Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Calcitonin overdose
Introduction
Overdose information
Effects of large dosages of Calcitonin
Hypocalcemic tetany
Effects of large dosages of Calcitonin
Single doses of calcitonin-salmon nasal spray up to 1600 International Units, doses up to
800 International Units per day for 3 days and chronic administration of doses up to 600
International Units per day have been studied without serious adverse effects. A 1000
International Units dose of calcitonin-salmon injectable product given subcutaneously may
produce nausea and vomiting. A 32 International Units per kg per day dose of calcitoninsalmon
injectable product for 1or 2 days demonstrated no additional adverse effects. Return to top
Hypocalcemic tetany
There have been no reports of hypocalcemic tetany. However, the pharmacologic actions
of Calcitonin suggest that this could occur
in overdose. Therefore, provisions for parenteral administration of calcium should be
available for the treatment of overdose. Return to top
Adapted from the FDA Package Insert.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]