Breast Cancer Channel
Topics & Medications
Quicklinks
Related Channels
Zoledronic Acid for Cancer
Zoledronic acid (Reclast®, Zometa®) is a prescription medication that is approved to treat many bone-related problems, including cancer complications. For example, it can help:
- Prevent or delay broken bones or other bone damage due to multiple myeloma or solid-tumor cancers that have spread to the bone
- Treat high blood calcium levels due to cancer (known medically as hypercalcemia of malignancy).
Zoledronic acid is generally administered through IV by a healthcare provider. When using it to treat hypercalcemia of malignancy, it should only be used after vigorous rehydration. This typically requires the administration of IV fluids. Common side effects of zoledronic acid include fatigue, nausea, and fever.
(Click What Is Zoledronic Acid Used For? to learn more, including other uses for this product. This article also offers details on how it works and discusses "off-label" uses.)
Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD