More and more problems today cause many to try to improve their health. Old age, an abundance of stress, existing chronic diseases have a very negative effect on the general condition of the human body and cause the appearance of more and more new diseases. Particularly serious are problems with the musculoskeletal system. The vast majority of patients simply do not have enough mineral resources in their bodies so that they can cope with the difficulty themselves. That is why such conditions associated with the destruction of bone tissue, often only worsen over time.
Fortunately, modern medicine has found a number of opportunities to improve the quality of life of such patients. Even drugs have been developed that need to be administered only once a year. The effect of such drugs is enough to feel good right up to the next procedure. One such drug is Aklast. Many have already managed to appreciate the entire spectrum of its action. It is important that the potential patient has studied all available information about the Aklast drug: instructions for use, reviews, analogues. This will allow him to verify its effectiveness, evaluate all the associated risks and inconveniences, and make his own informed decision regarding whether to use the drug in question.
Indications for use
In what cases would it be wise to use the Aklast drug? Instructions, reviews report that the drug in question is effective in the following situations:
- prevention of new fractures in those patients who already suffer from a fracture of the femur (namely, its proximal section);
- Paget's disease (bone);
- the development of osteoporosis (in particular in male patients);
- prevention of the development of post-menopausal osteoporosis in female patients with osteopenia;
- directly postmenopausal osteoporosis (the drug provides a significant reduction in the risk of severe fractures, femoral fractures, as well as individual vertebrae and even extravertebral fractures; the drug significantly enhances bone mineral density);
- It is used to implement prophylaxis, as well as the actual treatment of osteoporosis, which developed under the influence of glucocorticosteroids.
Contraindications
Can everyone use the Aklast drug? Reviews of doctors say that the medication in question has a number of serious contraindications. Among them, the following are especially distinguished:
- the period of bearing a child;
- high personal sensitivity to zoledronic acid, as well as other individual components of the drug;
- the period of breastfeeding;
- any disturbances in the process of mineral metabolism (the most common violation is hypocalcemia);
- improper patient age (the safety and effectiveness of the use of the drug in question for minors has not been proven);
- violations in the functioning of the kidneys (of varying severity).
In the presence of at least one of the above conditions, it is important not to start using the Aklast medicine. Reviews (who took the drug, can tell from their own experience) report that the use of this drug by a patient who has contraindications can lead to an acute worsening of the condition. A competent specialist must select a replacement.
Mode of application
How should I use the drug in question? It is administered intravenously. To do this, use a valve infusion system, which provides a constant rate of infusion. The procedure takes fifteen minutes. It is important that the patient some time before the start of treatment begins to consume a sufficient amount of clean drinking water.
So, to combat postmenopausal female osteoporosis and male osteoporosis, a working dose of the drug in question is prescribed - five milligrams (while one bottle usually contains one hundred milliliters). The procedure is carried out only once a year. Sometimes the attending physician considers it necessary to additionally prescribe calcium and vitamin D. The same working dose is prescribed for the prevention of repeated fractures, and for bone compaction in the postoperative period, and for the fight against Paget's bone disease.
Those patients who suffer from impaired renal or hepatic function do not need to personally review their initially prescribed working doses of the drug. The situation is similar with elderly patients (whose age, in particular, exceeds 65 years). Age does not play a significant role in how the drug acts in the body, as well as in how it is distributed and exported.
When using the drug in question, it is important to comply with all existing asepsis standards. What does this mean? Before proceeding with the administration of the drug, it is necessary to carefully consider the contents of the vial and evaluate how the quality and color of the solution correspond to the declared one. If you notice a discoloration or precipitate, do not use this product. Aklast is administered separately from all other drugs. It can not be mixed with other agents and even allow minimal contact of the drug with substances that contain calcium.
It is important to use the drug immediately after the bottle in which it was released was opened. If any part of the solution still could not be applied immediately, it should be kept in the refrigerator, but no longer than one day. Permissible storage temperature is from two to eight degrees. Before use, such a solution is important to warm, bringing to room temperature. It is necessary to give him the opportunity to independently reach the ambient temperature.
Side effects
Sometimes there may be some unpleasant effects from the use of the drug "Aklast". Reviews and doctors talk about the following possible side effects:
- hypomagnesemia;
- stomatitis;
- hypophosphatemia;
- nausea;
- dyspepsia;
- hypocalcemia;
- vomiting
- tremor;
- Pain in the eyes;
- abdominal pain;
- hyperkalemia
- decreased appetite;
- headache;
- iritis;
- paresthesia;
- dizziness;
- hypokalemia;
- esophagitis;
- drowsiness;
- conjunctivitis;
- constipation;
- hypernatremia;
- anemia;
- bradycardia;
- uveitis;
- diarrhea;
- sleep disorders
- vertigo;
- hematuria;
- thrombocytopenia;
- dyspnea;
- lethargy;
- Hypesthesia
- anxiety;
- acute renal failure;
- fainting;
- leukopenia;
- toothache;
- itching
- shiver;
- pancytopenia;
- fever;
- hyperesthesia;
- muscle cramps;
- dry mucous membranes in the oral cavity;
- skin rash;
- impaired kidney function;
- swelling of the joints;
- angioedema;
- weakness;
- cough;
- significant increase in body weight;
- feeling of thirst;
- chronic fatigue syndrome;
- confusion of consciousness;
- episcleritis;
- arthralgia;
- pain in the chest area;
- proteinuria;
- osteonecrosis;
- the appearance of flu symptoms;
- violation of the sensation of taste;
- ossalgia;
- peripheral edema;
- decreased visual acuity;
- asthenia;
- myalgia;
- increased sweating;
- anorexia;
- hypercreatininemia;
- pain in the back and limbs.
If at least some of these symptoms appear, you should immediately stop taking the drug and seek help from your doctor. The specialist will choose the appropriate replacement for the drug Aklast. Doctors' reviews emphasize the importance of this step. Such a simple procedure can help maintain good health.
Overdose
To date, there is insufficient data on cases of overdose during treatment with Aklast. Patient reviews report that they were recommended to constantly be under the supervision of a specialist if he was prescribed a dose of medicine above the average.
What are the symptoms of an overdose? Among them are the following:
- hypophosphatemia;
- acute renal failure;
- hypomagnesemia;
- hypocalcemia.
How is it recommended to get rid of overdose symptoms that occurred during the use of the drug "Aklast"? Reviews of doctors advise to administer intravenously certain solutions that can help restore good physical condition, for example, a solution with magnesium, calcium, and phosphate ions. This procedure can sometimes save the patient’s life, therefore only a specialist should carry it out.
Interaction with other medicines
Unfortunately, to date, there have not been enough authoritative studies that would help draw a conclusion about how safe it is to use the Aklasta drug in parallel with other medicines. Reviews advise you to pay attention to what reactions the main active ingredient is able to enter - zolendronic acid. She, as you know, is not subjected to general systemic metabolism. The substance leaves the body through the kidneys. Therefore, it is important to prevent the simultaneous use of drugs that are capable of directly or indirectly inhibiting the function of these organs, as well as those that provoke the active elimination of fluid from the body (in particular, with diuretics).
special instructions
Specialists should inform the patient about the main nuances of using the drug in question before the start of therapy. For example, it is necessary to report how actively the Aklast injection promotes the elimination of calcium from the body. Reviews talk about emerging manifestations of hypocalcemia. That is why those patients who constitute a risk group should be constantly monitored by a specialist.
Patients with Paget's bone disease should undergo therapy only under the guidance of a competent doctor who already has considerable experience in treating this disease.
Many experts insist on the use of ibuprofen or paracetamol immediately after the administration of the drug in question. This will help reduce the unpleasant sensations that occur in the first three days after the infusion, as reported by patients on the Aklast tool.
Injections of Zometa (an anticancer drug), the main active ingredient of which is also zolendronic acid, are not a substitute for the drug in question. They should not be used in parallel. If the patient has been diagnosed with hypocalcemia, then before starting treatment with the drug in question, it is necessary to additionally carry out treatment with doses of vitamin D and calcium prescribed by the doctor. Similarly, it is important to adjust other available conditions characterized by impaired mineral metabolism.
Caution should be given to those patients who already have significant malfunctions in the functioning of the kidneys.
It is important to consider that there is no reliable information about how much the drug in question has a strong influence on the patient’s ability to drive a variety of dangerous mechanisms, as well as vehicles. However, judging by the occurrence of which side effects is potentially possible (including inhibition of reactions, temporary blurred vision), it is important to perform the steps described above with extreme caution.
The drug "Aklast": patient reviews
As a rule, those who have already managed to personally verify the effect of the drug in question express their positive emotions from such therapy. They call the drug effective. They talk not only about the successful fight against osteoporosis and excellent bone fusion, but also about improving the condition of femoral neck fractures by elderly patients. And not every remedy helps to achieve such a result.
At the same time, there are also not so positive reviews of the patient from Aklast. Side effects occur quite often. Among them, the most frequently occurring are distinguished: high fever, aches and pain in muscles and bones, chills. However, patients confidently declare: no matter what, you need to use the drug in question. It will help to solve a number of serious problems with the musculoskeletal system. In general, the reviews of patients leave positive feedback about the drug Aklast.
Analogs
The original Swiss remedy has a positive effect on bone tissue, but its cost corresponds to its effect. Therefore, not every patient, unfortunately, can afford treatment with the drug in question. As a result, many prefer analogs to the composition of Aklast. Reviews highlight a number of substitute drugs. Among them are Belklast, Zometa, Resorba and FS Rezoklastin. Most of them are less likely to cause unpleasant consequences, as reported by patients on the Aklast drug. Side effects when using them are manifested far less often. Only the attending physician can choose a substitute drug, self-medication can lead to a worsening of the condition.
Storage conditions
How would it be correct to store the Aklast drug? Instructions for use, reviews recommend containing this medication in a place where the temperature does not exceed twenty-five degrees. Once opened, the bottle can be kept refrigerated for no more than twenty-four hours. All these measures are necessary in order for the medicine to remain effective.
Shelf life
So, for how long after manufacture can I use the drug "Aklast"? Reviews and experts do not recommend the use of the tool in question three years after its production. After the end of this period, the medication loses its useful properties and can cause some harm to the patient’s health.
Output
The drug "Aklast" is an effective drug that can significantly alleviate the condition of patients suffering from problems caused by a decrease in bone density. It is used for Paget's disease, for the prevention of repeated fractures, as well as for the fight against osteoporosis of various origins. It is important that the appointment of the drug is carried out only by a competent specialist. The features of its application are such that only an employee of a medical institution can carry out the introduction procedure. This, among other things, reduces the risk of patient self-medication. It is especially important to consider this point, taking into account how serious adverse reactions can occur due to improper use of the drug in question. It is necessary to carefully adhere to all the recommendations of the attending physician that he will provide regarding the conduct of therapy. Learn more about the drug "Aklast" (instructions for use, reviews). Injections of this drug in this case will not only not harm, but will bring the expected benefits.
Be careful when choosing the right treatment. Do not be lazy to spend some time researching information about him. This will help you choose the best drug available to you and significantly improve your well-being.
Take care of yourself and your loved ones. Choose quality. And be always healthy!