Calcitonin
Also known as: Miacalcin, Fortical, Salmon Calcitonin
At a glance
PeptiGuide dataset · reviewed Aug 2026
What it is
FDA-approved peptide hormone researched for calcium regulation, osteoporosis, bone pain, and Paget's disease.
Status
FDA Approved
Typical dose
Limited community data available
Researched for
Osteoporosis, bone pain, Paget's disease
Trial progress
- PrePreclinical
- IPhase I
- IIPhase II
- IIIPhase III
- IVPhase IV
- FDAFDA approved
FDA approved - FDA-approved for specific uses with established human evidence
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In plain language
- Calcitonin is identified as a 32-amino-acid hormone linked to calcium and bone-turnover regulation.
- The source notes that salmon calcitonin is used therapeutically and appears in nasal-spray and injectable forms.
- Status is listed as FDA approved, with clinical status tied to osteoporosis and Paget's disease.
- Community dose detail is limited; the supplied research row lists 200 IU intranasal daily for long-term osteoporosis.
- Researched areas include osteoporosis, bone pain, and Paget's disease.
How it's thought to work
Calcitonin acts through the calcitonin receptor, a G-protein-coupled receptor noted in the source on osteoclasts. Activation of this pathway reduces osteoclast-mediated bone resorption, lowering calcium movement from bone into blood. The source also describes a renal effect that increases calcium loss in urine, so the overall pharmacologic direction is toward lower serum calcium.
What the research shows
Where the research stands
The source presents calcitonin as an established FDA-approved hormone with a narrower modern role in osteoporosis than it once had. It reports utility in hypercalcemia and Paget's disease, while describing weaker osteoporosis fracture-prevention support and a 2013 FDA meta-analysis in salmon calcitonin trials that found a small cancer imbalance versus placebo. The same evidence summary notes that osteoporosis labeling for nasal spray was narrowed to patients unable to use preferred alternatives, and it mentions short-term analgesic interest for acute vertebral fracture pain.
What it shows
✓ Human clinical evidence
FDA-approved for specific uses with established human evidence
△ Limitations
Use only according to approved labeling and qualified medical guidance.
Bottom line: FDA Approved - Osteoporosis and Paget's disease FDA Approved
Typical dosing
CommunityCommunity datasetLimited community data available
See research protocols
Range: See research dosing
Community entry reports limited dose detail and points to research protocols for range and frequency context.
Research dosing
Indication-specificApproved for specific uses - study doses are indication-specific
Timing & administration
Best time to take
Morning or as directed
Follow recommended protocol
Food recommendation
With or without food
Why this timing?
The source does not provide a specific timing rule beyond morning or directed use; it indicates that regularity matters more than the exact time in many contexts.
Possible side effects
Not everyone experiences these. Individual responses vary with dose, duration, and personal factors.
- Nausea
- Injection site reactions
- Facial flushing
- Nasal symptoms
- Hypocalcemia
- Anaphylaxis
- Increased malignancy risk in meta-analysis
Not everyone experiences side effects, and severity can vary by context, purity, route, and individual health factors.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
Sequence
H-Cys(1)-Ser-Asn-Leu-Ser-Thr-Cys(1)-Val-Leu-Gly-Lys-Leu-Ser-Gln-Glu-Leu-His-Lys-Leu-Gln-Thr-Tyr-Pro-Arg-Thr-Asn-Thr-Gly-Ser-Gly-Thr-Pro-NH2; Cys1-Cys7 disulfide
One open dataset
Every fact on this page - doses, side effects, references - comes from the same PeptiGuide dataset that powers the Tracker, Compare, and the Lab.
Browse the datasetEducational resource, not medical advice. Talk to your clinician before acting on anything here.
Community discussion
Comments are moderated before they appear. Keep it evidence-focused.