Pamidronate

Pamidronate is a prescription drug licensed to treat high blood calcium due to cancer, Paget's disease, and multiple myeloma or breast cancer that has spread to bone. By slowing the destruction that occurs with Paget's disease or cancer and by fighting abnormal cells that cause breakdown of bone, the medicine can help prevent bone damage. Possible side effects of pamidronate include fever, fatigue, and insomnia.

Pamidronate Disodium -- Drug Information

What Is Pamidronate?

Pamidronate disodium (Aredia^®) is a prescription medication that belongs to a group of medications known as bisphosphonates. It is used to treat the following conditions:

High blood calcium levels due to cancer (known medically as hypercalcemia of malignancy)
Breast cancer that has spread to bone or multiple myeloma (to help prevent or delay broken bones or other bone damage)
Paget's disease of bone.

(Click What Is Pamidronate Used For? for more information, including possible off-label uses.)

Side Effects of Pamidronate

As with any medicine, side effects are possible with pamidronate. However, not everyone who takes the drug will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate it quite well. If side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or can easily be treated by you or your healthcare provider. Serious side effects are less common.

Common side effects of pamidronate include, but are not limited to:

Nausea
Anemia
Vomiting
Fatigue
Fever
Insomnia (see Aredia and Insomnia).

(Click Side Effects of Pamidronate to learn more, including potentially serious side effects that you should report immediately to your healthcare provider.)

(Pamidronate Continued: Page 2)