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What are the side effects of Miacalcin?

Miacalcin (generic name calcitonin) is a medication that's prescribed to prevent and treat osteoporosis. It's available as a nasal spray and in injectable form. It's also prescribed to treat hypercalcemia (too much calcium in the blood) and a bone disorder called Paget's disease, and to relieve bone pain caused by conditions such as cancer.

Side effects of Miacalcin nasal spray are generally mild and are mostly limited to the nose. You may experience irritation and inflammation of the nasal passages and sinuses. Your doctor should perform a nasal exam before you begin taking Miacalcin, and periodically during therapy. Stop using Miacalcin and inform your doctor if you experience severe nasal irritation or sores. You may also feel some minor back or joint pain which is usually mild and disappears quickly.

Sources:
The Johns Hopkins Complete Home Encyclopedia of Drugs. Medletter Associates Inc., 1998.
Micromedex® Healthcare Series. Thomson Micromedex, 2006.
Miacalcin Product Information, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, 2006.
Medline Plus. Medline, 2006.

This answer prepared 11/17/2000.
This information updated 2/7/2007.