Zometa...do se's improve???

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PLJ
PLJ Member Posts: 373
edited June 2014 in Stage I Breast Cancer

Just had Zometa #1 and it hit me like a truck. I was fully hydrated the day before and day of, had the saline along with Zometa which was infused over about 40 minutes and continued to rehydrate the day after. However, these were my se's: extreme dizziness and tiredness a couple hours after, then a major headache hit me the next day, along with nausea, severe achiness (hard to get out of bed for my bathroom breaks), muscle wrenching chills and heart palpitations. I took Tylenol, which the nurse recommended but am not looking forward to infusion #2. Any suggestions to reduce se's? Should I have them slow it down even more? Thanks!

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  • cp418
    cp418 Member Posts: 7,079
    edited March 2012

    Yes, I had flu like symptoms with first infusion too.  Onc told me to take extra strength Tylenol.  By the time I went for #3 there were no or minimal symptoms so I would forget to take the Tylenol.

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  • kim40
    kim40 Member Posts: 904
    edited March 2012

    The first infusion is definetely the worst.  I felt like I was hit by a truck too.  The day of was pretty good but the next day, I couldn't move off the couch!  By day three, I felt a lot better.  Every other infusion after that was fine.  No SE's whatsoever.  Hope you feel better soon!

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  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 6,059
    edited March 2012

    I had terrible chest pains after the first infusion - one dose of dexamethasone fixed that. I had my 4th infusion last week and got absolutely no SE's. From what I remember 2 and 3 were OK.

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  • fairweather9
    fairweather9 Member Posts: 76
    edited March 2012

    The first one sucked.  That night was hell every bone in my body hurt, did not feel well for a day or two. I have had 5 infusions so far, only the first one gave me trouble.

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  • voraciousreader
    voraciousreader Member Posts: 7,496
    edited March 2012

    Ditto! I got chills exactly 24 hours after my first infusion. Along with stiffness, I was in agony for a few hours. I have had three more infusions since and I was fine afterwards.



    Hope you are feeling better soon!

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  • bcisnofun
    bcisnofun Member Posts: 488
    edited March 2012

    Hi everyone - so sad to read your posts, since my first infusion is a week from Tuesday.  Hope you feel better soon PLJ.   One question...are you all taking zometa for osteoporosis, reduced risk of mets, mets to bones? 

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  • exbrnxgrl
    exbrnxgrl Member Posts: 12,424
    edited March 2012

    I get Aredia which is a bit different than Zometa, but flu like symptoms after the first one are common. My mo said it might be like a bad flu but said it gets better with subsequent infusions. I was a bit achy after the first but am going on #4 this week and haven't had any problems. Feel better soon.

    Caryn

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  • suzieq60
    suzieq60 Member Posts: 6,059
    edited March 2012

    My onc lied to get it for me as you have to have already had a fracture from osteoporosis to get it free from the government in Australia. I reckon he did that more to hopefully reduce the risk of recurrence rather than to prevent osteoporosis from the Aromasin I take as my bone density wasn't too bad.

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  • cheryl1946
    cheryl1946 Member Posts: 1,308
    edited March 2012

    I had a terrible reaction to the first dose.

    Upon hearing that,my onc cut the second dose in half;no problems. I've had full doses ever since. 

    I do have some muscle aches from the zometa and letrozole..

      

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  • PLJ
    PLJ Member Posts: 373
    edited March 2012

    Thanks, ladies. I really appreciate you all sharing your experience and giving me hope that subsequent infusions won't yield these intense side effects.

    I thought I was doing great, just *very* dizzy and tired for about 12 hours and then it began to pass. My nurse was impressed by how easily I had gotten off (hah!) then the headache began, the full body ache, heart palps and nausea. The chills were about 24 hours post-infusion, like you VR. My lower back spasmed badly so it is still sore today and feels like I have pinched a nerve. Headache is pretty much gone and heart palps have almost subsided.

    Crap that we have to do this but lucky, I guess, that the treatment is available.

    bcisnofun: It may not be this bad for you. Everyone is different. My MO has me on the ABSG-12 protocol for risk reduction. I wish you well next week. Please let me know how you make out. I found that a heat pack helped my back spasms but used it a little too late.

    Ladies, did you take your Tylenol prophylactically or at the onset of discomfort? Maybe that was my biggest error...I waited until I *needed* something.

    Thank you for wishing me well and hugs to you all!

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