Patient/caregiver was instructed upon therapeutic uses of calcitonin as follows: Osteoporosis Senior citizens, post-menopausal women, and individuals with history of long-term steroid intake can present with increased resorption of bone, weakening of the skeletal structures, and osteoporosis. Administration of calcitonin in these individuals can help with increasing the deposition of calcium into the bone, thus contributing to a net increase in bone mass, thereby, strengthening the bones. Paget’s disease This is a condition of defective [...]

Patient/caregiver was instructed upon calcitonin and mechanism of action as follows: Calcitonin is a hormone produced by the c-cells of the thyroid gland, in response to elevated levels of serum calcium. Elevated levels of serum calcium stimulate synthesis of calcitonin from the thyroid gland. Calcitonin inhibits or slows down the resorption of bone, thus inhibiting the migration of calcium from the bone into the blood. Calcitonin also promotes renal excretion of calcium and phosphorus, thus helping [...]

Patient/caregiver was instructed upon regulation of serum calcium as follows: The serum calcium levels are regulated primarily by two hormones, parathyroid hormone and calcitonin. Also, vitamin D3 or calcitriol, contributes significantly to the regulation of the serum calcium levels. Low levels of serum calcium in the body stimulate increased synthesis of parathyroid hormone by the parathyroid glands. Increased parathyroid hormone secretion results in resorption of the bone and consequently, leads to mobilization of calcium and phosphorus [...]