Proper Use

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

This medicine is given as a shot under your skin or into one of your muscles. Calcitonin injection may be given at home to patients who do not need to be in the hospital. If you are using this medicine at home, your doctor will teach you how to prepare and inject the medicine. Be sure you understand exactly how to use the medicine.

You will be shown the body areas where this shot can be given. Use a different body area each time you give yourself a shot. Keep track of where you give each shot to make sure you rotate body areas. This will help prevent skin problems from the injections.

Use a new needle and syringe each time you inject your medicine.

Carefully look at each vial (glass container) of medicine before you use it. Do not use the vial if it appears to be damaged or if the medicine has changed color or has specks (particles) in it.

Throw away used needles in a hard, closed container that the needles cannot poke through. Keep this container away from children and pets.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

  • For injection dosage form:
    • For Paget's disease of the bone:
      • Adults—100 International Units (IU) or 0.5 milliliter (mL) injected into a muscle or under the skin once a day. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed.
      • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    • For hypercalcemia:
      • Adults—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The starting dose is 4 International Units (IU) per kilogram (kg) of body weight injected into a muscle or under the skin every 12 hours. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 8 IU per kg of body weight every 6 hours.
      • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    • For postmenopausal osteoporosis:
      • Adults—100 International Units (IU) or 0.5 milliliter (mL) injected into a muscle or under the skin every other day.
      • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Store in the refrigerator. Do not freeze.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Portions of this document last updated: Feb. 01, 2024

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