Zometa infusion - longer term side effects?

Hi prunie

I can't answer your question re the Zometa infusion, but by answering I'm hoping someone will be around now who can. 

In the meantime, take a look at the coatings of the letrozole tablets vs the brands.  I am on Anastrozole and I only get given Accord or Teva as their coatings are the same and yet, when I got given a different brand I was hit almost straight away with a load of joint and bone pain.  When I checked, that brand had different coating for the tablet.  I tested it twice - and each time, I had the same result, so I got the Dr to write "Accord or Teva brand only" on my prescription slip. It literally was only 2 days after I switched back to my usual brand, that the side effects stopped - but I did only take that particular pain causing brand for a couple of days, so not really a good example of how long it takes to leave your system.

Kindest Wishes, Lesley

Hi there,  I've stopped letrozole a few times in the last 2.5 years and it's taken longer each time.  The first time was after 3 months,  when it caused a retinal detachment at the start of covid 1. I stopped for the 6 weeks when the risk of a tear (taxi to Moorfields and emergency surgery!) was highest and to help recovery,  though I've still issues from that.  I felt better after stopping for a few days.  I then stopped it in Decembrr 2020  for 3 weeks when I had alpha variant covid and was really ill.  I've no idea how quicky it cleared as I felt terrible anyway! I was told to take a 3 month by my surgeon due to the effects 2 months ago (May) and my joints felt a bit better after about a month,  though my shoulder injury is still sore and I'm prone to nausea still and have hot flushes,  which I never had apart from letrozole. I think that the longer you take it the longer the side effects last,  which makes sense with extended protection after stopping at 5 years.  My gain is only 4% at 10 years,  but will persevere...

Hello prunie 

I had zometa no 2 on 23 July. The chemo nurse thought I could be sensitive to it as I had a rough time with the first infusion. This time I have a very stiff neck after the most extraordinary hotness the day after the infusion. But I have been looking at my little finger with some concern yesterday as it looks a bit swollen. Nothing would surprise me in terms of its side effects.

I’m determined to press on with my six monthly infusions as zometa strikes me as a very good thing. It has been included in work on research to repurpose common drugs and has a positive benefit for protecting against lung infection. Hope I’ve managed to paste a link. But I would be interested to know what it’s done to my CRP. I’m trying to find an osteopath to look at my neck.

www.garvan.org.au/.../common-osteoporosis-medication-boosts-immune-response-in-lungs-1

thank you so much for your input and I so hope that it helps with your lungs and totally agree, everything seems to have so many side effects and link worked.

thank you for taking the time to share your experiences and I am so glad you found a drug that suited you, wish you all the very best for the future.