Aclasta (Zoledronic acid) infusion for osteoporosis

[ReggaeShark]

My mother has been told she will need annual infusions of Aclasta 5mg solution (Zoledronic Acid) for 12% osteoporosis. She's 76. The consultant told her she can't take the tablets because of an existing esophageal problem.

She's read the information she was given and is having kittens about possible side effects. Does anyone have any experience of this? I said I'd do some research for her.

One possible problem was with teeth. DH is her dentist and said she needn't worry on that front as her teeth are very good but said she could go for a check up and x-rays before treatment if it would help put her mind at rest.

Any thoughts/observations?

[ReggaeShark]

Anyone?

[orangina]

My mother is on that drug, but takes it in tablet form. SHe is a GP and has fussed about the side effects, but they haven't bothered her. She did need some dental work, so stopped the tablets for a certain period of time, had the work done, and then started it again. I think getting any necessary work done before starting the drugs would be a good idea. I think an awareness of the possible side effects is important, but generally by the time they are the age of your or my mother, they generally need it (in my mother's case, she really needed it….).

Hope that helps.

[ReggaeShark]

Thanks Orangina. It's good to hear that your mother hasn't experienced the side effects on the tablets. Surely the annual infusion will be a much larger dose (?) so could be worse on that.