Drug reference

Calcitonin (salmon)

BNF 80 (2020–2021)

Source: BNF 80 (2020–2021)
PDF pages: 794, 795

Review source pages for extracted sections and age labels. BNF dose snippets show only their first line.

Overview

Indications And Dose

Hypercalcaemia of malignancy ▶BY SUBCUTANEOUS INJECTION, OR BY INTRAMUSCULAR INJECTION ▶Adult: 100 units every 6–8 hours (max. per dose 400 units every 6–8 hours), adjusted according to response ▶BY INTRAVENOUS INFUSION ▶Adult: Up to 10 units/kg, in severe or emergency cases, to be administered by slow intravenous infusion over at least 6 hours Paget’s disease of bone ▶BY SUBCUTANEOUS INJECTION, OR BY INTRAMUSCULAR INJECTION ▶Adult: 100 units daily, adjusted according to response for maximum 3 months (6 months in exceptional circumstances), a minimum dosage regimen of 50 units three times a week has been shown to achieve clinical and biochemical improvement Prevention of acute bone loss due to sudden immobility ▶BY SUBCUTANEOUS INJECTION, OR BY INTRAMUSCULAR INJECTION ▶Adult: Initially 100 units daily in 1–2 divided doses, then reduced to 50 units daily at the start of mobilisation, usual duration of treatment is 2 weeks; maximum 4 weeks

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Contra Indications

Hypocalcaemia

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Cautions

History of allergy (skin test advised). risk of malignancy—avoid prolonged use (use lowest effective dose for shortest possible time)

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Safety

Interactions

→Appendix 1: calcitonins

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Side Effects

▶Common or very common Abdominal pain. arthralgia. diarrhoea. dizziness. fatigue. ﬂushing. headache. musculoskeletal pain. nausea. secondary malignancy (long term use). taste altered. vomiting ▶Uncommon Hypersensitivity. hypertension. inﬂuenza like illness. oedema. polyuria. skin reactions. visual impairment ▶Rare or very rare Bronchospasm. throat swelling. tongue swelling ▶Frequency not known Hypocalcaemia. tremor

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Pregnancy

Avoid unless potential beneﬁt outweighs risk (toxicity in animal studies).

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Breast Feeding

Avoid; inhibits lactation in animals.

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Renal Impairment

Use with caution.

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Dose and formulations

Directions For Administration

▶With intravenous use For intravenous infusion, give intermittently in Sodium chloride 0.9%. Diluted solution given without delay. Dilute in 500 mL give over at least 6 hours; glass or hard plastic containers should not be used; some loss of potency on dilution and administration.

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Medicinal Forms

There can be variation in the licensing of different medicines containing the same drug. Solution for injection ▶Calcitonin (salmon) (Non-proprietary) Calcitonin (salmon) 50 unit per 1 ml Calcitonin (salmon) 50units/1ml solution for injection ampoules | 5 ampoule P £167.50 DT = £167.50 Calcitonin (salmon) 100 unit per 1 ml Calcitonin (salmon) 100units/1ml solution for injection ampoules | 5 ampoule P £220.00 DT = £220.00 Calcitonin (salmon) 200 unit per 1 ml Calcitonin (salmon) 400units/2ml solution for injection vials | 1 vial P £352.00 DT = £352.00

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Dose text by age group

Adult

100 units every 6–8 hours (max. per dose

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

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Adult

Up to 10 units/kg, in severe or emergency cases,

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

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Adult

100 units daily, adjusted according to response

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

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Adult

Initially 100 units daily in 1–2 divided doses,

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

PDF page 794

Age labels are extracted for navigation. Check the complete source section and current local guidance before clinical use.

Drug reference

Calcitonin (salmon)

BNF 80 (2020–2021)

Source: BNF 80 (2020–2021)
PDF pages: 794, 795

Review source pages for extracted sections and age labels. BNF dose snippets show only their first line.

Overview

Indications And Dose

PDF page 794

Contra Indications

Hypocalcaemia

PDF page 794

Cautions

History of allergy (skin test advised). risk of malignancy—avoid prolonged use (use lowest effective dose for shortest possible time)

PDF page 794

Safety

Interactions

→Appendix 1: calcitonins

PDF page 794

Side Effects

PDF page 795

Pregnancy

Avoid unless potential beneﬁt outweighs risk (toxicity in animal studies).

PDF page 795

Breast Feeding

Avoid; inhibits lactation in animals.

PDF page 795

Renal Impairment

Use with caution.

PDF page 795

Dose and formulations

Directions For Administration

PDF page 795

Medicinal Forms

PDF page 795

Dose text by age group

Adult

100 units every 6–8 hours (max. per dose

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

PDF page 794

Adult

Up to 10 units/kg, in severe or emergency cases,

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

PDF page 794

Adult

100 units daily, adjusted according to response

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

PDF page 794

Adult

Initially 100 units daily in 1–2 divided doses,

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

PDF page 794

Age labels are extracted for navigation. Check the complete source section and current local guidance before clinical use.