Cinacalcet

Description

Cinacalcet is a calcimimetic agent, a medicine that mimics or copies the actions of calcium on the tissues. It is used to treat secondary hyperparathyroidism (overactivity of the parathyroid glands causing an increased amount of parathyroid hormone in the blood) if you have serious kidney conditions and are being treated with dialysis (a procedure to remove waste products and excess fluid from the blood). It is also used to treat hypercalcaemia (high blood calcium levels) associated with parathyroid cancer (cancer of the glands in the neck). Cinacalcet can cause side effects like back pain, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, etc. Consult your doctor if these side effects persist or worsen. Avoid driving vehicles and operating machines after taking this medicine, as this medicine can make you feel dizzy. Cinacalcet should be taken with food or shortly after a meal. Your doctor will determine the dose and duration of treatment based on your condition. Avoid taking more or less than the prescribed dose. Do not stop taking this medication without consulting your doctor, as it may further worsen your condition. Cinacalcet is not recommended if you are allergic to it. Inform your doctor about your current medications and pre-existing medical conditions before taking this medicine to make sure it is safe for you. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, consult your doctor before taking this medicine.

Side effects

Major & minor side effects for Cinacalcet

  • Headache
  • Difficult or painful urination
  • Fever or chills
  • Lower back or side pain
  • Muscle spasm
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea or Vomiting
  • Diarrhoea
  • Blurred vision
  • Loss of appetite

Uses of Cinacalcet

What is it prescribed for?

  • Secondary Hyperparathyroidism
  • Hypercalcemia of malignancy
  • Primary Hyperparathyroidism
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Concerns

Commonly asked questions

  • Onset of action
    The amount of time required for Cinacalcet to show its action is not clinically established.
  • Duration of effect
    The time duration for which Cinacalcet remains active in the body is not clinically established.
  • Safe with alcohol?
    Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
  • Is it habit forming?
    No habit-forming tendencies were reported for Cinacalcet.
  • Usage in pregnancy?
    Due to the lack of safety data, Cinacalcet is not recommended for use during pregnancy unless necessary. Consult your doctor if you are pregnant.
  • Usage while breast-feeding?
    Due to the lack of safety information, Cinacalcet is not recommended for use while breastfeeding.

Allergy

Cinacalcet is not recommended if you are allergic to it. Seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms such as skin rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, breathing difficulty, etc.

Hypocalcemia

Cinacalcet is not recommended for use if you have hypocalcaemia (low blood calcium levels) as it may further worsen your condition.
Warnings for special population

Pregnancy

Due to the lack of safety data, Cinacalcet is not recommended for use during pregnancy unless necessary. Consult your doctor if you are pregnant.

Breast-feeding

Due to the lack of safety information, Cinacalcet is not recommended for use while breastfeeding.
General warnings

Chronic kidney disease without being treated with dialysis

Cinacalcet is not recommended for use in people having chronic kidney conditions who are not being treated with dialysis due to the increased risk of hypocalcaemia (low blood calcium levels).

Gastrointestinal bleeding

Cinacalcet should be used with caution if you have stomach and intestinal conditions causing gastrointestinal bleeding as it may further worsen your condition.

Adynamic bone disease

Adynamic bone disease is a bone disorder associated with kidney conditions. It causes alteration in bone morphology and bone formation. This may increase the risk of fractures and other bone-related problems. Cinacalcet should be used with extreme caution as the suppression of parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels beyond a certain limit (100 pg/ml) may increase the risk of adynamic bone disease. Your doctor will monitor your PTH levels closely during treatment with this medicine and adjust your dose if necessary.

Low blood calcium levels

Cinacalcet may cause an increased risk of low blood calcium levels. Hence your doctor will closely monitor your blood calcium levels while you are taking this medicine.

Use in children

Cinacalcet is not recommended for use in children less than 18 years of age as the safety and efficacy data are not clinically established.

Driving or operating machines

Cinacalcet can cause dizziness. Hence avoid performing activities that require mental alertness such as driving vehicles or operating machines.

Missed Dose

Take the missed dose of Cinacalcet as soon as you remember. If it is time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Do not double your dose to make up for the missed dose.

Overdose

Never take more than the prescribed dose. Seek emergency medical treatment in case of an overdose of Cinacalcet.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol

Description

Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.

Instructions

Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine

Amitriptyline

Pimozide

Carvedilol

Clarithromycin

Tamoxifen

Thioridazine

Fluvoxamine

Disease interactions

Seizures

Cinacalcet should be used with extreme caution if you have a history of seizures (sudden, abnormal electrical disturbances in the brain causing uncontrolled jerking of the body) as it may trigger or aggravate the condition.

Hypotension

Cinacalcet may alter the blood pressure and should be used with caution if you have hypotension (low blood pressure). Monitor your blood pressure frequently while you are taking this medicine.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Take Cinacalcet with food. Do not break, chew, or crush the tablet in your mouth. Swallow as a whole with plenty of water. Follow all the instructions given on the prescription label/packing insert. Do not take more or less than the recommended dose of Cinacalcet. Take this medicine for the recommended duration. Do not discontinue this medication abruptly without consulting your doctor. Take Cinacalcet at the same time every day for the ease of remembering. Consult your doctor immediately if you experience any side effects that persist or worsen. Keep Cinacalcet away from the reach of children and pets. Ensure that the unused or expired medicine is disposed of properly. Your doctor may suggest frequent blood tests to monitor your blood calcium levels during treatment with this medicine. Other vitals like blood pressure may also be evaluated from time to time.
Miscelleneous

To be taken with food

To be taken as instructed by doctor

Effect on sleep is not established

How it works
Cinacalcet works by stopping the excess production of the parathyroid hormone by the parathyroid glands, which also helps control calcium and phosphorous levels in the body.
Legal Status

Approved

Approved

Approved

Approved

Classification

Category

Calcimimetics

Schedule

Schedule H

Drugs, H., 2022. Cinacalcet: MedlinePlus Drug Information. [online] Medlineplus.gov. Available at: [Accessed 6 April 2022].

https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a605004.html

Medicines.org.uk. 2022. Mimpara 30 mg Film-coated Tablets - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - (emc). [online] Available at: [Accessed 6 April 2022].

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/5599/smpc#

Ebs.tga.gov.au. 2022. TGA eBS - Product and Consumer Medicine Information Licence. [online] Available at: [Accessed 6 April 2022].

https://www.ebs.tga.gov.au/ebs/picmi/picmirepository.nsf/pdf?OpenAgent&id=CP-2010-PI-05724-3&d=2018072716114622483

Accessdata.fda.gov. 2022. [online] Available at: [Accessed 6 April 2022].

https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2011/021688s017lbl.pdf

Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2022. DailyMed - SENSIPAR- cinacalcet hydrochloride tablet, coated. [online] Available at: [Accessed 6 April 2022].

https://www.dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=45028573-13c4-4c8b-ae62-6c75bba97c81

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Information on this page was last updated on 27 Jun 2022

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