Zoledronic acid Intravenous for Adults

Who can administer

May be administered by registered competent doctor or nurse/midwife

Important information

There are two preparations/strengths available- with different indications for each - check carefully that the correct product is being used
Dental checks required- Osteonecrosis of the jaw can occur- see SPC
Ensure adequate hydration before and after administration to try and prevent renal adverse reactions
See 'Monitoring requirements' below
Local protocols may be in place
See under 'Dose' for adjustments required in renal impairment

Available preparations

Zerlinda 4mg per 100ml Solution for Infusion (Teva)

Zoledronic acid (Mylan) 4mg per 5ml

Aclasta 5mg per 100ml infusion

Reconstitution

Already in solution

Infusion fluids

Zerlinda (Teva), Aclasta: Not required - product ready for infusion

Zoledronic acid (Mylan) 4mg per 5ml - add to 100ml Sodium chloride 0.9% or Glucose 5%

Methods of intravenous administration

Intermittent intravenous infusion (administer using an electronically controlled infusion device)

Zoledronic acid (Mylan and Teva brands)

Administer required dose over at least 15 minutes

Aclasta

Administer over at least 15 minutes via a vented infusion line
Precautions need to be taken during administration to prevent possible air embolism - particularly in central line administration.
Bottles must be vented in one of two ways
- Directly by means of a filter needle into the bottle which goes through the rubber stopper and opens into the air, or
- Direct air vent on the air inlet of the administration set, located between the drip chamber and piercing pin, it is covered with a bacterial retentive filter to reduce the chance of contamination

Dose in adults

DOSE DEPENDS ON INDICATION - Note: Must use correct brand for each indication

Zoledronic acid (Teva, Mylan)

1: Prevention of skeletal related events (SRE) in patients with malignancies involving bone

2: Treatment of Tumour Induced Hypercalcaemia (TIH)

Zoledronic acid (Aclasta)

3: Treatment of osteoporosis in men or post-menopausal women at increased risk of fracture, including those with a recent low trauma hip fracture

4: Treatment of Paget's disease of the bone

Zoledronic acid (Mylan, Teva)
1: Prevention of skeletal related events (SRE) in patients with malignancies involving bone
Dose	According to renal function		Every three to four weeks
Baseline renal function abnormal	Baseline eGFR (ml per minute/1.73m²)		Dose to give
	Greater than 60		4mg
	50 to 60		3.5mg *
	40 to 49		3.3mg *
	30 to 39		3mg *
	Less than 30		Not recommended
Subsequent doses - measure serum creatinine prior to each dose	Hold further doses if renal function has deteriorated: Patient whose baseline serum creatinine is less than 124micromol per litre when there has been an increase in serum creatinine of 44micromol per litre. Patient whose baseline serum creatinine is greater than 124micromol per litre when there has been an increase in serum creatinine of 88micromol per litre. In clinical studies, the drug was resumed only when the creatinine level returned to within 10% of the baseline level. Treatment should be resumed at the same dose as that prior to treatment interruption
* Preparation of infusion for doses less than 4mg (this is necessary so that the final infusion ends up as 100ml)	Dose of zoledronic acid (mg/100mL)	Volume to be removed from ready-to-use bottle (mL)	Replace with following volume of sodium chloride 0.9% or glucose 5% (mL)
	3.5mg/100mL	12ml	12ml
	3.3mg/100mL	18ml	18ml
	3mg/100mL	25ml	25ml

Zoledronic acid (Mylan, Teva)
2: Treatment of tumour induced hypercalcaemia (TIH)
Dose	4mg stat dose
Dose	Median time to normocalcaemia - 4 days
Renal impairment	No dose adjustment for serum creatinine less than 400micromol per litre No data for use in patients where serum creatinine is greater than 400micromol/l (risk benefit evaluation)

Aclasta
3: Treatment of osteoporosis in men or in post-menopausal women at increased risk of fracture
Dose	5mg, once a year Local practice is to use a 4mg dose for this indication^{(ref 1)}
Renal impairment	Do not use if eGFR is less than 35ml per minute/1.73m2

Aclasta

3: Treatment of osteoporosis in men or in post-menopausal women at increased risk of fracture

Dose

5mg, once a year

Local practice is to use a 4mg dose for this indication^{(ref 1)}

Renal impairment

Do not use if eGFR is less than 35ml per minute/1.73m2

Aclasta
4: Treatment of Paget's disease of the bone
Dose	The recommended dose is a single intravenous infusion of 5 mg of Aclasta Retreatment ^{(limited data)} consists of an additional intravenous infusion of 5mg Aclasta after an interval of one year or longer from initial treatment in patients who have relapsed.
Renal impairment	Do not use if eGFR is less than 35ml per minute/1.73m²

Aclasta

4: Treatment of Paget's disease of the bone

Dose

The recommended dose is a single intravenous infusion of 5 mg of Aclasta

Retreatment ^{(limited data)} consists of an additional intravenous infusion of 5mg Aclasta after an interval of one year or longer from initial treatment in patients who have relapsed.

Renal impairment

Do not use if eGFR is less than 35ml per minute/1.73m²

Hepatic impairment

Zoledronic acid (Mylan, Teva): Due to limited data, no recommendations can be given

Aclasta: No dosage adjustment required

Monitoring

Monitor serum electrolytes, calcium, phosphate, magnesium
Maintain adequate hydration prior to and after administration of zoledronic acid
Assess renal function prior to each dose (monitor serum creatinine, urea and sodium) ^{(ref 2)}

Further information

Pre-existing hypocalcaemia

Pre-existing hypocalcaemia must be treated by adequate intake of calcium and vitamin D before initiating treatment with zoledronic acid

Calcium and Vitamin D administration- for indications other than TIH

The different licensed brands of zoledronic acid suggest slightly differing approaches to Calcium and Vitamin D intake or supplementation
Adequate calcium and vitamin D intake is recommended
Particular attention should be paid to patients with a recent low trauma hip fracture for whom a loading dose of 50,000 to 125,000 units of Vitamin D should be given, prior to the first dose
In Paget's disease it is advised that supplemental calcium corresponding to at least 500mg elemental calcium twice daily is given for at least 10 days post infusion

Renal insufficiency

There are different cut-off points for patients with renal impairment for the different indications. This is because some indications require more urgent treatment, for example treatment of Tumour Induced Hypercalcaemia is urgent- and so a risk benefit evaluation will allow it to be administered even where there may be renal impairment.

Other

Paracetamol or ibuprofen (caution if renal impairment) pre-treatment may be required shortly after an Aclasta dose to minimise adverse effects which can occur for up to three days post-administration

Storage

Store below 25⁰C

References

Zoledronic acid (Mylan) October 2024

Aclasta SPC August 2024

Zoledronic acid (Teva) SPC September 2024

1. Local expert opinion- email on file from Prof. J. Carey. 24/03/2023

2. Injectable Medicines Administration guide- downloaded from Medusa 12/02/2025

Search synonym: Zometa

Therapeutic classification

Bisphosphonates

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