Mosby's 2014 Nursing Drug Reference (75 page)

calcitonin (rDNA) (Rx)

(kal-sih-toh′nin)

Fortical

calcitonin (salmon) (Rx)

Miacalcin

Func. class.:
Parathyroid agents (calcium regulator)

Chem. class.:
Polypeptide hormone

ACTION:

Decreases bone resorption, blood calcium levels; increases deposits of calcium in bones; opposes parathyroid hormone

USES:

Paget’s disease, postmenopausal osteoporosis, hypercalcemia

Unlabeled uses:
Bone/neuropathic pain, diabetic neuropathy, osteolytic metastases, osteoporosis prophylaxis, phantom limb pain

CONTRAINDICATIONS:

Hypersensitivity to this product, fish

Precautions:
Pregnancy (C), breastfeeding, children, renal disease, osteogenic sarcoma, pernicious anemia

DOSAGE AND ROUTES
Calculator
rDNA
Paget’s disease

• Adult:
SUBCUT
0.5 mg/day initially; may require 0.5 mg bid × 6 mo, then decrease until symptoms reappear

Salmon
Postmenopausal osteoporosis

• Adult:
SUBCUT/IM
100 international units every other day;
INTRANASAL
200 international units (1 spray) daily alternating nostrils daily, activate pump before 1st dose

Paget’s disease

• Adult:
SUBCUT/IM
100 international units/day, maintenance 50 international units daily, every other day or 3 × per wk

Hypercalcemia

• Adult:
SUBCUT/IM
4 international units/kg q12hr, increase to 8 international units/kg q12hr if response is unsatisfactory

Neuropathic pain/phantom limb pain/diabetic neuropathy (unlabeled)

• Adult:
IV/SUBCUT
100-200 international units/day for phantom limb pain
IV
200 international units over 20 min and 2nd inf given

Bone pain due to osteoporosis, osteolytic metastases (unlabeled)

• Adult:
SUBCUT
50-100 international units/day or
INTRANASAL
200 international units in 1 nostril/day

Available forms:
Inj 200 international units/ml; nasal spray 200 international units/actuation

Administer:
SUBCUT route (rDNA)

• 
By SUBCUT route only; rotate inj sites; use within 6 hr of reconstitution;
give
at bedtime to minimize nausea, vomiting, rotate sites

IM route (Salmon)

• 
After test dose of 10 international units/ml, 0.1 ml intradermally; watch for 15 min;
give
only with epinephrine, emergency meds available

• 
IM inj slowly into deep muscle mass; rotate sites; preferred route if volume is >2 ml

SIDE EFFECTS

CNS:
Headache, tetany, chills, weakness, dizziness, fever, tremors

CV:
Chest pressure

EENT:
Nasal congestion, eye pain

GI:
Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, anorexia, abdominal pain, salty taste, epigastric pain

GU:
Diuresis, nocturia, urine sediment, frequency

INTEG:
Rash, flushing, pruritus of earlobes, edema of feet, reaction at inj site

MS:
Swelling, tingling of hands, backache

RESP:
Dyspnea

SYST:
Anaphylaxis

PHARMACOKINETICS

IM/SUBCUT:
Onset 15 min, peak 4 hr, duration 8-24 hr, metabolized by kidneys, excreted as inactive metabolites via kidneys

INTERACTIONS

Decrease:
lithium effect

Decrease:
effect of nasal spray—biphosphonates (Paget’s disease)

NURSING CONSIDERATIONS
Assess:

 
Anaphylaxis, hypersensitivity reaction
(rash, fever, inability to breathe); emergency equipment should be nearby

• 
GI symptoms, polyuria, flushing, head swelling, tingling, headache; may indicate hypercalcemia

• 
Nutritional status; diet for sources of vit D (milk, some seafood), calcium (dairy products, dark green vegetables), phosphates

• 
Urinalysis (calcium should be kept at 9-10 mg/dl, vit D 50-135 international units/dl), alk phos baseline, q3-6mo; monitor urine hydroproline with Paget’s disease, biochemical markers of bone formation/absorption, radiologic evidence of fracture; bone density (osteoporosis)

• 
Toxicity (can occur rapidly),
increased drug level; have parenteral calcium on hand if calcium level drops too low; check for tetany (irritability, paresthesia, nervousness, muscle twitching, seizures, tetanic spasms)

Perform/provide:

• 
Storage at <77° F (25° C); protect from light

Evaluate:

• 
Therapeutic response: calcium levels 9-10 mg/dl, decreasing symptoms of Paget’s disease

Teach patient/family:

• 
About the method of inj if patient will be responsible for self-medication

• 
To report difficulty swallowing, any changes in side effects to prescriber immediately

Nasal

• 
To use alternating nostrils for nasal spray; use after allowing to warm to room temp; prime to get full spray

Canada only   Side effects:
italics
= common;
bold
= life-threatening   
Nurse Alert

calcitriol vitamin D
3
(Rx)

(kal-sih-try′ole)

Calcijex, Rocaltrol, Vectical

Func. class.:
Parathyroid agent (calcium regulator)

Chem. class.:
Vit D hormone

Do not confuse:
calcitriol
/Calciferol

ACTION:

Increases intestinal absorption of calcium, provides calcium for bones, increases renal tubular resorption of phosphate

USES:

Hypocalcemia with chronic renal disease, hyperparathyroidism pseudohypoparathyroidism

Unlabeled uses:
Osteopetrosis, osteoporosis, osteoporosis prophylaxis, rickets, familial hypophosphatemia

CONTRAINDICATIONS:

Hypersensitivity, hyperphosphatemia, hypercalcemia, vit D toxicity

Precautions:
Pregnancy (C), breastfeeding, renal calculi, CV disease

DOSAGE AND ROUTES
Calculator
Hypocalcemia (stage 5 chronic kidney disease, on dialysis)

• Adult and child ≥6 yr:
PO
0.25 mcg/day
IV
0.5 mcg tid initially; may increase by 0.25 every other day q4-8wk

• Child 1-5 yr:
PO
0.25-2 mcg/day

Renal osteodystrophy

• Adult and child ≥3 yr:
PO
0.25 mcg/day, may increase to 0.5 mcg/day

• Child <3 yr:
PO
0.01-0.015 mcg/kg/day

Hypoparathyroidism

• Adult and child ≥6 yr:
PO
0.25 mcg/day, may increase q2-4wk, maintenance 0.5-2 mcg/day

• Child 1-5 yr:
PO
0.25-0.75 mcg daily

• Child <1 yr:
PO
0.04-0.08 mcg/kg/day

Rickets (unlabeled)

• Adult and child:
PO
1 mcg/day

Familial hypophosphatemia (unlabeled)

• Adult:
PO
2 mcg/day

• Child:
PO
0.015-0.02 mcg/kg/day, maintenance 0.03-0.06 mcg/kg/day; max 2 mcg/day

Postmenopausal osteoporosis (unlabeled)

• Adult:
PO
0.25 mcg bid, adjust to serum calcium levels

Osteopetrosis (unlabeled)

• Child:
PO
high-dose calcitriol 1-2 mcg/kg/day given in 4-6 divided doses

Osteoporosis prophylaxis in corticosteroid therapy (unlabeled)

• Adult:
PO
0.5-1 mcg/day

Available forms:
Caps 0.25, 0.5 mcg; inj 1 mcg/ml, 2 mcg/ml; oral sol 1 mcg/ml; top 3 mcg/g

Administer:
PO route

• 
Do not break, crush, chew caps

• 
Give without regard to meals

IV route

• 
Give by direct IV over 1 min

SIDE EFFECTS

CNS:
Drowsiness, headache, vertigo, fever, lethargy, hallucinations

CV:
Palpitations, hypertension

EENT:
Blurred vision, photophobia

GI:
Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, jaundice, anorexia, dry mouth, constipation, cramps, metallic taste

GU:
Polyuria, hypercalciuria, hyperphosphatemia, hematuria, thirst

MS:
Myalgia, arthralgia, decreased bone development, weakness

SYST:
Anaphylaxis

PHARMACOKINETICS

PO:
Absorbed readily from GI tract, peak 10-12 hr, duration 3-5 days, half-life 3-6 hr, undergoes hepatic recycling, excreted in bile

INTERACTIONS

• 
Hypercalcemia: thiazide diuretics, calcium supplements

• 
Cardiac dysrhythmias: cardiac glycosides, verapamil

• 
Hypermagnesemia: magnesium antacids

• 
Toxicity: other vit D products

Increase:
metabolism of vit D—phenytoin

Decrease:
absorption of calcitriol—cholestyramine, mineral oil, fat-soluble vitamins

Drug/Food

• 
Large amounts of high-calcium foods may cause hypercalcemia

Drug/Lab Test

False increase:
cholesterol

Interference:
alk phos, electrolytes

NURSING CONSIDERATIONS
Assess:

• 
BUN, urinary calcium, PTH, creatinine, chloride, magnesium, electrolytes, phosphate; may increase calcium; should be kept at 9-10 mg/dl, vit D 50-135 international units/dl, phosphate 70 mg/dl; toxic reactions may occur rapidly

• 
Hypercalcemia:
dry mouth, metallic taste, polyuria, bone pain, muscle weakness, headache, fatigue, change in level of consciousness, dysrhythmias, increased respirations, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, cramps, diarrhea, constipation; paresthesia, twitching, dysrhythmias, Chvostek’s sign, Trousseau’s sign
(hypocalcemia)

• 
Renal status: decreased urinary output (oliguria, anuria), edema in extremities, weight gain 5-7 lb, periorbital edema

• 
Nutritional status, diet for sources of vit D (milk, some seafood); calcium (dairy products, dark green vegetables), phosphates (dairy products) must be avoided

Perform/provide:

• 
Storage protected from light, heat, moisture

• 
Restriction of sodium, potassium if required; restriction of fluids if required for chronic renal failure

Evaluate:

• 
Therapeutic response: calcium 9-10 mg/dl; decreasing symptoms of hypocalcemia, hypoparathyroidism

Teach patient/family:

• 
About symptoms of hypercalcemia: renal stones, nausea, vomiting, anorexia, lethargy, thirst, bone or flank pain

• 
To avoid products with sodium: cured meats, dairy products, cold cuts, olives, beets, pickles, soups, meat tenderizers with chronic renal failure; products with potassium: oranges, bananas, dried fruit, peas, dark green leafy vegetables, milk, melons, beans

• 
To avoid OTC products that contain calcium, potassium, sodium with chronic renal failure

• 
To monitor weight weekly; to maintain fluid intake

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