Mechanism of action
Calcitonin is involved with parathyroid hormone in the regulation of bone turnover and hence in the maintenance of calcium balance and homoeostasis. It is used to lower the plasma calcium concentration in some patients with hypercalcaemia (notably when associated with malignant disease). In the treatment of severe Paget’s disease of bone it is used mainly for relief of pain but it is also effective in relieving some of the neurological complications, for example deafness.