Miacalcin Side Effects

Generic name: calcitonin

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Apr 30, 2025.

Note: This document provides detailed information about Miacalcin Side Effects associated with calcitonin. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply specifically to the brand name Miacalcin.

Applies to calcitonin: nasal spray.

Other dosage forms:

• injection solution

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure that this medicine is working properly. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects. Your doctor may also want to check your nose before and during treatment with this medicine.

Your doctor might give you an allergy skin test to see if you are allergic to calcitonin (the active ingredient contained in Miacalcin) before using this medicine.

This medicine may cause serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. The most serious signs of this reaction are rash, itching, hoarseness, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth while you are using this medicine. If these side effects occur, get emergency help at once.

This medicine can lower your calcium levels in the blood (hypocalcemia). Check with your doctor right away if you have abdominal or stomach cramps, confusion, convulsions, difficulty breathing, mood or mental changes, muscle cramps in hands, arms, feet, legs, or face, or numbness and tingling around the mouth, fingertips, or feet.

This medicine may cause irritation in the nose that can be painful and serious. Check with your doctor right away if you have more than one of the following symptoms: sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, shortness of breath, troubled breathing, or heavy nosebleeds.

This medicine may increase your risk of having cancer. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns about this risk.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Serious side effects of Miacalcin

Along with its needed effects, calcitonin may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking calcitonin:

Other side effects of Miacalcin

Some side effects of calcitonin may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

For healthcare professionals

Applies to calcitonin: injectable solution, nasal spray.

General adverse events

The most commonly reported adverse effects with use of the injection are nausea, injection site inflammation, and flushing of face or hands; rhinitis, epistaxis, back pain, arthralgia, and headache have been reported with use of the nasal spray.^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Very common (10% or more): Nausea (10%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Abdominal pain
• Frequency not reported: Salty taste, diarrhea

With parenteral use, nausea with or without vomiting appears most frequently upon treatment initiation and tends to decrease or disappear with continued use.

Local

• Very common (10% or more): Inflammatory reactions at the site of injection

Metabolic

• Frequency not reported: Poor appetite
• Postmarketing reports: Hypocalcemia with tetany (muscle cramps, twitching) and seizure activity

Hypersensitivity

• Postmarketing reports: Serious hypersensitivity reactions including bronchospasm, swelling of the tongue or throat, anaphylactic shock, and death due to anaphylaxis

Respiratory

• Very common (10% or more): Rhinitis (12%), symptoms of nose (11%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Epistaxis, sinusitis, upper respiratory tract infection, bronchospasm
• Postmarketing reports: Cough, dyspnea^[Ref]

Symptoms of nose include: Nasal crusts, dryness, redness or erythema, nasal sores, irritation, itching, thick feeling, soreness, pallor, infection, stenosis, runny/blocked, small wound, bleeding wound, tenderness, uncomfortable feeling, and sore across bridge of nose.^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Frequency not reported: Pedal edema
• Postmarketing reports: Edema (facial, peripheral, and generalized), hypertension, chest pain syncope, vasodilation

Nervous system

• Common (1% to 10%): Dizziness, paresthesia
• Postmarketing reports: Headache, tremor, seizure, loss of taste/smell

Immunologic

• Postmarketing reports: Anti-drug antibodies

For those that antibody studies were done, circulating antibodies to calcitonin were found in about 50% of patients with Paget's disease after 2 to 18 months of treatment. Circulating antibodies have also been reported with use of the nasal spray.

Dermatologic

• Common (1% to 10%): Flushing of hand or face, erythematous rash
• Frequency not reported: Skin rashes and pruritus of ear lobes
• Postmarketing reports: Urticaria, rash/dermatitis, pruritus, alopecia, increased sweating

Musculoskeletal

• Common (1% to 10%): Back pain, arthralgia, arthrosis, myalgia
• Postmarketing reports: Musculoskeletal pain^[Ref]

Hematologic

• Common (1% to 10%): Lymphadenopathy

Ocular

• Common (1% to 10%): Abnormal lacrimation, conjunctivitis
• Frequency not reported: Eye pain
• Postmarketing reports: Visual disturbance, visual or hearing impairment, tinnitus

Psychiatric

• Common (1% to 10%): Depression

Genitourinary

• Frequency not reported: Nocturia
• Postmarketing reports: Polyuria

Oncologic

• Common (1% to 10%): Malignancy

A meta-analysis of 21 randomized, controlled clinical trials among patients using the nasal spray or an investigational oral formulation found the overall incidence of malignancy in patients receiving this drug was 4.1% (254/6151) compared to 2.9% (137/4732) in placebo. An analyses of just nasal spray trials showed the incidence was similar (4.5% vs 2.3%). Data has shown the increased risk was heavily influenced by a single large 5-year trial. A mechanism for this increased risk has not been identified.

Other

• Common (1% to 10%): Influenza-like symptoms
• Frequency not reported: Feverish sensation
• Postmarketing reports: Fatigue

See also:

Further information

Miacalcin side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

Medical Disclaimer