Drugs

High Dose Dexamethasone

Dexamethasone may be responsible for most of the benefit of the VAD regimen and some specialists prefer to use high doses of dexamethasone without other drugs. Dexamethasone alone can achieve responses in over 40% of newly diagnosed patients. The major advantages include simplicity, absence of bone marrow toxicity, safety in patients with renal failure and a rapid response.

Bisphosphonates: Pamidronate or Zoledronic Acid

Bisphosphonates reduce the incidence of bone damage in myeloma by binding to the surface of bone and interrupting the balance between myeloma cells and osteoclasts which cause the lesions in bones. Bisphosphonates are most effective at diagnosis or when myeloma is active and are given by intravenous administration.

New Treatments