Calcitonin

Calcitonin is a prescription medicine that is used for treating several conditions, including high blood calcium, Paget's disease, and osteoporosis. It is a manufactured version of a naturally occurring hormone that helps regulate bone formation and breakdown. Calcitonin comes in nasal spray and injectable form. Potential side effects of the drug include runny or stuffy nose, vomiting, and flushing.

 

What Is Calcitonin?

Calcitonin (Fortical®, Miacalcin®) is a prescription medication used to treat a variety of conditions. Calcitonin salmon nasal spray (Fortical nasal spray, Miacalcin nasal spray) is approved to treat osteoporosis in postmenopausal women who are at least five years past menopause. Calcitonin salmon injection (Miacalcin injection) is approved to treat the following conditions:
 
  • Paget's disease of bone
  • High blood calcium (hypercalcemia)
  • Osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.
     
 

Calcitonin Side Effects

As with any medicine, side effects are possible with calcitonin. However, not everyone who takes the drug will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate it quite well. If side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or can easily be treated by you or your healthcare provider. Serious side effects are less common.
 
Common side effects of calcitonin nasal spray include but are not limited to:
 
  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Other nasal symptoms (such as nasal crusting, dryness, redness, and irritation)
  • Back pain.
     
Common side effects of calcitonin injection include but are not limited to:
 
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Injection site reactions (irritation, pain, or redness at the injection site)
  • Flushing.
     
(Click Side Effects of Calcitonin Salmon Nasal Spray or Side Effects of Calcitonin Salmon Injection to learn more, including potentially serious side effects that you should report immediately to your healthcare provider.)
 
(Calcitonin Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;