Calcitonin analogue

Calcitonin (salmon)

Brand names: Miacalcic

Salmon calcitonin is a polypeptide hormone analogue used short-term for hypercalcaemia and certain bone conditions such as Paget's disease and acute osteoporotic bone pain.

Dosing — being independently re-sourced

ClinCalc Pro is rebuilding its dose data from primary open sources — the manufacturer SmPC (eMC), the WHO Model Formulary and other official references — under clinician review. This drug's structured dose is not yet published here. Confirm all doses against the product SmPC and your local formulary before prescribing.

Clinical monograph

How it works

It inhibits osteoclast-mediated bone resorption and increases renal calcium excretion, thereby lowering serum calcium.

Prescribing in practice

Owing to an MHRA-recognised increased cancer risk with long-term use, treatment should be at the lowest effective level for the shortest possible duration.
Intranasal use for postmenopausal osteoporosis has been withdrawn; remaining indications are limited and largely short-term.
Hypersensitivity reactions can occur, and the parenteral route is generally preferred for hypercalcaemia.

Monitoring

Monitor serum calcium during treatment and limit the overall duration of therapy.

Counselling the patient

This medicine is intended only for short-term use.
Report any allergic-type reactions such as rash, swelling or breathing difficulty.
Nausea and flushing may occur, particularly when starting treatment.

Evidence & guidelines

An MHRA Drug Safety Update restricted calcitonin use after evidence of a small increased malignancy risk with prolonged treatment.

Reference: MHRA Drug Safety Update; SmPC; Drug verified in RxNorm (NLM); confirm dosing against the manufacturer SPC (eMC). Verify against your local formulary and current prescribing references before prescribing. Monograph status: clinician-reviewed (2026-07-04).

Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.

Pathways