Zometa

Thanks Kerry . Where can I order Zometa in Canada for $600?

I do take Calcium and vitamin D as well. The Zometa that I get from the pharmacy (I'm in Canada) cost $715 for the one dose.

Mmmm, that's very interesting, I am actually ordering mine tonight, Angus will pick it up tomorrow. I will let you know how much they charge this time.

can you file in for refund at your insurance. Is it considered a medication, or what............

I am usually covered, but geeeeeee 700.00 $.

I will ask my doc next appt. but I was not expecting that much to pay.

I am in Québec/Canada. 

Thank you all for sharing your info on Zometa, my onco wants me to start this on Wednesday, so I was excited to read all of your information.  Someone asked about taking calcium, when talking with a pharmacists regarding the pros and cons of Zometa, he told me it was very, very important to be on a calcium w/d supplement.  The way he explained it was that calcium is not only used in our bones, but muscles, heart, etc...when we receive Zometa, it is kind of like putting a protective coating around our bones, so that means that the calcium in our bones may not be as readily available for the other organs in our body that requires calcium to function...thus it was very important to take supplemental calcium.  He also instucted me to monitor for any muscle cramps (possible symptom of low blood calcium) or irregular heart beats.  I did ask him if I was his wife would he recommend taking the Zometa and he said "definately" and if that wasn't available to take one of the other bisphosphonates.

Thanks for the info about taking calcium and vit D. I'm going to go get some this afternoon and start taking it. 

What is the benefit of taking Zomets vs Boniva?

Hi gals, yesterday we saw my mom's onc. When I asked him about Zometa (he has never mentioned it before), he said that Zometa is suitable for treatment of osteoporosis (which can be created by any aromatase inhibitors, Femara etc). And he said that is not confirmed-proved, that Zometa helps to avoid recurrences. I have read that the researches give good results as prevention of bc. So mom and me, want to have Zometa, but the onc. said that on June (3 months re exam), he is going to check the "bone mass exam" and he will decide. So I don't know what have to do... May I insist for my mom to start Zometa now or to wait the onc. to decide??? I trust him but I'm wondering...

I had my first one today.  So far, I'm feeling fine.  Okay, my insurance covered the bill 100%(thankfully I still have insurance!)  it was $519.75.  Why all the discrepancy in price within Canada? 

For those of you who had se's, when did they kick in?  I have a meeting tomorrow at 1pm and I'm hoping I'll be right as rain.

Christine - it takes at least 24 hours for me - I didn't get any chills with my 2nd, but had bone pain two days after. But, Tylenol took care of it once I though about taking some! I hope you will feel OK for your meeting. Maybe even take some Tylenol preventatively, just to make sure all is OK.

Ok, I feel that I am getting totally ripped off!  My first perscription for Zometa from Shoppers Drug Mart was $750!!  What is up with that??  I have insurance and so do my husband so we can "double dip" but I like to know why it is so different from around the country? 

I don't get a perscription from my onc.  He send the paperwork off to Access Zometa and they look after it all from there.  I don't even get to pick it up!  They send a courier to my house and drop it off.  My first infusion was at a local infusion clinic, but my next one will be done at home.  So maybe the cost of my Zometa was a little higher because they covered the cost of the courier and the cost of the infusion clinic?? 

I was already told by Access Zometa that the next time that they courier me the Zometa, all of the necessary items that is needed for the nurse will also be sent at the same time.  Now I call that service!

Well, for me, I pick it up at Shoppers. This time it was $661.24. My Onc faxed a prescription to them, its on my "list" of meds, just like my Arimidex.

Norvatis couriers me my "Zometa Kit" which has all the saline, needles, etc. They also organise the nurse, all at no cost to me. Well, no extra cost, I should say. They have very good customer service (lots of phone calls to make sure I am OK, etc!) 

Christine - hope you feel OK today. Keep popping the Tylenol (no Advil, it is cleared by the Kidneys, same as Zometa, Tylenol is cleared by the Liver)

I can scan my receipt if any canucks want a copy of it.  It makes no sense that there is such a difference for the same presciption 4mg of zometa.  HRF, if you are paying half, the less the better!

 Oh man, Kerry it kicked in today just before my meeting.  Starting getting the chills but popped a tylenol and started coming down.  I've been fuzzy all day and achy.  I was hoping I was in the clear, damn!!  But it was tolerable, not at all like "shiver" chemo, I just seemed lackluster and had a hard time getting out of my chair!  I'm going to vege tonight.  

I agree Access Zometa has been more efficient than my cancer clinic. 

My sweet son said today, "remember when you feel bad it means the drug is working".  So cute, so unfortunately well-trained from last year's crisis. 

Had my first infusion today. Let-It-Be (Christine) my bill was the same as yours. My insurance is covering the cost luckly. I too am wondering if I will get any SE's from the Zometa. I had it right after my herceptin. I had to pay my cancer centre an infusion fee of $100.00 which makes no sense to me as I was already scheduled for my herceptin and had my port/iv hooked up and everything. I was told that it was manditory that I had my first  zometa infusion scheduled at the centre. For any future infusions it can be done at my home with the coordination from Zometa Access (home care nurse) I was told "free of charge". Oh I thought that I heard somewhere that the first infusion should run for 30 minutes (I think), but my centre did it in 15 minutes. This freaked me out and I questioned the nurse and said it should be over a course of 30 minutes. They still did it in 15 minutes. What has been others experience???

Frankie