse reactions in addition to its beneficial effects.
The most common zoledronic acid side effects include:
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Chills
- Headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea
- Back pain
- Pain in extremity
- Influenza-like illness
- Weakness
- Pain
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness
- Excessive sweating
- Tiredness
- Disturbed digestion
- Decreased appetite
- Non-cardiac chest pain
- Malaise (unwell feeling)
- Bone, joint or muscle pain or stiffness
Other side effects: There's possibility that some other side effects due to zoledronic acid infusion may also occur, which are listed as follows:
- Numbness
- Tingling sensations
- Allergic reactions
- Urinary tract infection
- Constipation
- High blood cholesterol levels
- Pain in jaw
- Pain in neck
- Joint sprain
- Post-traumatic pain
- Cough
- Seasonal allergy
- Vaginal dryness
- Congestion of the nose
- Pharyngolaryngeal pain
- Increased or irregular heartbeat
- Rheumatoid arthritis/arthritis (inflammation of the joints)
Warning & Precautions:
- Administration of zoledronic acid injection is not recommended for patients aged under 18 years.
- Prior to taking zoledronate infusion talk to your doctor if you're unable to take daily calcium/vitamin D supplements.
- Ensure that you have talked about zoledronic acid injection treatment with your healthcare practitioner.
- In case you're taking treatment with another intravenous form of zoledronic acid 4mg, you're not allowed to be treated with the zoledronic acid injection.
- In case you're being treated with this injection, treatment should be avoided with other bisphosphonates (such as risedronate, alendronate, clodronate, etidronate, pamidronate and ibandronate) at the same time.
- Use of zoledronate is not recommended in case you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or are breast-feeding.
- Talk to your healthcare practitioner in case you've any pain in your hip, groin, or thigh. This injection may be responsible for causing the unusual fractures in the thigh bone.
- Inform your doctor if you've a sudden headache, numbness in your limbs, confusion, trouble talking, vision problems, and trouble walking.
- Tell your healthcare team if you have kidney problems. Cases of worsening of kidney function, including kidney failure may happen when you take the zoledronic acid 4mg injection.
Drug Interactions: You need to inform your healthcare team in case you're taking or have recently taken any other drugs, including any kind of drug you have bought without a prescription. It is specifically crucial for your healthcare team to know if you are taking :
- any drugs known to be harmful to your kidneys (such as Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs).
- water pill (diuretics)
- aminoglycoside antibiotics (a type of drug used to treat severe infections).
Drug Overdose: In case you have received or taken too much zoledronic acid dose, contact your healthcare practitioner, hospital emergency department as soon as you can, even if there are no signs and symptoms.
Storage Guidelines: Store these injections at the room-temperature between 15°C-30°C. Original packaging should be kept unchanged as well as sealed until a healthcare practitioner administers the inj zoledronic acid. Don't forget to keep the injection and all drugs safely away from the children.
Cost: The zoledronic acid price may vary from branded (innovator) to non-branded (generic) drugs. The price for a bottle of Aclasta 5mg/100ml Infusion (Trade Name) is around 20492 INR.
Frequently Asked Questions:
From which class of drug Zoledronic acid belongs?
Zoledronic acid specifically belongs to a class of drugs named bisphosphonates that helps in order to prevent the abnormal breakdown of bones.
What is Zoledronic acid? What is it used for?
Zoledronic acid is used in order to prevent and treat osteoporosis and fractures in patients with metastatic cancer (a cancer which spreads to newer areas of the body). This drug can also be used in order to treat hypercalcemia (elevated blood calcium levels).
How should Zoledronic acid be given?
Zoledronic acid is given by injection into a vein.
How does Zoledronic acid act?
Zoledronic acid acs in order to block the activity of osteoclast cells and thus reduces the bone breakdown.
How long should I take Zoledronic acid?
This medication should be taken in the dose as well as duration recommended by healthcare professionals. Zoledronic takes around 6-month in order to show its maximum benefits on bones. Although, in certain cases, the healthcare practitioner may suggest this medication for a longer period of time. The appropriate duration will depend on the condition you're currently being treated for.
What are the commonly reported side effects of Zoledronic acid?
Commonly reported side effects of Zoledronic acid include joint pain, high blood pressure, fever, diarrhea, and feeling tired.
What are the severe side effects of Zoledronic acid?
Severe side effects of Zoledronic acid may include low blood calcium, osteonecrosis of the jaw and kidney problems.
What if Zoledronic acid is used during pregnancy?
Use of zoledronic acid during pregnancy may be responsible for harm to the baby.
NOTE: The information provided about zoledronic acid injection in this article is only for informational purposes and is not served as a substitute for the medical treatment, consultation, diagnosis, of a qualified healthcare practitioner.
