Generic Name: calcitonin nasal (kal si TOE nin)
Brand Names: Fortical, Miacalcin Nasal
What is calcitonin nasal?
Calcitonin is a man-made form of a hormone that occurs naturally in the thyroid gland.
Calcitonin nasal is used to treat osteoporosis in women who have been in menopause for at least 5 years.
Calcitonin nasal may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about calcitonin nasal?
To make sure you are not allergic to this medication, your doctor may perform an allergy skin test before your first dose of calcitonin nasal.
Before using calcitonin nasal, tell your doctor if you have any nasal or sinus problems such as nasal deformities, a chronic infection, or nasal pain.
Avoid using any other nasal sprays or medicines at the same time you use calcitonin nasal unless your doctor has told you to.
Call your doctor at once if you have any type of severe irritation of your nose, or if you feel light-headed or faint.
Less serious nasal irritation is more likely to occur, such as minor bleeding, redness, itching, tenderness, dryness, crusting, scabs, or nasal congestion.
To be sure this medication is not causing harmful side effects to the inside of your nose, your doctor may want to check your nasal passages often. Visit your doctor regularly.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using calcitonin nasal?
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to salmon calcitonin.
To make sure you can safely use calcitonin nasal, tell your doctor if you have any nasal or sinus problems such as nasal deformities, a chronic infection, or nasal pain.
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether calcitonin nasal will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication. It is not known whether calcitonin nasal passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
How should I use calcitonin nasal?
Use exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not use in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
To make sure you are not allergic to this medication, your doctor may perform an allergy skin test before your first dose of calcitonin nasal.
This medication comes with patient instructions for safe and effective use. Follow these directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.
Store unopened calcitonin nasal in the refrigerator but do not allow it to freeze. Once you put the bottle and pump assembly together, you may keep the medicine at room temperature, away from light and heat. Keep the bottle upright while stored. Throw away any unused medicine after 35 days.
Before your first use of the assembled bottle and pump, you must prime the spray. Allow the medicine to reach room temperature before priming.
To prime calcitonin nasal, spray the medicine into the air and away from your face, until a fine mist appears. You will need to prime the pump only before your first use of the newly assembled bottle.
Calcitonin nasal is usually given as one spray per day into only one of your nostrils. Use the other nostril the next day and continue alternating back and forth for each daily dose.
Before each use, gently blow your nose to clear your nostrils.
Hold the nasal spray upright with your first and second fingers on each side of the pump and your thumb on the bottom of the bottle.
Gently insert the sprayer tip into the nostril but not far into your nose. Bend your head forward to aim the spray toward the back of your nose. Pump the spray unit firmly to spray the medicine into your nostril. You do not need to sniff or inhale deeply.
Calcitonin nasal spray delivers a fine mist into the nose. Even if you do not feel the spray while using it, the medication is still being absorbed by your nasal passages.
Avoid blowing your nose for several minutes after using this medication.
Each bottle contains 30 doses of calcitonin nasal. Throw away the medicine after 30 uses, even if there is still medicine left in the bottle.
To be sure this medication is not causing harmful side effects to the inside of your nose, your doctor may want to check your nasal passages often. Visit your doctor regularly.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Use the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
An overdose of calcitonin nasal is not likely to produce life-threatening side effects.
What should I avoid while using calcitonin nasal?
Avoid using any other nasal sprays or nasal medications at the same time you use calcitonin nasal unless your doctor has told you to.
Calcitonin nasal side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
feeling light-headed, fainting; or
severe nasal irritation.
Less serious side effects may include:
bleeding from your nose;
runny or stuffy nose;
dryness, itching, tenderness, or general discomfort of your nose;
crusting, scabs, or sores inside your nose;
redness in or around your nose;
warmth, redness, or tingly feeling under your skin;
headache;
back pain; or
nausea.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Calcitonin nasal Dosing Information
Usual Adult Dose for Paget's Disease:
50 to 100 intl units given subcutaneously or intramuscularly once a day. The dosage may be reduced to 50 to 100 intl units subcutaneously or intramuscularly three times a week when improvement (clinical or biochemical) occurs. Calcitonin is usually not given for more than 6 months unless there are neurological symptoms or extensive lytic lesions in the weight-bearing bones. Biochemical remissions of the illness generally last for under six months. If retreatment is necessary, the same initial and maintenance dosage schedules generally are repeated. Human calcitonin is an orphan drug that may be used in patients that develop resistance or an allergic reaction to calcitionin-salmon.
-or-
200 to 400 intl units by intranasal administration once a day may also be used with a slight loss in efficacy (400 intl units nasal dose compared to 100 intl units intramuscular dose) but a decrease in systemic side effects. Studies have demonstrated that intranasal preparations reduced bone turnover by 30% to 40%, compared to the 50% seen with subcutaneous or intramuscular preparations.
Usual Adult Dose for Hypercalcemia:
4 intl units/kg (rounded to the next higher 5 intl units) subcutaneously or intramuscularly every 12 hours. The maximum dosage should not exceed 545 intl units per dose. If a response to the 4 intl units/kg dose is not observed in 1 to 2 days, 8 intl units/kg (rounded to the next higher 5 intl units) may be given subcutaneously or intramuscularly every 12 hours. The dosing frequency may be increased to every 6 hours, if needed. The maximum dosage should not exceed 1090 intl units per dose. Therapy is generally 5 days or fewer. A 2 mg/dl reduction in plasma calcium level is usually noted and maintained for 2 to 4 days. Thereafter, the effect diminishes.
Usual Adult Dose for Osteoporosis:
100 intl units given every other day or 50 intl units given once a day either subcutaneously or intramuscularly. Injectable doses may be increased to 200 or 400 intl units once per day, as required.
-or-
200 intl units may be given intranasally once a day, alternating nostrils daily.
Therapy is generally long-term, lasting months or years.
Usual Adult Dose for Osteogenesis Imperfecta Tarda:
50 intl units given subcutaneously three times a week. Dosages may be increased to 100 intl units depending on tolerance of side effects and efficacy of the 50 intl units dose therapy.
Usual Pediatric Dose for Osteogenesis Imperfecta Tarda:
Not a FDA approved indication:
Osteogenesis imperfecta
Children over 6 months of age: 2 international units/kg IM or SQ 3 times/week.
What other drugs will affect calcitonin nasal?
There may be other drugs that can interact with calcitonin nasal. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.
More calcitonin nasal resources
- Calcitonin nasal Side Effects (in more detail)
- Calcitonin nasal Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
- Calcitonin nasal Drug Interactions
- Calcitonin nasal Support Group
- 2 Reviews for Calcitonin - Add your own review/rating
Compare calcitonin nasal with other medications
- Hypercalcemia
- Osteogenesis Imperfecta
- Osteoporosis
- Paget's Disease
Where can I get more information?
- Your pharmacist can provide more information about calcitonin nasal.
See also: calcitonin side effects (in more detail)
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