I'm not sure exactly what medicine I'll be ttakingoing but I've been told it will be a series of three infusions done in a hospital setting. Does anyone have any experience with these medications? How bad are the immediate side effects? I've heard they make you cramp really bad. How long will it take for me to start building bone?
Osteoporosis Infusions?
- Thread starter gracem
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I have never heard of it.
Let me know when you find out more info. Very interesting.
Good luck,
Lauren
Let me know when you find out more info. Very interesting.
Good luck,
Lauren
From what I've found out, here in the UK, these infusions are done once a year for three years initially. Treatment is then reviewed.
The most common side effect appears to be some flu like symptoms...chills, muscle aches, slight fever...for a couple of days after the first infusion, easily treated with over the counter meds, and for this reason it's recommended that you don't plan to do anything in those days.
There's no mention anywhere about cramps.
I take oral alendronic acid once a week for osteoporosis and have wondered about asking about the infusions myself. Can I ask why you're having infusions rather than oral meds?
I forgot to say, the infusion is called zoledronic acid.
Bunty x
The most common side effect appears to be some flu like symptoms...chills, muscle aches, slight fever...for a couple of days after the first infusion, easily treated with over the counter meds, and for this reason it's recommended that you don't plan to do anything in those days.
There's no mention anywhere about cramps.
I take oral alendronic acid once a week for osteoporosis and have wondered about asking about the infusions myself. Can I ask why you're having infusions rather than oral meds?
I forgot to say, the infusion is called zoledronic acid.
Bunty x
My Mom goes for an infusion once a year I think, she does say she is tired after but that is really it.
I've been seeing lots of once a year treatments. I can't find what my doctor described. She's told me that the infusions work by pulling calcium and placing it into the bones so it will hopefully fill some of those hollow spots and improve density. For this infusion you have to have extremely high blood calcium or the muscle cramps can become so severe that they lead to hospitalization. To prevent this you take large amounts of calcium several days prior to the infusions. I'm not sure why the infusions are broken up into three parts. It might be because they're being done in a children's hospital. Maybe it helps lessen the side effects.
My doctor wants to go with the infusions so I won't have any GI symptoms that go with oral meds. She's worried that the symptoms would be more severe with my Crohn's or that the meds could cause a flare. She also indicated that the infusions would work much faster than the pills.
