Calcitonin for osteoporosis

Examples

Generic Name	Brand Name
calcitonin-human	Cibacalcin
calcitonin-salmon	Calcimar, Miacalcin

Calcitonin can be taken in a nasal spray, as a shot into the muscle (intramuscular, or IM), or as a shot into the fat tissue (subcutaneous).

How It Works

Calcitonin is a naturally occurring hormone. It helps regulate calcium levels in your body and is involved in the process of bone building. When taken by shot or nasal spray, it slows the rate of bone thinning. It also relieves pain that occurs when the bones in the spine (vertebrae) break and collapse on top of each other (spinal compression fracture).

Why It Is Used

Calcitonin is used in women with osteoporosis to reduce bone loss. It reduces spinal bone (vertebrae) fractures when taken by postmenopausal women for at least 1 year.¹

It may be prescribed for women who are more than 5 years beyond menopause and who do not tolerate bisphosphonate medications.²

Calcitonin can be used in men with osteoporosis who have normal levels of the male sex hormone testosterone or whose osteoporosis does not get better with testosterone treatment.

Calcitonin relieves pain caused by spinal compression fractures.

How Well It Works

• Calcitonin slows thinning of bone in the spine, hip (pelvis), and ends of the long bones (trabecular bone). But it does not appear to be as effective as other medicines, such as raloxifene or alendronate, at building bone mass and reducing the risk of fractures.³
• Calcitonin helps relieve pain from broken bones caused by osteoporosis.

Side Effects

Side effects of the nasal spray may include:

• Runny nose or nasal discomfort.
• Nausea.
• Skin redness (flushing).

Side effects of the shot may include:

• Nausea and/or vomiting.
• Diarrhea.
• Inflammation at the site of the shot.
• Skin redness (flushing).
• Increased urination or increased number of bowel movements.

See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)

What To Think About

It may take up to 2 weeks before pain relief is noticed. Not all people who take calcitonin get relief from their pain.

Complete the new medication information form (PDF) (What is a PDF document?) to help you understand this medication.

Author:	Shannon Erstad, MBA/MPH	Last Updated: November 21, 2008
Medical Review:	Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology
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