Calcitonin-Salmon Injection

• It is used to treat Paget's disease.
• It is used to treat high calcium levels.
• It is used to treat soft, brittle bones (osteoporosis) in women after change of life.
• It may be given to you for other reasons. Talk with the doctor.

• If you have an allergy to calcitonin or any other part of calcitonin-salmon injection.
• If you are allergic to any drugs like this one, any other drugs, foods, or other substances. Tell your doctor about the allergy and what signs you had, like rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other signs.
• If you have low calcium levels.

This is not a list of all drugs or health problems that interact with this medicine.

Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of your drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe for you to take calcitonin-salmon injection with all of your drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug without checking with your doctor.

• Tell all of your health care providers that you take this medicine. This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
• Very bad and sometimes deadly allergic side effects have rarely happened. Talk with your doctor.
• Have blood work checked as you have been told by the doctor. Talk with the doctor.
• Follow the diet and workout plan that your doctor told you about.
• Take calcium and vitamin D as you were told by your doctor.
• This medicine may add to the chance of getting some types of cancer. Talk with the doctor.
• If you are taking lithium, talk with your doctor. You may need to have your blood work checked more closely while you are taking it with calcitonin-salmon injection.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant. You will need to talk about the benefits and risks of using this medicine while you are pregnant.
• Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding. You will need to talk about any risks to your baby.

WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:

• Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Signs of low calcium levels like muscle cramps or spasms, numbness and tingling, or seizures.
• Very bad irritation where the shot was given.

• Store in a refrigerator. Do not freeze.
• Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
• Check with your pharmacist about how to throw out unused drugs.

This medication is used to treat certain bone problems (e.g., Paget's disease, postmenopausal osteoporosis) and to reduce high blood levels of calcium. Calcitonin is a man-made hormone that works by slowing bone loss and maintaining normal calcium levels in the blood. It may also help to reduce bone pain in people who have Paget's disease.

How to use Calcitonin (Salmon) Solution

This medication is given by injection under the skin or into a muscle. For the treatment of high calcium, you will usually use this medication every 12 hours. For the treatment of osteoporosis, you will usually use this medication every other day. For the treatment of Paget's disease, you will usually use this medication daily to every other day or as directed by your doctor. If you are using more than 2 milliliters of the medication at a time, it is recommended that you inject the medication into a muscle. Use this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Learn all preparation and usage instructions in the product package. If you have questions about the use of this medication, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment. For the treatment of high calcium, the dosage is also based on weight. It is recommended to use this medication at the lowest effective dosage and for the shortest possible duration to treat your condition. Patients treated long-term with this medication have shown a rare risk of developing cancer. Discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of long term treatment with this medication.

Before injecting each dose, check this product visually for particles or discoloration. If either is present, do not use the liquid. Also, clean the injection site with rubbing alcohol before injecting. It is important to change the location of the injection site each time to avoid problem areas under the skin or in the muscle.

Use this medication regularly in order to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, use it at the same time(s) each day. If you are using this medication on a schedule other than every day (e.g., every other day), it may help to mark your calendar with a reminder.

Learn how to store and discard needles and medical supplies safely. Consult your pharmacist.

Tell your doctor if your condition persists or worsens.

If someone has overdosed and has serious symptoms such as passing out or trouble breathing, call 911. Otherwise, call a poison control center right away. US residents can call their local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center. Symptoms of overdose may include: nausea, vomiting.

Notes

Do not share this medication with others.

Lifestyle changes that help promote healthy bones include increasing weight-bearing exercise, stopping smoking, limiting alcohol, and eating well-balanced meals that contain adequate calcium and vitamin D. Since you may also need to take calcium and vitamin D supplements and make lifestyle changes, consult your doctor for specific advice.

Depending on the condition that you are treating, laboratory and/or medical tests (e.g., urine sediment, bone mineral density, calcium levels) may be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose, use it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

Storage

Store in the refrigerator. Do not freeze. Keep all medications away from children and pets.

Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company.Information last revised July 2016. Copyright(c) 2016 First Databank, Inc.