Boniva vs. Zometa

• Are Boniva and Zometa the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Boniva?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Zometa?
• What Is Boniva?
• What Is Zometa?
• What Drugs Interact with Boniva?
• What Drugs Interact with Zometa?
• How Should Boniva Be Taken?
• How Should Zometa Be Taken?

Boniva (ibandronate) and Zometa (zolcdronic acid) are bisphosphonates that alter the cycle of bone formation and breakdown in the body used to treat or prevent osteoporosis in women after menopause.

Zometa is also used to treat Paget's disease, high blood levels of calcium caused by cancer (hypercalcemia of malignancy), multiple myeloma (a type of bone marrow cancer), metastatic bone cancer, and to increase bone mass in men with osteoporosis.

Side effects of Boniva and Zometa that are similar include headache, diarrhea, flu-like symptoms (such as fever, chills, muscle/joint aches), joint pain, dizziness, or redness or swelling where the medicine was injected.

Side effects of Boniva that are different from Zometa include back pain, redness or swelling of your eyes, nausea or stomach upset, pain in your arms or legs, weakness, allergic reaction, indigestion, vomiting, spinning sensation (vertigo), upper respiratory infection, pneumonia, or urinary tract infection.

Side effects of Zometa that are different from Boniva include cough, vision problems, constipation, tired feeling, or muscle pain.

Both Boniva and Zometa may interact with aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Common side effects of Boniva include:

• back pain,
• headache,
• redness or swelling of your eyes,
• diarrhea,
• flu-like symptoms,
• nausea or stomach upset,
• pain in your arms or legs,
• redness or swelling where Boniva was injected,
• weakness,
• allergic reaction,
• indigestion,
• vomiting,
• joint pain,
• dizziness,
• spinning sensation (vertigo),
• upper respiratory infection,
• pneumonia, or
• urinary tract infection.

Common side effects of Zometa include:

• dizziness,
• headache, or
• flu-like symptoms (such as fever, chills, muscle/joint aches),
• cough,
• vision problems,
• diarrhea,
• constipation,
• tired feeling,
• joint or muscle pain, or
• redness or swelling where the needle was placed.

Boniva (ibandronate) is a bisphosphonate drug that alters the cycle of bone formation and breakdown in the body used to treat or prevent osteoporosis in women after menopause. Boniva slows bone loss while increasing bone mass, which may prevent bone fractures.

Zometa (zolcdronic acid) Injection is a bisphosphonate used to treat Paget's disease, high blood levels of calcium caused by cancer (hypercalcemia of malignancy), multiple myeloma (a type of bone marrow cancer), or metastatic bone cancer. Zometa is also used to treat or prevent osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, and to increase bone mass in men with osteoporosis.

Boniva may interact with aspirin or other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).

Boniva may also interact with products containing calcium, aluminum, magnesium, or iron (such as antacids, supplements or vitamins).

Zometa may interact with diuretics (water pills), lithium, methotrexate, pain or arthritis medicines, medicines used to treat ulcerative colitis, medicines used to prevent organ transplant rejection, IV antibiotics, antiviral medicines, or cancer medicines. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you are taking.

Dosage of Boniva depends on the condition being treated.

Zometa is administered under physician supervision. The maximum recommended dose of Zometa in hypercalcemia of malignancy or in patients with multiple myeloma and metastatic bone lesions from solid tumors is 4 mg as a single-dose intravenous infusion over no less than 15 minutes. Duration of treatment varies depending on the condition being treated.