Ibandronic acid/bisphosphonates

[Judeworth]

Hi ya I too have the 6 monthly infusion had my fourth this week! And I did have to have an tooth extraction but it was fine no problems at all, just antibiotic just in case...  Ive been to the dentist and had xrays ive no damage to my jaw at all.

Also same as you no side effects at all, i don’t understand why its not offered in this way for everyone!

Hope you are all keeping well and healthy!

[Cas21]

Hi Cathy

Thank you for your reply.

Yes I have taken the IA tablet exactly as prescribed.  My gut pains are in the bowel area.  Since i last posted i have had to stop taking them as my left eye socket became really painful and my eye started to turn bloodshot.  Since stopping the IA the pain has gone and my eye is returning to normal.  I think there must be a link.  I am off for my oncology appoint in early Feb and will bring this up with the doctor. I really want to take them if i can, as i am very scared of the cancer coming back somewhere else. 

I hope all is going well with your treatment.

cas x

[Fezzy1952]

hi  all I have been taking alendronic acid for 4 months (1 tablet 70mg once a week) also on Anastrozole, Evacal D 3, for 5 months, I have also had constipation and gut pains , bloating which I'm sure are because of the biphosphonates, seeing doctor on Tuesday to see if there is any alternative, but unfortunately the infusions are more expensive option so may not be prescribed.  best wishes to all Fezzy x

[Chick1]

Hello all,

I also have agreed to have bishphosphonates and I have an injection of Zometa (Zolendronic Acid) every 6 months for 3 years. Shot no 4 due in Feb. This was offered as part of after treatment as research had indicated bishphosphonates could help reduce spread to the bones ( as stated in a Post below). My Dexa scan had also indicated Oesteopenia so I decided it would also assist to protect against bone degeneration as I had decided to accept Anastrazole as well (another AI similar to Letrazole).

I have not experienced any side effects yet from the bishphosphonates. My main fear is having to have a tooth extraction or losing a tooth due to the low risk of necrosis of the jaw. There is always something to weigh up and balance. However, the possible double protection whammy outweighs the possible rare occurrence of jaw necrosis for me at the moment.

Thankfully, in my opinion, Daily, weekly or monthly oral tablets were not offered. Had they been, then I would have refused and pushed to try for 6 monthly infusion. In my opinion, I did not wish to also be concerned or think about the possible damage to oesophagus etc, have to remember a routine after taking them, or have to take another physical medication.

However, we are all different, and different routines appeal and suit us.
Regards,
🐥 Chick x

[pecan]

Hi Cas21.  I have been on (and off) them for 18 months, and just recently I found I've been getting a burning sensation in the gullet and stomach.  Not sure if this is related to the ibandronic acid, as I have recently started a high fat diet to help conquer diabetes, but I've never had problems before.  Have you obeyed all the rules about taking the tablets - drinking the full amount of water, and staying upright for an hour?  I have recently been forgetting, and bending down to feed the cat  or pat the dog, and I think this may have caused my problems.  I am also considering asking them about the injections, but I wonder if it may cause a whole different set of problems.  I have had constipation problems, but I have had stomach problems since the cancer diagnosis one way or another, what with all the different meds I've been on.

I can't see the injections causing the same stomach problems, as the acid will be going into the veins (I assume) instead of the stomach.

Cathy

[Cas21]

I have been trying to take Ibandronic acid 50mg daily now since i had surgery to remove my breast cancer but i am really struggling with constipation it gives me.  Sounds pathetic i know when all i have have to do is take laxatives but they really upset my guts as well and give me lots of pain and bloating.  The oncologist said to take the IA every other day until things settle down but i still get horrendous problems and can't leave the house.  Has anyone found that over time gut problems get less?

Also...

Has anyone on here had intravenous ibandronic acid?  did it cause gut problems?  I am wondering if a dose every month or every three months might not have such awful SE.

I have been told I need it as the cancer had spread to my sentinel nodes and apparently IA can help to combat early stage breast cancer from spreading.

Thanks

[pecan]

I was Grade 3 Stage 1 (according to the surgeon, but 2 according to every other reference I have found), didn't have chemo, just letrozole and Ibandronic acid.  And rads.  Curious.

[Emma111]

Mine was stage 3. I had a 70mm tumour and 11 lymph nodes effected. Had chemo, rads and single mastectomy as lumpectomy wasn't successful. Finished active treatment in January last year and been taking zoladex and arimidex and Ibadronic acid since - I finished herceptin in Sept last year.
Hope this helps. I have no trouble with any of the meds. I think when I first started ibdronoc I had diarrhoea but my system obviously got used to it after that x

[pecan]

Yes, that's the page I found, and I got mixed up with the prices!  lol

What stage and grade is/was your cancer?

[Emma111]

www.nice.org.uk/advice/es15/chapter/Product

[Emma111]

I was told it reduces the risk of the cancer spreading to the bones if that helps. It also strengthens bones. I'm 38 and on zoladex and anastrazole and I believe this can weaken bones which is why I've been prescribed it. Hope this is helpful x

[pecan]

Thanks Emma.  I found an interesting web page regarding costs: £23 monthly vs £6 monthly for the daily tablet.  I'm not awfully concerned at this stage about taking it daily or monthly, I'm just curious as to WHY I'm taking it.  The indications on the insert say it's used for bone metastasis, something I don't have.  I think.  I just presumed, when I was told I needed them, that it was standard practice, so now I'm wondering what the indicator was for me to take them.

Cathy

[Emma111]

I take this ...... but monthly! After a bit of research and pestering I found out it was available as a tablet to take once a month. I think it's more expensive which is why they don't advertise the fact. It's a higher dose apparently. I said it would impact on my daily life getting ready for work etc and pushed for it. So see if you can get it monthly ....... as I say, at first they may say this isn't possible but it def is!!

[riversidedawn]

I'm on Zoledronic acid which seems to do the same job but I have it as an iv infusion monthly.

[pecan]

MM, thanks for replying.  What sort/grade/stage BC did you have? 

I also have said goodbye to my lie-ins.  I get up when I think it's an hour before I will be hungry (which isn't always accurate), have the tablet, and then play computer games until it's time to eat/drink.  Sigh.  2 years and 10 months to go. 

[MysteryMouse]

Hi Cathy

I've been taking every day for past year.

No problem apart from it's a nuisance that I now have to wait an hour after taking before I can have my morning cup of tea, so no more cuppas in bed!  But really in the big picture if it helps me then it's a small price and wow the tea tastes good when I do get it lol!

MM

x

[pecan]

I've been trying to find poeple's experiences with Ibandronic acid, and there don't seem to be many people on it.  I can't help wondering why, when so many of us are on Letrozole.  I understood it was a support drug for Letrozole.  I've been on Letrozole for about three months, now, and the SEs come and go to varying degrees. 

Cathy