---

Cancer Treatment Information

Treatment Options > Chemotherapy > OncoLink Rx

Pamidronate (Aredia)

Hematology-Oncology Patient/Family Education Comittee
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Last Modified: September 19, 2006

Pamidronate ( pa mi dro nait )
Other Name: Aredia

How it is given:	Pamidronate is injected into vein.
How it works:	Pamidronate inhibits the natural breakdown of bone in your body.

Side Effects And Precautions

Let your doctor or nurse know if you have any allergies and what medications you are currently taking, both prescription and over the counter medications. This includes vitamins, herbs, nutritional supplements and any recreational drugs. Ask your doctor about drinking alcoholic beverages. Not everyone experiences side effects during chemotherapy and most side effects are temporary. The side effects that you may experience are:

Common Side Effects

Decrease in red blood cells (anemia)
Causes loss of energy.
What to do: Call your doctor or nurse if you feel more tired than usual or short of breath while doing normal activities.

Constipation
What to do: Take laxatives and stool softeners as prescribed by your doctor or nurse. Do not strain or force your bowel movements. Contact your doctor or nurse if you do not have a bowel movement for two days or have abdominal pain or cramps.

Nervous system changes
What to do: Call your doctor or nurse if you experience numbness or tingling of your hands and/or feet. Also inform your doctor or nurse if you develop these symptoms: unusual nervousness, twitching, cramps, or spasms.

Uncommon Side Effects

Nausea and Vomiting
What to do: Take your anti-nausea medications as prescribed. Try to drink 6-8 glasses of fluid a day. Avoid eating fatty foods, large meals, and acidic foods (e.g. tomatoes, lemons, oranges, grapefruits) and spicy or hot foods when you feel nauseated. Call your doctor or nurse if you are unable to keep fluids down for more than 12 hours or if you feel lightheaded or dizzy at any time.

Decreased appetite
What to do: Try to eat five or six small meals or snacks throughout the day. If you are not eating enough, nutritional supplements may help. Ask your nurse for a copy of the Eating Hints booklet (NCI, 1995) and about nutritional counseling services.

Skin burns or skin ulcers
Even when carefully administered by trained personnel, there is a risk that this drug may leak out of the vein at the injection site. A localized burn may result. Most skin burns are treatable and heal well. Rarely skin burns can result in skin ulcers requiring treatment, which could possibly result in a skin graft. In extreme cases, the drug may leak out of another vein different from the place of injection.
What to do: Notify your doctor or nurse if the place of injection or any area of the skin becomes red, swollen, painful or if you notice skin breakdown at anytime after treatment. Do not apply anything to the site unless instructed by your doctor or nurse.