Community data Updated 2 months ago

Salmon Calcitonin

Hormone in bone formation by Inhibiting bone resorption Prescription

Indications

Calcitonin is used to treat active Paget's disease when other treatments haven't worked or aren't suitable for the patient, as well as to treat hypercalcaemia (high calcium levels in the blood).

⚠️ Always consult a registered physician before taking any medicine.

Pharmacology

Calcitonin is a polypeptide hormone made naturally by the ultimobranchial gland in non-mammalian vertebrates, and by the parafollicular cells of the thyroid gland in mammals. It works by inhibiting osteoclast-driven bone resorption, which lowers the overall rate of bone turnover. It also acts on the kidneys, reducing tubular reabsorption and increasing the renal excretion of calcium, chloride, sodium, magnesium, potassium and phosphate.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy Category C. This means either animal studies have shown some risk to the developing baby (such as birth defects or fetal loss), but there are no well-controlled studies in pregnant women, or no studies have been done in either women or animals. Because of this uncertainty, salmon calcitonin should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit to the mother is judged to outweigh the possible risk to the unborn child.

⚠️ Talk to your doctor before taking any medicine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

Dosage Reference

⚠️ Reference ranges from official sources only. Consult your doctor for personalized dosing.

Adults: Intravenous (adult): Emergency treatment of hypercalcaemia. Up to 10 u/kg in 500 mL of sodium chloride 0.9%, given by slow IV infusion over at least 6 hr. Parenteral (adult): Adjunct in hypercalcaemia. Given SC or IM, 4 u/kg every 12 hrly. The dose may go up after 1-2 days to 8 u/kg every 12 hrly, to a maximum of 8 u/kg 6 hrly after 2 days. Alternatively, 100 u every 6-8 hr, increased after 1-2 days to a maximum of 400 u every 6-8 hr. Paget's disease of bone: SC or IM, 50 u 3 times weekly, going up to 100 u/day. Nasal (adult): Nasal postmenopausal osteoporosis. 200 u/day, with the nostrils alternated every day.