Miacalcin

Miacalcin is a prescription medicine licensed to treat a variety of conditions. It comes in nasal spray and injectable forms. The nasal spray is used for treating osteoporosis in women who are at least five years past menopause. The injectable form is approved to treat hypercalcemia, Paget's disease, and osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Potential side effects of Miacalcin include nausea, vomiting, and back pain.

 

What Is Miacalcin?

Miacalcin® (calcitonin) is a prescription medication available as a nasal spray or as an injection. Miacalcin injection is approved to treat the following conditions:
 
  • Paget's disease of bone
  • High blood calcium (hypercalcemia)
  • Osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.
     
Miacalcin nasal spray is approved to treat osteoporosis in postmenopausal women who are at least five years past menopause.
 
(Click Miacalcin Injection Uses or Miacalcin Nasal Spray Uses for more information, including possible off-label uses.)
 

Who Makes Miacalcin?

Miacalcin is made by Novartis Pharmaceuticals.
 

How Does Miacalcin Work?

Miacalcin is a manufactured version of calcitonin, a naturally occurring hormone that helps regulate bone formation and breakdown. It is actually a synthetic version of calcitonin from salmon (known as calcitonin salmon), which is more potent and longer-acting than human calcitonin. Miacalcin also appears to have some activity as a pain reliever, independent of its effects on bone.
 
Miacalcin works to decrease blood calcium in several ways. First, it slows down the rate at which bone breaks down, which decreases the release of calcium from bone. Second, it increases the ability of the kidneys to excrete calcium into the urine, which helps clear calcium from the blood.
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;