Anyone on Aredia?

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MsKaren
MsKaren Member Posts: 17
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I'm a 24 year survivor. But I did have a reoccurance of my breast cancer to the bone about 5 years ago; and at that point I started taking "Aredia" once a month to prevent the bone destruction caused by cancer. My very first dose gave me flue-like symtoms, and bone pain, but after that I was fine. I've been on it for over 4 years now.

Has anyone else been on it a while? Any sideaffects? Kidney problems? How you doing with its intended results?

Karen

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  • hummingbyrd
    hummingbyrd Member Posts: 950 Member
    #2
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    I was on aredia, but now take zometa. Same class of drugs, but it only takes 15 minutes to get zometa infusion as opposed to 4 hours for aredia. Been on it 2 1/2 years now, so you got me beat.
    hummingbyrd
  • MsKaren
    MsKaren Member Posts: 17
    #3
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    hummingbyrd said:

    I was on aredia, but now take zometa. Same class of drugs, but it only takes 15 minutes to get zometa infusion as opposed to 4 hours for aredia. Been on it 2 1/2 years now, so you got me beat.
    hummingbyrd

    hummingbyrd, hi! Yes, I was informed about this newer drug. Doc had suggested it, saying it is the drug of choice now--more convenient. (my aredia treatments took about 2 1/2 hours) I really didn't want to change because I knew how Aredia worked on me--no bad reactions after the first one. Then 6 months later (this past week as a matter of fact,) Doc said he has stopped recommending that other drug that you take because it was causing problems with patient's kidneys. Aredia works and is safer for one's kidneys, so he was glad I stayed with it instead of switching.


    Anyone else???
  • jeancmici
    jeancmici Member Posts: 665 Member
    #4
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    MsKaren said:

    hummingbyrd, hi! Yes, I was informed about this newer drug. Doc had suggested it, saying it is the drug of choice now--more convenient. (my aredia treatments took about 2 1/2 hours) I really didn't want to change because I knew how Aredia worked on me--no bad reactions after the first one. Then 6 months later (this past week as a matter of fact,) Doc said he has stopped recommending that other drug that you take because it was causing problems with patient's kidneys. Aredia works and is safer for one's kidneys, so he was glad I stayed with it instead of switching.


    Anyone else???

    Aredia is supposedly no safer than Zometa - both bisphosphonates which affect the kidneys sometimes. HOWEVER Zometa mustNEVER be given faster than 15 minutes of infusion - that's where the trouble comes in. Ask your doctor about the time they took to give the drug. However yout doc may be on to something new we haven't heard about yet. Ooohhhh, I hope not - 2 1/2 hours plus everything else I get - might as well take a room in the hotel near the hospital where I get my treatment.
  • hummingbyrd
    hummingbyrd Member Posts: 950 Member
    #5
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    jeancmici said:

    Aredia is supposedly no safer than Zometa - both bisphosphonates which affect the kidneys sometimes. HOWEVER Zometa mustNEVER be given faster than 15 minutes of infusion - that's where the trouble comes in. Ask your doctor about the time they took to give the drug. However yout doc may be on to something new we haven't heard about yet. Ooohhhh, I hope not - 2 1/2 hours plus everything else I get - might as well take a room in the hotel near the hospital where I get my treatment.

    Guess I better check into the zometa. The best thing would be clodromate. They use it in Canada. Two pills a day, same class of bisphosphonates and a lot cheaper. Plus, indicated for prevention of bone mets, not just "treatment of".
    Wonder why we don't use it here?
    Zometa is supposedly a touch bit more effective than aredia, but I do suspect it's a tad bit harder on the kidneys.
    So many decisions to make!
    It's enough to drive one mad, eh? Plum daffy!
    hummer
  • jeancmici
    jeancmici Member Posts: 665 Member
    #6
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    hummingbyrd said:

    Guess I better check into the zometa. The best thing would be clodromate. They use it in Canada. Two pills a day, same class of bisphosphonates and a lot cheaper. Plus, indicated for prevention of bone mets, not just "treatment of".
    Wonder why we don't use it here?
    Zometa is supposedly a touch bit more effective than aredia, but I do suspect it's a tad bit harder on the kidneys.
    So many decisions to make!
    It's enough to drive one mad, eh? Plum daffy!
    hummer

    >>Wonder why we don't use it here?
    CLODRONATE??? Why golly, gee whiz, we're still testing it!!!!!!! (Along with a vaccine for mets of melanoma also available in Canada.)

    It is the mildest of the group - I like the idea of using it as a preventative - too late for me and zometa certainly hasn;t stopped mine from spreading tho' no broken bones yet!!!!
  • hummingbyrd
    hummingbyrd Member Posts: 950 Member
    #7
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    jeancmici said:

    >>Wonder why we don't use it here?
    CLODRONATE??? Why golly, gee whiz, we're still testing it!!!!!!! (Along with a vaccine for mets of melanoma also available in Canada.)

    It is the mildest of the group - I like the idea of using it as a preventative - too late for me and zometa certainly hasn;t stopped mine from spreading tho' no broken bones yet!!!!

    For real!
    I got a broke wing (arm), and it hurts like heck too!
    But I am SOOOO glad that we are SOOOO careful with our drug testing here.
    Clodromate has only been used for the past 24 years,
    in other countries.
    I certainly wouldn't want anything UNPROVEN to be put on the market.
    Does anyone know where to find a patient advocate when you need one?
    Who's running this show anyway?
    hmmmm?
  • MsKaren
    MsKaren Member Posts: 17
    #8
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    jeancmici said:

    Aredia is supposedly no safer than Zometa - both bisphosphonates which affect the kidneys sometimes. HOWEVER Zometa mustNEVER be given faster than 15 minutes of infusion - that's where the trouble comes in. Ask your doctor about the time they took to give the drug. However yout doc may be on to something new we haven't heard about yet. Ooohhhh, I hope not - 2 1/2 hours plus everything else I get - might as well take a room in the hotel near the hospital where I get my treatment.

    You girls seem to know a lot more about this than I do. And yes, it is mind-boggling deciding what drugs to risk taking. But in our cases, we have to take a medical professional's word because our lives are on the line here.

    I just don't want to survive cancer only to end up on kidney dialysis!
  • hummingbyrd
    hummingbyrd Member Posts: 950 Member
    #9
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    MsKaren said:

    You girls seem to know a lot more about this than I do. And yes, it is mind-boggling deciding what drugs to risk taking. But in our cases, we have to take a medical professional's word because our lives are on the line here.

    I just don't want to survive cancer only to end up on kidney dialysis!

    Sorry, didn't mean to get off on such a tangent there MsKaren. Jean and I are both in the medical profession. I suppose sometimes we just get frustrated at what we know as opposed to what we get. Just venting earlier!
  • jeancmici
    jeancmici Member Posts: 665 Member
    #10
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    MsKaren said:

    You girls seem to know a lot more about this than I do. And yes, it is mind-boggling deciding what drugs to risk taking. But in our cases, we have to take a medical professional's word because our lives are on the line here.

    I just don't want to survive cancer only to end up on kidney dialysis!

    I had Zometa yesterday. I asked the infusion nurse about this and she said kidneys are watched carefully - trouble showing in a blood test means stop the Zometa or Aredia - and I believe the kidney problems are reversible if it happens. Remember even Tylenol can be lethal if not taken properly. Zometa can not be given shorter than 15 minutes infusion.

    Hummer - I'm not in the medical profession even tho' I feel I am doing way too much in the research area for a sick person who ought to be able to sit back and let the doc take over.

    Karen - With your good track record with aredia, stay on it - the most sensible thing in my estimation.

    Good Luck
    Jean
  • hummingbyrd
    hummingbyrd Member Posts: 950 Member
    #11
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    jeancmici said:

    I had Zometa yesterday. I asked the infusion nurse about this and she said kidneys are watched carefully - trouble showing in a blood test means stop the Zometa or Aredia - and I believe the kidney problems are reversible if it happens. Remember even Tylenol can be lethal if not taken properly. Zometa can not be given shorter than 15 minutes infusion.

    Hummer - I'm not in the medical profession even tho' I feel I am doing way too much in the research area for a sick person who ought to be able to sit back and let the doc take over.

    Karen - With your good track record with aredia, stay on it - the most sensible thing in my estimation.

    Good Luck
    Jean

    Jean! I thooought you were an RN!
    Guess I'm losing it, although I'd be willing to bet you know enough to be in the medical profession. Sorry, my mistake.
    hummer
  • jeancmici
    jeancmici Member Posts: 665 Member
    #12
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    hummingbyrd said:

    Jean! I thooought you were an RN!
    Guess I'm losing it, although I'd be willing to bet you know enough to be in the medical profession. Sorry, my mistake.
    hummer

    >>Guess I'm losing it, although I'd be willing to bet you know enough to be in the medical profession. Sorry, my mistake.

    No need to apologize!!!! I just don't want to be trading on false credentials. :-)
    Jean

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