Xgeva Treatment Details: Form, Potency, Administration Methods, and Additional Information
Xgeva, a biologic drug, belongs to a group of drugs called RANK ligand inhibitors. This medication is not approved to treat breast cancer, but it is approved to manage bone metastasis, including metastatic breast cancer. It is also used to treat giant cell tumors of the bone (non-cancerous tumors that can grow quickly) in adults and certain children.
Xgeva is only available as a brand-name medication, with no generic form currently available. The drug comes as a solution that's given as a subcutaneous injection by a healthcare professional. It is typically administered as a 120-mg injection every 4 weeks, though additional doses may be given during the first month of treatment.
Xgeva injections are usually given at a doctor's office or clinic. The drug stays in the body for about 140 days, with its effects continuing for about 4 weeks after it's injected, and about half of the drug remaining in the system at that point.
Always follow the dosage that your doctor prescribes for you. If you miss an appointment for your Xgeva injection, reschedule it as soon as you remember. Using a medication reminder can help ensure you don't miss an appointment.
Common side effects of Xgeva include low blood calcium (hypocalcemia), low phosphate levels, nausea, fatigue, diarrhea, and shortness of breath. Patients often experience joint and muscle pain, especially in the arms and legs.
More serious but rare side effects include osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ), a condition involving reduced blood flow to the jawbone that can cause sores or infections, usually after dental procedures. Because of this risk, good dental hygiene and caution around dental surgery are strongly advised during treatment. There is also an increased risk of infections such as cellulitis and skin infections, as well as possible hypersensitivity allergic reactions.
Other notable side effects reported less frequently are back pain, anemia, thrombocytopenia, peripheral edema, rash, and headache. Upon stopping Xgeva, some patients may experience a rebound increase in bone turnover, which can lead to vertebral fractures or severe hypercalcemia in rare cases. Monitoring of calcium and phosphate levels is routine with supplementation given as needed to prevent symptoms like tingling, muscle cramps, or irregular heart rhythms.
Xgeva is used to treat high blood calcium levels in certain adults due to cancer and to help prevent bone problems in adults with multiple myeloma and bone metastasis from cancerous tumors.
In summary, while Xgeva has potential side effects, it plays a crucial role in managing bone metastases and certain types of tumors. As with any medication, it should always be taken under the guidance of a healthcare professional, as the dosage prescribed will depend on the individual's condition.
- Despite not being approved for breast cancer treatment, Xgeva, a crucial drug for managing bone metastases, also has a role in preventing bone problems for individuals with cancer-induced high blood calcium levels and multiple myeloma.
- Some serious yet infrequent side effects associated with Xgeva include osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ), infections such as cellulitis and skin infections, and possible hypersensitivity allergic reactions, necessitating good dental hygiene and caution during dental surgeries.
