The medicinal product "Zometa" belongs to the category of synthetic drugs. It is prescribed for the treatment of bone metastases in cancerous tumors. Reviews about "Zometa" are abundant.
Composition, dosage form
This medical product is produced in the form of a clear, colorless liquid, which is a concentrate for the manufacture of an infusion solution.
One bottle of medicine contains 4 mg of zoledronic anhydrous acid.
As additional substances, water for injection, nitrogen, mannitol and sodium citrate are used.
Reviews of patients about "Zometa" are of interest to many.
pharmachologic effect
Zoledronic acid has a selective effect on bone, since it has a high affinity for bone tissue. This main component of the drug does not adversely affect the mechanical quality of the bones, their formation and mineralization.
This drug inhibits bone resorption, has an antitumor effect, which allows you to fight bone metastases.
Also, this pharmacological drug is used in the treatment of pathologies with oncological neoplasms of the mammary glands, prostate gland. The medication reduces the need for radiation therapy, surgical interventions, reduces tumor hypercalcemia, and also inhibits the progression of pain.
However, according to patients' reviews, side effects of “Zometa” are manifested very often.
Indications for use
A medication is prescribed for:
- Conducting therapy after surgical complications.
- Compression of the spine.
- A high amount of calcium in the body with oncological pathologies.
- Decrease in bone mass during mammological oncological diseases.
- There is a need to reduce the likely complications after radiation exposure.
- Therapy of bone fractures of a pathological nature.
Below we consider the reviews of doctors about "Zometa".
How long can you live with metastases? Life expectancy depends on the method of treatment and the body's response to therapeutic measures.
Approximately 50% of patients die within the first year of detecting a metastatic disease. Only 10% of people will live longer than 5 years.
Dosage
After diluting the drug, intravenous injections are performed. The solution is prepared using 0.5 l of a 5% dextrose solution or 0.5 l of sodium chloride solution. The duration of the infusion should be at least 15 minutes.
With bone damage in the process of cancer, a dosage of 4 mg is prescribed once every 4 weeks. In addition, patients are prescribed vitamin D and calcium preparations.
With a decrease in bone mass, the occurrence of pathological fractures in mammological malignant diseases, a dose of 4 mg is prescribed once every six months.
According to reviews, "Zometa" with bone metastases is very effective.
With an increased concentration of calcium during the course of oncological pathologies, a dosage of 4 mg is prescribed. Only in the absence of symptoms of dehydration in the patient are these infusions allowed.
With hypercalcemia
If the patient has hypercalcemia during the development of cancer and at the same time there is a malfunction of the kidneys, this medication is prescribed in a dosage of 4 mg. In this case, infusion is allowed to be carried out only after clinical analysis and risk assessment from the use of this pharmacological agent.
According to patients' reviews, after the first intake of “Zometa” they had a flu-like state. In some cases, they noted pain in the muscles and joints.
Overdose
In cases of using the medicine in dosages exceeding therapeutic standards, the development of pathological processes in the kidneys, electrolyte imbalance, a change in the concentration of magnesium, calcium and phosphorus in the blood are possible.
In case of an overdose, calcium gluconate is used in the form of injections.
Drug interaction
With the simultaneous administration of antibacterial drugs, antitumor agents, diuretics and analgesics, no significant drug interactions were observed.
With the combined use of aminoglycosides, caution must be exercised, since such a combination can lead to an increase in the duration of a decrease in blood calcium level.
At the same time, when using medications with nephrotoxic effects, some caution should also be observed.
With a combination of this medication with thalidomide in patients with multiple myeloma, the likelihood of disturbances in the functioning of the urinary system may increase.
Ready-made solutions of the Zometa medication should not be mixed with infusions containing calcium ions (for example, Ringer's solution).
The pharmacological preparation "Zometa" is contraindicated in women during lactation and pregnancy.
Adverse reactions
According to reviews of "Zometa", the use of a medication can lead to the following adverse reactions of the body:
- Local symptoms: swelling, pain, irritation.
- Immune system: hypersensitivity, angioedema.
- Cardiovascular system: change in blood pressure, bradycardia.
- Dermatological reactions: excessive sweating, skin rashes, itching.
- Digestive system: abdominal pain, stomatitis, diarrhea, nausea, dry mouth, dyspepsia, constipation, anorexia.
- CNS: sleep disturbances, tremors, dizziness, paresthesias, hyposthesia, headache, confused consciousness, anxiety, hypersthesia, violation of taste perceptions.
- Laboratory indicators: hypomagnesemia, hyperkalemia, increased concentrations of urea and creatinine, hypokalemia, hypernatremia, hypophosphatemia, hypocalcemia.
- Urinary organs: hematuria, kidney pathology, proteinuria, acute phase failure.
- Musculoskeletal system: generalized pain, cramps, myalgia, muscle arthralgia, bone pain.
- Respiratory: cough, shortness of breath.
- Visual organs: uveitis, epileleritis, conjunctivitis, "blurred" vision.
- The hematopoietic system: anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, pancytopenia.
- Other: chest pain, fever, asthenia, weight gain, swelling, flu-like syndrome, which includes a painful condition, fever, chills, malaise.
According to patients' reviews of “Zometa”, after the first dose, fingertips sometimes go numb and “goosebumps” are felt throughout the body.
Contraindications
The medication should not be prescribed to women during lactation and pregnancy. Also, the medication is prohibited for patients who are sensitive to any elements of this medication.
Special recommendations
Before using this pharmacological drug in patients with hypercalcemia, provoked by the development of malignant neoplasms, and in the presence of impaired renal function, a diagnostic examination should be performed and the potential benefit and risk of therapy with this drug should be assessed.
Before using the medicine "Zometa" it is necessary to make sure the patient is hydrated. In cases of need, it is recommended to introduce a physiological saline solution at the same time, or simultaneously with the use of a drug infusion solution. At the same time, overhydration is dangerous for the patient, since there is a likelihood of complications in the functioning of the cardiovascular system.
When using a medicinal product, the concentration of magnesium, creatinine, calcium and phosphorus should be regularly monitored. With the development of hypophosphatemia, hypomagnesemia, hypocalcemia, additional administration of missing trace elements is recommended. Typically, patients with hypercalcemia have impaired renal function, so it is necessary to carefully check their work in this category of patients.
According to doctors about Zometa, prolonged use of a medication can increase the concentration of creatinine in the blood.
Before prescribing this medication to patients with cancer, the specialist should recommend that they undergo a dental examination and perform the necessary preventive procedures, as well as carefully observe the rules of oral hygiene. Such measures are necessary because the use of the Zometa medication can provoke the development of jaw osteonecrosis.
In clinical practice, rare cases of the occurrence of severe pain in the muscles, bones and joints when using medications in which zoledronic acid is present are recorded.
Similar signs were noted between the first day and several months from the start of treatment. At the end of therapy in most patients, the pain ceased.
The use of this drug in pediatrics is not recommended, since today the safety and effectiveness of its use has not been studied enough.
Patient reviews of Zomet should be reviewed in advance.
Price
The average cost of a drug is 11,000 rubles. It depends on the region and the pharmacy network.
Analogs
The analogues of this medicine by pharmacological qualities are:
- "Rezoskan" - a medicine that is an inhibitor of bone resorption, belongs to the category of highly effective bisphosphonates that have a selective effect on bone tissue. It reduces the activity of osteoclasts, does not affect the formation, mechanical properties and mineralization of bone tissue. The selective effect of bisphosphonates on it is based on an affinity for bone tissue, however, the exact molecular mechanism that ensures the inhibition of the functionality of osteoclasts has not yet been clarified. The medication has antitumor properties that provide efficacy in bone metastases. Zoledronic acid, as part of this agent, inhibits proliferation and induces cell apoptosis, reduces the likelihood of metastasis.
- "Zoleriks" - an inhibitor of bone resorption, bisphosphonate. It has a selective effect on the bone. It has an overwhelming effect on the resorption of tissues mediated by osteoclasts. The selective effect of bisphosphonates is based on an affinity for bone tissue. In addition to the inhibitory properties, zolendronic acid has other antitumor effects that provide a therapeutic effect in bone metastases.
- "Veroclast" is a medicine based on zoledronic acid, which belongs to the category of highly effective bisphosphonates that have a selective effect on bone tissue. The medication inhibits their resorption, having a direct effect on osteoclasts. This pharmacological agent changes the microenvironment of the bone marrow, helps to reduce the development of tumor cells, and has a high antiangiogenic activity. The suppression of resorption is clinically accompanied by a decrease in pain. The drug suppresses the proliferation of osteoblasts, has direct proapoptotic and cytostatic activity, a synergistic effect with antitumor drugs.
Reviews about "Zometa"
There is a very limited number of reviews about this drug on medical sites, since it is a rather specific drug that is used in the treatment of cancer pathologies. Nevertheless, many experts left their opinion about him.
There are also reviews of patients about Zomet.
Patients who were treated with this pharmacological drug noted its effectiveness, which was proved by general health. With malignant neoplasms, they significantly reduced the manifestations of pain, which patients associate with treatment with this medicine. The only drawback of this medication is the multiple adverse reactions that develop when it is taken, and this significantly affects well-being and mood. Among the negative reactions, the most common were mental disorders, sleep disturbances, and digestive disorders. This is confirmed by reviews of "Zometa".
Experts call this drug one of the most effective today in the treatment of cancer and preventing the development of metastases in bone tissue. Only they advise in no case to use this medication without a doctor’s prescription, since it is a serious remedy that can seriously harm health.
We reviewed the instructions for use and reviews of "Zometa".