ZOLEDRONIC ACID

85/100 · Critical

Manufactured by Sandoz Inc

Zoledronic Acid Adverse Events: High Seriousness and Diverse Reactions

89,511 FDA adverse event reports analyzed

Last updated: 2026-05-12

About ZOLEDRONIC ACID

ZOLEDRONIC ACID is a medication tracked in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), manufactured by Sandoz Inc. Based on analysis of 89,511 FDA adverse event reports, ZOLEDRONIC ACID has a safety score of 85 out of 100. This score indicates a relatively favorable safety profile, with fewer or less severe adverse events compared to many other tracked medications. The most commonly reported adverse reactions for ZOLEDRONIC ACID include ARTHRALGIA, PAIN, PYREXIA, NAUSEA, FATIGUE. This page provides a comprehensive breakdown of reported side effects, safety signals, patient demographics, and AI-powered safety analysis for ZOLEDRONIC ACID.

AI Safety Analysis

Zoledronic Acid has a safety concern score of 85 out of 100, placing it in the high concern category based on analysis of FDA adverse event data. The FDA has received approximately 89,511 adverse event reports for this medication, which is primarily manufactured by Sandoz Inc.

The most commonly reported adverse events include Arthralgia, Pain, Pyrexia. Of classified reports, 86.7% were designated as serious by the FDA, meaning they involved hospitalization, disability, or other significant medical outcomes. The most common reactions are pain, fatigue, and osteonecrosis of the jaw, indicating a significant risk profile.

Serious adverse events, such as death and osteonecrosis, account for 86.7% of reports, highlighting the severity. A wide range of reactions, including renal impairment and thrombocytopenia, suggests a complex safety profile.

Patients taking Zoledronic Acid should monitor for the commonly reported side effects and contact their healthcare provider if they experience any unusual symptoms. Zoledronic acid can cause severe side effects such as osteonecrosis of the jaw and renal impairment, and should be used with caution in patients with pre-existing kidney conditions or dental issues. This analysis is based on voluntary FDA adverse event reports and should not replace professional medical advice.

Safety Score: 85/100

Zoledronic Acid received a safety concern score of 85/100 (high concern). This is based on a 86.7% serious event ratio across 38,189 classified reports. The score accounts for 89,511 total adverse event reports and 100 distinct reaction types. This high score reflects a significant proportion of serious adverse events in the reporting data.

Top Adverse Reactions

ARTHRALGIA3,083 reports
PAIN3,044 reports
PYREXIA2,705 reports
NAUSEA2,689 reports
FATIGUE2,660 reports
OSTEONECROSIS OF JAW2,614 reports
DEATH2,435 reports
HEADACHE2,277 reports
DIARRHOEA2,190 reports
VOMITING1,982 reports
ASTHENIA1,897 reports
MYALGIA1,806 reports
OFF LABEL USE1,661 reports
PAIN IN EXTREMITY1,623 reports
DYSPNOEA1,597 reports
BONE PAIN1,519 reports
MALAISE1,518 reports
BACK PAIN1,484 reports
DIZZINESS1,376 reports
FALL1,364 reports
NEUTROPENIA1,316 reports
DECREASED APPETITE1,278 reports
CHILLS1,243 reports
DRUG INEFFECTIVE1,225 reports
INFLUENZA LIKE ILLNESS1,208 reports
ANAEMIA1,133 reports
MALIGNANT NEOPLASM PROGRESSION1,124 reports
OSTEONECROSIS1,026 reports
PNEUMONIA1,012 reports
COUGH914 reports
GAIT DISTURBANCE914 reports
METASTASES TO BONE860 reports
WEIGHT DECREASED812 reports
PRURITUS774 reports
RASH772 reports
ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY765 reports
CONSTIPATION751 reports
INSOMNIA737 reports
PAIN IN JAW736 reports
CHEST PAIN731 reports
FEELING ABNORMAL701 reports
MUSCLE SPASMS687 reports
BLOOD PRESSURE INCREASED671 reports
ABDOMINAL PAIN661 reports
DISEASE PROGRESSION649 reports
THROMBOCYTOPENIA617 reports
NEUROPATHY PERIPHERAL599 reports
URINARY TRACT INFECTION592 reports
WHITE BLOOD CELL COUNT DECREASED592 reports
HYPOCALCAEMIA580 reports
ABDOMINAL PAIN UPPER577 reports
FEMUR FRACTURE573 reports
HYPERTENSION572 reports
JOINT SWELLING557 reports
PERIPHERAL SWELLING556 reports
CONDITION AGGRAVATED544 reports
SEPSIS540 reports
EYE PAIN522 reports
OEDEMA PERIPHERAL522 reports
PRODUCT USE IN UNAPPROVED INDICATION522 reports
BLOOD CREATININE INCREASED521 reports
HYPOAESTHESIA512 reports
BONE DISORDER511 reports
HAEMOGLOBIN DECREASED508 reports
PARAESTHESIA508 reports
DEHYDRATION504 reports
ALOPECIA502 reports
SOMNOLENCE477 reports
SYNCOPE473 reports
NEOPLASM PROGRESSION463 reports
ANXIETY458 reports
VISION BLURRED453 reports
NECK PAIN452 reports
GENERAL PHYSICAL HEALTH DETERIORATION448 reports
PLATELET COUNT DECREASED446 reports
ATRIAL FIBRILLATION444 reports
TACHYCARDIA434 reports
RENAL IMPAIRMENT429 reports
CONFUSIONAL STATE427 reports
MUSCULOSKELETAL PAIN417 reports
METASTASES TO LIVER416 reports
DEPRESSION411 reports
MUSCULAR WEAKNESS408 reports
MUSCULOSKELETAL STIFFNESS406 reports
RENAL FAILURE404 reports
HYPOTENSION402 reports
INFECTION394 reports
ERYTHEMA385 reports
INFLUENZA385 reports
OSTEOPOROSIS385 reports
COVID 19367 reports
ARTHRITIS359 reports
TREMOR358 reports
ABDOMINAL DISCOMFORT354 reports
WEIGHT INCREASED349 reports
PULMONARY EMBOLISM334 reports
NASOPHARYNGITIS331 reports
LEUKOPENIA330 reports
TOOTH EXTRACTION330 reports
HYPERSENSITIVITY327 reports

Key Safety Signals

  • Osteonecrosis of the jaw (2614 reports)
  • Death (2435 reports)
  • Renal impairment (429 reports)

Patient Demographics

Adverse event reports by sex: Female: 26,321, Male: 8,914, Unknown: 72. The most frequently reported age groups are age 65 (832 reports), age 75 (804 reports), age 68 (797 reports). These demographics reflect reporting patterns and may not represent the full patient population.

Report Outcomes

Out of 38,189 classified reports for ZOLEDRONIC ACID:

  • Serious: 33,127 reports (86.7%) — includes hospitalization, disability, life-threatening events, or death
  • Non-Serious: 5,062 reports (13.3%)
Serious 86.7%Non-Serious 13.3%

The FDA classifies an adverse event as “serious” if it results in death, hospitalization, disability, congenital anomaly, or requires intervention to prevent permanent damage.

Demographics Breakdown

Reports by Sex

Female26,321 (74.5%)
Male8,914 (25.2%)
Unknown72 (0.2%)

Reports by Age

Age 65832 reports
Age 75804 reports
Age 68797 reports
Age 72795 reports
Age 67782 reports
Age 69781 reports
Age 70769 reports
Age 60764 reports
Age 66737 reports
Age 62726 reports
Age 74723 reports
Age 64710 reports
Age 63708 reports
Age 73689 reports
Age 71683 reports
Age 76635 reports
Age 78623 reports
Age 77618 reports
Age 61614 reports
Age 58562 reports

Demographics reflect voluntary FDA adverse event reporting patterns and may not represent the full patient population.

Drug Interactions & Warnings

Zoledronic acid can cause severe side effects such as osteonecrosis of the jaw and renal impairment, and should be used with caution in patients with pre-existing kidney conditions or dental issues.

What You Should Know

If you are taking Zoledronic Acid, here are important things to know. The most commonly reported side effects include arthralgia, pain, pyrexia, nausea, fatigue. While many of these may be mild and temporary, you should contact your healthcare provider if any symptoms are severe or persistent. Patients should inform their healthcare provider of any pre-existing conditions, especially kidney disease or dental issues, before starting zoledronic acid treatment. Regular monitoring of kidney function and dental health is recommended during treatment. If you experience a serious adverse reaction, seek emergency medical attention immediately or call 911. You can report side effects to the FDA's MedWatch program at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Regulatory Context

The FDA closely monitors adverse events for zoledronic acid, and the drug is subject to ongoing safety reviews and potential restrictions based on emerging data.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many adverse event reports has the FDA received for Zoledronic Acid?

The FDA has received approximately 89,511 adverse event reports associated with Zoledronic Acid. These reports come from healthcare professionals, consumers, and manufacturers through the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Note that the number of reports does not directly indicate the frequency of side effects, as adverse events are voluntarily reported and may be underrepresented.

What are the most commonly reported side effects of Zoledronic Acid?

The most frequently reported adverse events for Zoledronic Acid include Arthralgia, Pain, Pyrexia, Nausea, Fatigue. By volume, the top reported reactions are: Arthralgia (3,083 reports), Pain (3,044 reports), Pyrexia (2,705 reports). These figures reflect FDA adverse event reports and may not represent the true incidence rate of these side effects in all patients taking Zoledronic Acid.

What percentage of Zoledronic Acid adverse event reports are serious?

Out of 38,189 classified reports, 33,127 (86.7%) were classified as serious and 5,062 as non-serious. The FDA classifies an event as "serious" if it results in death, hospitalization, disability, or other medically significant outcomes. A higher serious-event ratio warrants closer attention but does not necessarily mean the drug is unsafe.

Who reports adverse events for Zoledronic Acid (by sex)?

Adverse event reports for Zoledronic Acid break down by patient sex as follows: Female: 26,321, Male: 8,914, Unknown: 72. This distribution reflects reporting patterns rather than actual risk differences between groups. Reporting rates can be influenced by prescribing patterns, disease demographics, and reporting behavior.

What age groups report the most side effects for Zoledronic Acid?

The most frequently reported age groups for Zoledronic Acid adverse events are: age 65: 832 reports, age 75: 804 reports, age 68: 797 reports, age 72: 795 reports, age 67: 782 reports. Age-related reporting patterns can reflect both the demographics of the patient population and potential age-related susceptibility to certain side effects.

Who manufactures Zoledronic Acid?

The primary manufacturer associated with Zoledronic Acid adverse event reports is Sandoz Inc. Multiple manufacturers may produce generic versions of this drug. The manufacturer listed reflects the most frequently reported brand in FDA adverse event data.

What other side effects have been reported for Zoledronic Acid?

Beyond the most common reactions, other reported adverse events for Zoledronic Acid include: Osteonecrosis Of Jaw, Death, Headache, Diarrhoea, Vomiting. Less common side effects can still be clinically significant. Patients should report any unusual symptoms to their healthcare provider.

How do I report a side effect from Zoledronic Acid?

You can report adverse events from Zoledronic Acid to the FDA through their MedWatch program at www.fda.gov/medwatch, by calling 1-800-FDA-1088, or by completing Form FDA 3500. Healthcare professionals, consumers, and manufacturers can all submit reports. Reporting helps the FDA monitor drug safety after approval.

What is Zoledronic Acid's safety score and what does it mean?

Zoledronic Acid has a safety concern score of 85 out of 100 (high concern). This score is calculated from the ratio of serious to non-serious adverse events, the diversity of reported reactions, and the overall volume of reports relative to usage. The most common reactions are pain, fatigue, and osteonecrosis of the jaw, indicating a significant risk profile.

What are the key safety signals for Zoledronic Acid?

Key safety signals identified in Zoledronic Acid's adverse event data include: Osteonecrosis of the jaw (2614 reports). Death (2435 reports). Renal impairment (429 reports). These signals are derived from patterns in FDA reports and should be discussed with a healthcare provider for personalized assessment.

Does Zoledronic Acid interact with other drugs?

Zoledronic acid can cause severe side effects such as osteonecrosis of the jaw and renal impairment, and should be used with caution in patients with pre-existing kidney conditions or dental issues. Always inform your healthcare provider about all medications, supplements, and over-the-counter drugs you are taking before starting Zoledronic Acid.

What should patients know before taking Zoledronic Acid?

Patients should inform their healthcare provider of any pre-existing conditions, especially kidney disease or dental issues, before starting zoledronic acid treatment. Regular monitoring of kidney function and dental health is recommended during treatment.

Are Zoledronic Acid side effects well-documented?

Zoledronic Acid has 89,511 adverse event reports on file with the FDA. Serious adverse events, such as death and osteonecrosis, account for 86.7% of reports, highlighting the severity. The volume of reports for Zoledronic Acid reflects both the drug's usage level and the vigilance of the reporting community.

What is the FDA's position on Zoledronic Acid?

The FDA closely monitors adverse events for zoledronic acid, and the drug is subject to ongoing safety reviews and potential restrictions based on emerging data. For the most current regulatory information, check the FDA's drug labeling database or consult your pharmacist.

Related Drugs

Drugs related to ZOLEDRONIC ACID based on therapeutic use, drug class, or shared indications:

AcetaminophenIbuprofenAmoxicillin
Important Disclaimer: This content is generated by AI analysis of FDA adverse event reports and is provided for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Adverse event reports submitted to the FDA do not prove that a medication caused the reported side effect. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication. If you experience a serious side effect, contact your doctor or call 911 immediately.