Zoledronic Acid

Zoledronic acid is a medication that can be prescribed to treat Paget's disease, high blood calcium due to cancer, and multiple myeloma or solid tumor cancers that have spread to the bone. It is an injectable medicine that is given through IV by a healthcare professional. Side effects that have been reported with zoledronic acid include nausea or vomiting, fatigue, and weight loss.

 

Zoledronic Acid Uses

Zoledronic acid (Reclast®, Zometa®) is a prescription medication that belongs to a group of medications known as bisphosphonates. It is used to treat the following conditions:
 
  • Paget's disease of bone
  • High blood calcium levels due to cancer (known medically as hypercalcemia of malignancy)
  • Multiple myeloma or solid tumor cancers that have spread to the bone (to help prevent or delay broken bones or other bone damage).
     
Reclast is approved to treat Paget's disease, while Zometa is approved for the other two uses.
 
(Click What Is Zoledronic Acid Used For? for more information, including possible off-label uses.)
 

Zoledronic Acid Side Effects

As with any medicine, side effects are possible with zoledronic acid. However, not everyone who takes the drug will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate it quite well. If side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or can easily be treated by you or your healthcare provider. Serious side effects are less common.
 
Common side effects of zoledronic acid include, but are not limited to:
 
(Click Side Effects of Zoledronic Acid to learn more, including potentially serious side effects that you should report immediately to your healthcare provider.)
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;