In my never-ending (or so it seems) quest for treatments for my bone damage and the pain stemming from it, I recently pressed my doctor for anything else (besides the Zometa and pain meds I am already taking) that might help.
He came up with a prescription for calcitonin salmon nasal spray, which I have now started taking (one spritz in a nostril per day, alternating nostrils).
Researching this medicine, which is a synthetic version of a hormone that encourages bone repair, I found a few old references to its use in multiple myeloma, and many more (and more recent) references to its use in the treatment of osteoporosis.
Has anyone heard of this medicine? Has anyone tried it? Any sharing of information and/or experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
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MrPotatohead - Name: MrPotatohead
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: March, 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 65
Re: Calcitonin salmon nasal spray for bone damage / pain
That med was prescribed for me about 10 years ago for osteopenia. I had no side effects from it. After using it for a couple of years, a paper was released to the Medical Letter (news articles for physicians) that some research was linking that med to a higher risk of cancer. I stopped taking it. I just did a quick Google search. The med is no longer recommended for the treatment of osteopenia as the risk (cancer) is not worth the benefit. It does not specify the type of cancer.
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rumnting - Who do you know with myeloma?: husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 4/9/11
- Age at diagnosis: 54
Re: Calcitonin salmon nasal spray for bone damage / pain
Thank you, rumnting
In reading the product insert that came with the nasal spray, I did see the link between its use and an increased risk of cancer, although, as you say, the type(s) of cancer was/were not specified. The data, based on a meta-analysis of a number of studies, showed a cancer rate of 4.1% among users of the drug compared to 2.9% for the placebo case.
This reminds me of the much-publicized elevated cancer risk among users of Revlimid, as well as the increased risk for osteonecrosis of the jaw among users of bisphosphonates like Zometa.
Still, the FDA has not banned the drug. I wonder what the evidence is for its effectiveness in strengthening bone and/or reducing bone pain. It does not sound like you personally derived much of a benefit during the years you took it. Is that the case?
Thanks again for your post.
In reading the product insert that came with the nasal spray, I did see the link between its use and an increased risk of cancer, although, as you say, the type(s) of cancer was/were not specified. The data, based on a meta-analysis of a number of studies, showed a cancer rate of 4.1% among users of the drug compared to 2.9% for the placebo case.
This reminds me of the much-publicized elevated cancer risk among users of Revlimid, as well as the increased risk for osteonecrosis of the jaw among users of bisphosphonates like Zometa.
Still, the FDA has not banned the drug. I wonder what the evidence is for its effectiveness in strengthening bone and/or reducing bone pain. It does not sound like you personally derived much of a benefit during the years you took it. Is that the case?
Thanks again for your post.
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MrPotatohead - Name: MrPotatohead
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: March, 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 65
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