Calcitonin

What is calcitonin and what's it used for?

Calcitonin is used as a short-term treatment (for 2–4 weeks) to help prevent bone loss if you're immobilised following an osteoporotic fracture.

It may be given by injection:

• under the skin (subcutaneous injection)
• into a muscle (intramuscular injection).

In the UK, calcitonin is no longer available as a nasal spray for the long-term treatment of osteoporosis.

Calcitonin side-effects and risks

Possible side-effects include:

• nausea or vomiting
• diarrhoea
• abdominal pain
• flushing
• dizziness
• headache
• musculoskeletal pain
• taste disturbance.