Calcitonin plays a critical role in maintaining the balance between bone formation and resorption. It's a hormone that's produced in our thyroid gland. When released, it helps in reducing bone resorption, which is the process where our bones are broken down, and the minerals within them, like calcium, are released into the bloodstream. By doing this, calcitonin indirectly promotes bone formation by preventing bone loss. Therefore, it's essentially a protective mechanism to ensure our bones stay strong and healthy.
Calcitonin: what it does and when doctors use it
Calcitonin is a hormone medicine that lowers blood calcium and can help ease certain kinds of bone pain. You’ll most often see it as salmon calcitonin given by injection or as a nasal spray. It’s not a first-line drug for most conditions, but it has clear uses when doctors need a fast way to reduce calcium or relieve bone pain from specific diseases.
How calcitonin works and common uses
Calcitonin blocks bone breakdown by slowing osteoclasts (the cells that chew up bone). That reduces calcium released into the blood. Clinicians use it for short-term treatment of high blood calcium (hypercalcemia), Paget’s disease of bone, and to manage pain from bone metastases. Some women with osteoporosis may get calcitonin when other treatments aren’t suitable.
The medicine comes as an injection (subcutaneous or intramuscular) and as a nasal spray. The nasal spray is convenient for ongoing symptom relief but tends to be less powerful than injections for rapid control of calcium. Your prescriber will pick the form based on how quickly the effect is needed and on your preferences.
What to watch for: side effects and safety
Common side effects are mild: flushing, nausea, and local irritation in the nose for the spray. Injection site reactions are possible. Rare but important concerns include allergic reactions—people with a fish or salmon allergy should avoid salmon calcitonin—and potential changes in blood calcium that need monitoring.
Long-term use of calcitonin has been linked in some studies to a small increase in cancer risk, so many doctors limit prolonged treatment and prefer other osteoporosis drugs when long-term therapy is needed. Always discuss long-term plans with your doctor and check for safer alternatives if you’ll be on treatment for months or years.
Before starting calcitonin, tell your clinician about all medicines you take and about allergies. Pregnant or breastfeeding people should only use calcitonin when clearly needed and under medical advice. Your doctor may order blood tests to watch calcium levels and kidney function while you’re on the drug.
Practical tip: store and handle the medicine exactly as the label says. Some injectable forms need refrigeration while nasal sprays often tolerate room temperature—follow the prescription label or pharmacy instructions to keep the product effective.
Buying and prescriptions: calcitonin requires a prescription. Use a licensed pharmacy and check packaging for authenticity. If you’re ordering online, pick verified pharmacies and keep your prescriber involved—never start or stop calcitonin without medical advice.
If you have specific questions about dosing, interactions, or whether calcitonin is right for your condition, ask your doctor or pharmacist. They can match the treatment to your needs and explain safer long-term options when needed.