HOpe somebody may have some gems of wisdom on this.
I have zometa every three weeks. I have noticed that I seem to be becomming more fluey and achey with every infusion.
It took me a while to notice the coincidence, but now I definitely know that I am laid flat for a couple of days after each zometa with bony pain and general feelings of unwellness.
I spoke to my doc at the Marsden on Tuesday and we talked about switching to ibandronate. Apparently,in the recent head to head trials both were found to have the same effectiveness. And while I know that you have to take ibandronate first thing in the morning and sit up for a while, I don’t think this would be a major inconvenience to me - it would be a chance to read my book. Plus, taking tablets every day instead of a hunt the vein exercise every three weeks would be a definite bonus.
Has anybody here had any experience of making the change? Do you get any aches and pains on ibandronate? Am I alone in having the flu type reaction after evert zometa treatment?
Any advice or comments welcome!
Deirdre
This is for deirdre:
I did a search on deirdre and ibandronate and your post came up on Living with secondary breast cancer forum but if you look in that forum at the date posted it does not exist!!!
I have posted this in reply to the searched one to see if it brings it up.
Dawn
xx
Hi Deirdre
I’m just about to go over from Pamidronate to Ibandronate. Although I haven’t been getting (noticeable) problems with the IV I was getting fed up with the monthly ‘hunt the vein’ and the hospital visits. I’m due to start the tablets at the end of this week (once my last IV wears off) so I can keep you posted if you like? I also weighed up the ‘no food/drink’ issue but, for me, thought it worth the initial wait in the morning for my cuppa as opposed to 2-3 hours in hospital every 3-4 weeks with all the memories it brought back of last year having chemo. I have been told I can go back to IV if I want.
Nicky x
ps I’m glad your Doc at the Marsden has said the tablets are as good, my onc is of the opinion the IV is better but she won’t have as many facts to date at this stage as your doc.
Hi…just taken my Ibandronate and am sitting here reading through the forum and checking my emails. 
I tend to take my tablet and do early morning chores…hoovering, ironing etc…fun!
I changed from Pamidronate to Ibandronate a few years ago…like Nicky I was having endless attempts to insert a cannula…after a record 9 attempts in one visit I changed to the tablets. I have no side effects…the only thing I have noticed is if I don’t eat after an hour of taking a tablet I feel (slightly) nauseous…but just a slice of toast later and the feeling passes.
I think Zometa in particular can give flu like reactions…for me a small daily dose via tablets has worked well. Belinda…x
Good Luck if you do decide to change…and Good Luck Nicky.
Hi Deirdre
After a year of pamidronate I had hoped to change to a tablet, but because of minor progression of a hip met, I was given IV Zometa for 6 months. Now taking oral ibandronate, have done so for a year, bone scans are stable.
How strange that this post does not appear on the forum where I posted it but thanks for your replies, they are very helpful.
The flu like symptoms seem to have gotten worse with each recent zometa infusion. Don’t know why. But last week I honestly thought I was having a major bone mets flare up I was soooo stiff and sore. This lasted for a full tree days after my zometa but suddenly, on the fourth day, the aches and pains just cleared up again. I have said to the team at the Marsden I will have one more zometa to check it really is connected and if I notice the flu like stuff again I will switch. I still have to go to hospital every three weeks to get my xeloda prescribed, but hopefully if I am still stable at my next scan they may only bring me in every six weeks, which would mean far fewer hospital vists.
Deirdre
PS if you are taking ibandronate, are you able to have anything to drink in the morning beforehand? I usually have a drink of water first thing in the morning.
Deirdre
Hi Deirdre
I’m sure some of the ‘old hands’ on Ibandronate will advise the same but, having picked up my brand new box of tablets (oh, what a lovely thing - more tablets - can’t win either way!) the leaflet says you HAVE to have at least 200ml with the tablet. I’m intending to have them by my bed to have as soon as I get up with some water and get the clock ticking asap towards my cuppa! It’s all to do with possible irritation of the gullet which is why you need to be upright afterwards for at least 60mins. You can drink water during the 30mins after taking them as well.
Nicky x