Aredia (Pamidronate) for Myeloma

Overview
Aredia is a prescription drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat and prevent osteolytic (bone) lesions caused by multiple myeloma. Some doctors may also prescribe Aredia for people who have monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) or smoldering myeloma and signs of osteoporosis. Aredia may be referred to by its drug name, pamidronate, or pamidronic acid.

Aredia is a bisphosphonate. Bisphosphonates are believed to work in cases of myeloma by reducing the activity of osteoclasts, the cells that break down bone. Bisphosphonates are believed to work by reducing the number of bone lesions, thereby improving pain and lowering the risk for fractures.

How do I take it?
Aredia is administered by intravenous (IV) infusion. In people with multiple myeloma, Aredia is usually given as a four-hour infusion once a month.

Aredia comes in vials of freeze-dried powder.

Side effects
The FDA-approved label for Aredia lists common side effects including injection site reactions, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, constipation, urinary tract infections, and bone pain.

Rare but serious side effects listed for Aredia include osteonecrosis (death of bone tissue) in the jaw, atypical femoral (upper leg) fractures, hypersensitivity reactions, and severe bone, muscle, or joint pain.

For more details about this treatment, visit:

Aredia — Novartis
https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/...

Drug Therapy for Multiple Myeloma — American Cancer Society
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/multiple-myeloma/...