Cinacalcet (Sensipar) lowers high parathyroid hormone levels in people with overactive parathyroid glands caused by different medical conditions, including parathyroid cancer. It's taken by mouth with food, typically once or twice daily. Some common side effects of cinacalcet (Sensipar) include nausea and vomiting. Your provider will order blood work regularly to check your calcium levels to make sure it doesn't drop to low and put you at risk for rare, but more serious side effects. Cinacalcet (Sensipar) is available as brand name and generic tablets.
High calcium levels from:
Overactive parathyroid that can't be removed by surgery
Overactive parathyroid in people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) who are on dialysis
Parathyroid hormone is the hormone in your body that controls how much calcium and phosphorus are in your blood. Sometimes, people have overactive parathyroid glands that releases too much parathyroid hormone. This leads to your body releasing more calcium and phosphorus into the blood.
Cinacalcet (Sensipar) is in a drug class called calcimimetics. It works on your parathyroid glands to lower the amount of parathyroid hormone they produce. In doing so, it lowers the amount of calcium and phosphorus in your body.
Source:Â DailyMed
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
Blurred vision
dizziness
headache
nervousness
pounding in the ears
slow or fast heartbeat
Less common
Convulsions
cough or hoarseness
fever or chills
loss of bladder control
lower back or side pain
muscle spasm or jerking of all extremities
painful or difficult urination
sudden loss of consciousness
Incidence not known
Abdominal or stomach cramps
confusion
decreased urine output
difficulty with breathing
difficulty with moving
dilated neck veins
dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
extreme fatigue
fainting
irregular breathing
irregular heartbeats
joint pain
large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
low bone turnover
mood or mental changes
muscle aching or cramping
muscle cramps in the hands, arms, feet, legs, or face
muscle pains or stiffness
numbness and tingling around the mouth, fingertips, or feet
sweating
swelling of the face, fingers, feet, or lower legs
swollen joints
tightness in the chest
troubled breathing
unusual tiredness or weakness
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Taken only once or twice a day
Can be used in people with kidney or liver problems
Available as a lower-cost generic medication
Not the first choice for treating high parathyroid hormone levels
Can cause calcium levels to become too low
Should be taken with food
Take your cinacalcet (Sensipar) tablet with food or shortly after a meal. Swallow it whole, and don't crush or chew it.
Store cinacalcet (Sensipar) tablets at room temperature.
Cinacalcet (Sensipar) commonly causes nausea and vomiting. Let your provider know if you experience these side effects.
Some medications, such as certain diuretics (water pills), can have the opposite effect of cinacalcet (Sensipar) and raise the level of calcium in your blood. Let your healthcare provider or pharmacist know about all the medications you're taking.
Some people benefit from taking vitamin D supplements, because vitamin D can help raise your calcium levels if they become too low. Check with your healthcare provider or pharmacist if this could help you.
Cinacalcet (Sensipar) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Risk factors: Heart problems | Seizures | Also taking medications that lower calcium levels
Cinacalcet (Sensipar) can cause low blood calcium levels. Your risk is higher if you're also taking other medications that can lower your calcium levels. Very low calcium levels can be life-threatening. Low calcium levels can affect your muscles, cause seizures, and change your heart's natural rhythm. You'll need to have regular lab work done to make sure you are doing well on cinacalcet (Sensipar). Let your healthcare provider know if you have a history of heart problems or seizures. Speak to your healthcare provider right away if you experience muscle cramps, muscle aches, confusion, tingling sensations in the fingers or lips, and abnormal heart beats.
Risk factors: History of ulcers | History of stomach problems
Some people have experienced stomach bleeds while taking cinacalcet (Sensipar). The cause isn't known, but your risk might be higher if you have a history of ulcers or stomach problems. Speak to your healthcare provider right away if you experience nausea or vomiting that doesn't go away, blood in your vomit or stool, black, tarry stools, or stomach pain.
Cinacalcet (Sensipar) can cause bone problems if your levels of parathyroid hormones are too low. Your healthcare provider will have you get regular lab work to check your PTH levels.
Risk factors: History of heart problems
Cinacalcet (Sensipar) can cause heart problems (low blood pressure or abnormal heart rhythms) in those with a history of heart conditions. Let your healthcare provider know if you have abnormal heartbeats, trouble breathing, swelling of the limbs, sudden weight gain, mental confusion, or if you feel tired most of the time.
Overactive parathyroid in CKD
The typical starting dose is 30 mg by mouth once daily with food or after a meal. Your provider will adjust the dose based on your parathyroid hormone levels, as well as blood calcium and phosphorus levels. The maximum dose is 180 mg once daily.
Overactive parathyroid and parathyroid cancer
The typical starting dose is 30 mg by mouth twice daily with food or after a meal. Your provider will adjust the dose based on your blood calcium levels. The maximum dose is 90 mg three to four times daily.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Very low calcium levels
High calcium levels from:
Overactive parathyroid that can't be removed by surgery
Overactive parathyroid in people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) who are on dialysis
Prevention and treatment of high parathyroid hormone levels for people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages 3, 4, or 5
Low calcium in people on dialysis
Secondary hyperparathyroidism in people not yet on dialysis
Low calcium in people with hypoparathyroidism or pseudohypoparathyroidism
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A-S Medication Solutions. (2023). Sensipar- cinacalcet hydrochloride tablet, coated [package insert]. DailyMed.
Goyal, A., et al. (2023). Hypocalcemia. StatPearls.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. (2019). Primary hyperparathyroidism.
National Kidney Foundation. (n.d.). Dialysis.
Shaker, J. L., et al. (2023). Calcium and phosphate homeostasis. Endotext.
You and Your Hormones. (2020). Parathyroid hormone.
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