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Why do they not seem to use Calcitonin Injections as an option anymore? I did this in the beginning of my diagnosis (16 years ago) & saw significant increase. Am curious and have been revisiting the thought since I seem to be losing bone mass again.
Jill
Metamucil Cancer Constipation Colorectal cancer Docusate sodium Osteoporosis Psyllium
Calcitonin is now given by nasal spray. This is a more user friendly method of administration. (This medication cannot be given orally).
Lucy Buckley PT aka Mother Goose
Lucy ~ I also did the nasal spray years ago, but did not have the same positive effects as I did with the injections. Do studies show that they should have the same effects, or do you know?
Jill
Calcitriol can be taken orally.
Donnalc
Calcitriol can be taken orally.
Donnalc
Calcitonin and calcitriol are not the same thing.
Lucy Buckley PT aka Mother Goose
In what way are they different? In the need to know.
Donnalc
Calcitriol is another name for Vitamin D.
Calcitonin is a hormone that suppresses bone resorption and is a 32 amino acid peptide.
Lucy Buckley PT aka Mother Goose
Dear JilleWhite:
You wanted to know why calcitonin is not used much more frequently than it actually is for treating severe osteoporosis. Believe it or not, that's a very good question. The only bad things I could find about calcitonin are from non-scientific websites such as these: http://www.drugs.com/sfx/calcitonin-side-effects.html http://www.drugs.com/mtm/calcitonin-nasal.html http://www.rxlist.com/miacalcin-drug.htm I remember my medical doctor telling me he almost never prescribes calcitonin because it was inconvenient and could cause a reaction. However, the PubMed research studies on calcitonin all say only very positive things about calcitonin and never anything negative about calcitonin. For example, these: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8935399 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18713548 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18071651 Perhaps you could do us a favor? You might want to try natural salmon calcitonin and you could report back to everybody at NOF Inspire regarding how well your experience went.
My sister just had a bone scan this week after a year on calcitonin nasal spray. She's gone all the way from osteo back to just shy of normal! My doctor had pooh poohed my question about calcitonin last year, but now I'm seriously interested! I was planning to start some research, so this discussion is really valuable.
i was wondering about injections since i've never done well with anything administered in a nasal spray since i'm prone to chronic sinus infections.
is the natural salmon cacitonin an injection as well?
Hi,
When I was first diagnosed ten years ago with Osteo, my primary doctor prescribed Calcitonin. I was not able to tolerate it. It made me dizzy and it inflamed my nasal passages. I was on it for a month, then she switched me to Fosomax. I wish I could try the injections of Calcitonin to see if it makes a difference but from everything I have learned, they just don't do it anymore.
Carmen
Hi
I used Calcitonin for about 9 months. It gave me such severe constipation, I had to stop using it. Also thinning hair. I am afraid to take anything else, because i have so many problems with my teeth. Will see my doctor in August, to see whats next.
I tried all kinds of things for the constipation, but nothing worked.
Any suggestions to help????
Thanks Marla
Dear willamette:
The best way to counteract constipation is with psyllium husk capsules. Psyllium husk, which is grown in and imported from India, is rapidly increasing in popularity in the U.S., Europe, Japan, and elsewhere. The capsules are more convenient and are better able to be taken every 2 hours than the psyllium husk powder, which is cheaper but less convenient. Metamucil is mostly just psyllium husk plus aspartame (Equal/Nutrasweet). I buy my psyllium husk capsules from Sam's Club at a very good price. The second best way to fight constipation is with prunes. Plums and prunes contain a specific constipation-fighting chemical, dihydrophenylisatin, which no other fruit or vegetable contains in any meaningful quantity. The third best way to fight constipation is with ground flaxseed meal. Pour boiling hot water over it and eat it five minutes later. Both prunes and flaxseed meal are high in calories, while psyllium husk is low in calories. All 3 of the above solutions for constipation have many additional health benefits. The medical doctors prescribe softgels containing docusate sodium to treat constipation. It works but takes a long time - too long. Also, docusate sodium has no other health benefit and can cause side effects.
To rmchacin
Thank you I will definately try the psylliun husk capsules. Do you take them every two hours.? I know as long as I take the calcitonin, I will need to take something.
This could be a lifesaver for me.
Thank you again.
Dear willamette:
The instructions say to conveniently swallow about six psyllium husk capsules per day depending on the severity of your constipation. Six to eight capsules per day should be enough for successfully treating most cases of constipation. However, there is no harm in swallowing twelve or more capsules per day as long as you never swallow more than two capsules per 20 minutes. Never swallow more than one capsule at a time. Always drink at least a half cup of fluid together with one capsule. As a practical matter, it's too inconvenient to keep watching the clock. Therefore, just leave a whole bunch of capsules out in the open where it won't collect dust. (One good place would be inside your refrigerator where they won't collect dust). Just swallow one capsule every time you realize that you want to drink some fluid and enough time has transpired since your last swallowing of one capsule. You might want to try to estimate how many capsules you normally end up swallowing each day using this method. If your constipation is extremely severe, you might want to combine psyllium husk capsules with prunes, ground flaxseed meal, and/or docusate sodium (now available at Sam's Club without a prescription). In extremely rare cases, constipation can be caused by colorectal cancer so it's a good idea to obey the American Cancer Society and schedule a colonoscopy once every ten years starting at age 50. Swallowing probiotic (acidophilus) capsules might help slightly.
Dear rmchavin
Thank you so much for your help
I did have a colonoscopy, so I am ok there.
I will try this. I hope it works. Will keep you posted.
I really appreciate you response to me.
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