About calcitonin
Calcitonin hormone; antiresorptive agent
Used for
- Short-term treatment of high blood calcium
- Paget disease of bone
- Selected cases of osteoporosis when other treatments are unsuitable
Usual adult dose
Usually 4 units/kg by injection every 12 hours for high blood calcium; other conditions use different regimens.
Common side effects
- Nausea or vomiting
- Flushing
- Injection-site reactions
- Low blood calcium
Important warnings
- Can cause severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis.
- Long-term use may increase cancer risk; use the lowest effective dose for the shortest time.
- May lower blood calcium, especially with vitamin D deficiency or kidney problems.
- Nasal calcitonin products are not interchangeable with injections.
Pregnancy
Use only when clearly needed; human pregnancy safety information is limited.
Breastfeeding
It is unknown whether calcitonin passes into human milk; use caution.
Interactions
- Lithium levels may decrease.
- Other medicines that lower blood calcium may increase hypocalcemia risk.
AI-generated from general medical knowledge, not from this product's official leaflet. It may be incomplete or out of date. Not medical advice — ask a pharmacist or doctor before making any decision.