Aredia

Generic Name: Disodium pamidronate
Product Name: Aredia

Indication

Aredia is used in the treatment of:

Paget’s disease of bone.
Hypercalcaemia of malignancy.
Osteolytic bone metastases from breast cancer and multiple myeloma.

Action

Disodium pamidronate inhibits osteoclasts, specific cells responsible for destruction of bone. Osteoclast precursors enter the bone from the bloodstream, and they eventually mature to become osteoclasts. In certain conditions, mature osteoclasts are responsible for destruction of bone and release of calcium into the bloodstream. Pamisol suppresses the migration of osteoclast precursors into bone, thereby preventing bone destruction and increased calcium levels.

Dose advice

Paget’s disease:

The initial recommended dose is 60 mg given by intravenous infusion at a rate of 15 mg/hour.
The dosing regimen is then adjusted according to the individual patient response.

Hypercalcaemia of malignancy:

Pamidronate is given by intravenous infusion at a rate of 60 mg/hour.
The dose is adjusted according to the initial plasma concentration of calcium.
For concentrations less than 3.0 mmol/L, 30 mg is given.
- 3.0 to 3.5 mmol/L 30-60 mg is given.
- 3.5 to 4.0 mmol/L 60-90 mg is given.
- Greater than 4.0 mmol/L 90 mg is given.
The dose is repeated every 2 to 3 weeks as required.

Bone metastases:

The recommended dose is 90 mg by intravenous infusion over 2 hours in breast cancer patients, and over 4 hours in patients with multiple myeloma.
This dose is repeated every 3 to 4 weeks.Pamidronate should be avoided during pregnancy and lactation.