Osteovan (Zoledronic Acid)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Osteovan Used For?
Osteovan contains zoledronic acid, a medicine that belongs to a group called bisphosphonates. It helps strengthen bones and prevent fractures in people with bone diseases.
Primary Uses
Osteovan treats osteoporosis in postmenopausal women and men, prevents additional fractures in people who recently had a hip fracture, treats or prevents osteoporosis caused by steroid medicines like prednisone, and treats Paget’s disease of bone. Osteoporosis makes bones less dense, weaker, and more likely to break, commonly occurring after menopause when estrogen levels drop. Paget’s disease affects bone remodeling, causing bones to break down and rebuild abnormally, making them thicker but weaker.
How It Works
Osteovan works by slowing down bone resorption (breakdown), which gives bone-forming cells time to rebuild normal bone. This allows bone remodeling to return to normal and protects bones from becoming weakened.
Good to know: Osteovan is not addictive and is only available with a doctor’s prescription.
How to Take Osteovan
Osteovan is given as an intravenous infusion by your doctor or nurse in a medical setting. It’s important to follow all directions carefully and stay properly hydrated.
Dosage Instructions
Osteovan is given as a 100mL infusion into a vein once a year. The infusion takes at least 15 minutes. For osteoporosis, each dose lasts one year and your doctor may prescribe further annual doses. For Paget’s disease, each dose may work for longer than one year. Drink at least two glasses of fluid (such as water) before and after the infusion to prevent dehydration. You may eat normally on the day of treatment.
What If You Miss a Dose?
Since Osteovan is given once yearly by a healthcare professional, missing a dose is unlikely. Contact your doctor to reschedule if you miss your appointment.
Important: Make sure you drink enough fluids before and after treatment as directed by your doctor to prevent dehydration.
Available Tablet Strengths
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- Short-lasting fever with flu-like symptoms, headache, chills
- Pain or aching in muscles or joints
- Redness, swelling or pain where the needle was inserted
- Upset stomach, abdominal pain, loss of appetite
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
- Constipation
- Dry mouth, toothache, sore throat
- Tiredness, weakness, dizziness, low blood pressure
- Back, neck, shoulder, arm, leg or chest muscle pain
- Swollen or stiff joints, muscle stiffness or spasm
- Tingling or numbness of hands or feet
- Swollen fingers or lower legs due to fluid buildup
- Swollen, red, painful or itchy eyes
- Heart palpitations
- Excessive sweating
- Difficulty sleeping
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Signs of allergic reaction: rash, itching, hives, swelling of face/lips/tongue, shortness of breath
- Signs of low blood calcium: muscle spasms, numbness or tingling (especially around mouth), shortness of breath
- Signs of kidney problems: decreased urine output
- Dental symptoms: persistent mouth/jaw pain, non-healing mouth sores, jaw numbness or heaviness, loose teeth (signs of jaw bone damage)
Important Warnings
There are several important conditions and situations where Osteovan should not be used or requires special caution.
Who Should Not Take Osteovan
Do not use Osteovan if you are allergic to zoledronic acid or any other bisphosphonate medicines (like alendronate or risedronate), have low calcium levels in your blood, are pregnant, or if the medicine has expired or packaging is damaged. Allergic reactions may include shortness of breath, wheezing, swelling of face/lips/tongue, or skin rash.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have kidney problems, calcium or vitamin D deficiency, cannot take daily calcium/vitamin D supplements, had parathyroid or thyroid glands removed, had intestinal sections removed, have jaw pain/swelling/numbness or loose teeth, have joint stiffness or bone pain, are having dental treatment, have uveitis or iritis (eye inflammation), are taking Zometa or other bisphosphonates, or are on diuretic therapy or aminoglycoside antibiotics.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Do not use Osteovan if you are pregnant – there is no safety information for pregnancy. Do not breastfeed while receiving Osteovan as it’s unknown if the medicine passes into breast milk.
Drug Interactions
Some medicines can interfere with Osteovan or affect how well it works. Always tell your healthcare providers about all medicines you’re taking.
- Medicines that may affect your kidneys such as fluid tablets (diuretics)
- Aminoglycoside medicines used to treat severe infections
Alcohol & Driving
Osteovan has no known effect on driving ability, but general precautions should be taken after receiving the infusion.
Alcohol
No specific alcohol interactions are mentioned in the prescribing information.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Osteovan affects you. As a general precaution, if you’re traveling home by car after the infusion, arrange to have someone else drive.
Storage
It’s unlikely you’ll need to store Osteovan at home since it’s given in a medical setting. If you do need to store it, keep it in a cool, dry place at room temperature. Don’t store in the bathroom, near a sink, in a car, or on a window sill. Keep away from children in a locked cupboard at least 1.5 meters above the floor. Each vial is for single use only and should be discarded after use.
Overdose Information
If you think an overdose has occurred, immediately call your doctor, Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26), or go to the nearest hospital emergency department, even if there are no symptoms. Overdose symptoms may include muscle spasms, numbness or tingling (especially around the mouth), and shortness of breath, which may indicate blood calcium levels have dropped too low.
Frequently Asked Questions
For osteoporosis, each dose of Osteovan lasts one year. For Paget’s disease, each dose may work for longer than one year. Your doctor will monitor your condition and determine if additional treatment is needed.
Yes, you may eat normally on the day you receive Osteovan treatment. However, make sure to drink plenty of fluids before and after the infusion as directed by your doctor.
No, Osteovan is not addictive. It is only available with a doctor’s prescription and is given once yearly in a medical setting.
Some people experience short-lasting flu-like symptoms, headache, fever, or chills in the first three days after receiving Osteovan. Take paracetamol if your doctor has told you to, as it can provide relief from these symptoms.
Most people with osteoporosis don’t get enough calcium and vitamin D in their diet, so supplements are often needed to help strengthen bones. Take calcium and vitamin D supplements if your doctor has prescribed them. For Paget’s disease, you should take these supplements for at least the first ten days after treatment.
Tell your dentist that you’re being treated with Osteovan. Your doctor will check your oral health before starting treatment. Discuss any planned dental surgery with both your doctor and dentist. Report any dental symptoms like persistent jaw pain, mouth sores, or loose teeth immediately.
Keep all doctor appointments so your progress can be monitored. Your doctor may want X-rays, bone density scans, or blood tests from time to time to ensure Osteovan is working and to prevent unwanted side effects.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.