This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Sign in
Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Calcitonin in osteoporosis

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Calcitonin

  • is an endogenous polypeptide hormone that inhibits osteoclastic bone resorption. Salmon calcitonin, 200IU daily by intranasal administration, is approved for the treatment of established postmenopausal osteoporosis in order to reduce the risk of vertebral fracture
  • approved dose has been shown to reduce vertebral fractures in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis but robust evidence for non-vertebral and hip fracture reduction is lacking
  • calcitonin is contraindicated in patients with hypocalcaemia and should not be used in patients with nasal ulceration
  • most frequently observed undesirable effects are local reactions such as rhinitis and nasal discomfort.

Calcitonin suppresses osteoclast action and inhibits their recruitment.

Reference:

  • 1. National Osteoporosis Society (2008). Guideline for the diagnosis and management of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women and men from the age of 50 years in the UK.

Related pages

Create an account to add page annotations

Create a free account

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.