--question about IV infusion for osteo

[Guest guest]

Barbara,

Zometa is what I will be recieving for my osteo. I've read up on it and

think it sounds like a good option. It can have some unpleasant side effects

that last up to a week, but for a once a year infusion that wouldn't halt me

from getting it. My metabolic bone doc. has used it successly in several

people with osteo. He also frequently uses the Pamidronate. Both are expensive

but insurance should cover it if you have a definitive Dx.

[Guest guest]

Barbara,

Zometa is what I will be recieving for my osteo. I've read up on it and

think it sounds like a good option. It can have some unpleasant side effects

that last up to a week, but for a once a year infusion that wouldn't halt me

from getting it. My metabolic bone doc. has used it successly in several

people with osteo. He also frequently uses the Pamidronate. Both are expensive

but insurance should cover it if you have a definitive Dx.

[Guest guest]

Barbara,

Zometa is what I will be recieving for my osteo. I've read up on it and

think it sounds like a good option. It can have some unpleasant side effects

that last up to a week, but for a once a year infusion that wouldn't halt me

from getting it. My metabolic bone doc. has used it successly in several

people with osteo. He also frequently uses the Pamidronate. Both are expensive

but insurance should cover it if you have a definitive Dx.

[Guest guest]

,

Did the metabolic bone specialist at Cleveland Clinic ever mention a

drug called Zometa? This is the drug they are recommending for me,

but we may have trouble getting my insurance to agree. Zometa is

currently approved for bone cancer patients (to strengthen bone, not

to halt cancer) and is close to being approved for osteoporosis. It

is given by IV infusion once a year to strengthen bone. Yesterday my

PCP called in their full-time staff pharmacist to consult on what

drug might work, given all the complications. The pharmacist was

wonderful and spent a lot of time with me, going over all the

options and what was known about each drug. She said we could

administer Actonel through my j-tube but that would reduce

effectiveness by at least 55%. It would also add some risk of ulcer.

But it would probably be better than nothing if we cannot get

insurance to approve the Zometa IV infusion. The pharmacist said

Zometa approval for osteo would probably be coming very soon--I need

to check the FDA site and see what I can learn--so once it is

approved, we should be able to get it. They can do the 20-minute

infusion right in my doctor's office which is just a few blocks from

my house. That would be great.

Barbara

[Guest guest]

They told me the once a year infusion was about $1,000 but this is

similar to the cost of taking Actonel for a year. The pharmacist

said they have had trouble getting insurance to cover it for osteo,

even with a firm diagnosis, because it is not yet officialy approved

for that purpose. Actually, she just called a few minutes ago and

said she had checked on the status of the approval process. The

studies are finished and it is before the FDA now--the final step.

We may have to wait until the approval comes through, but that

should be within a few months, maybe sooner. Meanwhile, they are

writing to my insurance co to see if we can get it through now.

Tks for your help! I need to read more on side effects, etc. I

printed off the complete prescribing brochure from Novartis, all 22

pages, but haven't read it yet. I hate plowing through this stuff,

but I must...

Take care,

Barbara

> Barbara,

>

> Zometa is what I will be recieving for my osteo. I've read up

on it and

> think it sounds like a good option. It can have some unpleasant

side effects

> that last up to a week, but for a once a year infusion that

wouldn't halt me

> from getting it. My metabolic bone doc. has used it successly in

several

> people with osteo. He also frequently uses the Pamidronate. Both

are expensive

> but insurance should cover it if you have a definitive Dx.

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

They told me the once a year infusion was about $1,000 but this is

similar to the cost of taking Actonel for a year. The pharmacist

said they have had trouble getting insurance to cover it for osteo,

even with a firm diagnosis, because it is not yet officialy approved

for that purpose. Actually, she just called a few minutes ago and

said she had checked on the status of the approval process. The

studies are finished and it is before the FDA now--the final step.

We may have to wait until the approval comes through, but that

should be within a few months, maybe sooner. Meanwhile, they are

writing to my insurance co to see if we can get it through now.

Tks for your help! I need to read more on side effects, etc. I

printed off the complete prescribing brochure from Novartis, all 22

pages, but haven't read it yet. I hate plowing through this stuff,

but I must...

Take care,

Barbara

> Barbara,

>

> Zometa is what I will be recieving for my osteo. I've read up

on it and

> think it sounds like a good option. It can have some unpleasant

side effects

> that last up to a week, but for a once a year infusion that

wouldn't halt me

> from getting it. My metabolic bone doc. has used it successly in

several

> people with osteo. He also frequently uses the Pamidronate. Both

are expensive

> but insurance should cover it if you have a definitive Dx.

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

They told me the once a year infusion was about $1,000 but this is

similar to the cost of taking Actonel for a year. The pharmacist

said they have had trouble getting insurance to cover it for osteo,

even with a firm diagnosis, because it is not yet officialy approved

for that purpose. Actually, she just called a few minutes ago and

said she had checked on the status of the approval process. The

studies are finished and it is before the FDA now--the final step.

We may have to wait until the approval comes through, but that

should be within a few months, maybe sooner. Meanwhile, they are

writing to my insurance co to see if we can get it through now.

Tks for your help! I need to read more on side effects, etc. I

printed off the complete prescribing brochure from Novartis, all 22

pages, but haven't read it yet. I hate plowing through this stuff,

but I must...

Take care,

Barbara

> Barbara,

>

> Zometa is what I will be recieving for my osteo. I've read up

on it and

> think it sounds like a good option. It can have some unpleasant

side effects

> that last up to a week, but for a once a year infusion that

wouldn't halt me

> from getting it. My metabolic bone doc. has used it successly in

several

> people with osteo. He also frequently uses the Pamidronate. Both

are expensive

> but insurance should cover it if you have a definitive Dx.

>

>

>

>

>