Common Questions
Drug Mini-Monograph: Calcitonin in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis
See disclaimer below*
Calcitonin inhibits bone resorption by regulating calcium and bone metabolism in conjunction with parathyroid hormone. Salmon calcitonin has a higher receptor affinity and slower rate of clearance than human calcitonin and is therefore preferred for treatment. An injectable form of calcitonin is also used in the treatment of Paget's disease and hypercalcemia.
Calcitonin has been FDA approved for treatment of osteoporosis (not prevention) and is recommended in women > than 5 years post menopause as the efficacy has not been observed in early postmenopausal women.
Dosing.See the table below. The osteoporosis dose is 200 IU intranasally per day (alternate nostrils daily).
Cautions and contraindications. Hypersensitivity to the drug.
Side effects. Side effects of the nasal spray are usually minor and infrequent; they include nasal irritation, rhinitis, epistaxis, headache, and arthralgias.
Drug interactions. Drug interactions are very unlikely.
| Product | Available Strength | Osteoporosis Dose | Side Effects | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calcitonin (salmon), Miacalcin ,Calcimar® |
Nasal Spray:(Miacalcin, Calcimar): 200 IU/activation |
Nasal Spray:200 IU intranasally every day, alternating nostrils daily |
Nasal Spray:rhinitis, nasal irritation, flushing |
May provide some analgesia in the setting of acute fracture. |
*Disclaimer: This brief overview is limited in scope and designed to serve as a learning resource and an initial reference source. The information presented here should not be used in making treatment decisions. The authors, editors, developers, testers, and the University of Washington School of Medicine are not responsible for any errors in diagnosis or treatment that may result from the use of this material.
To learn more about calcitonin in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, search the OsteoEd web site under "calcitonin."