Calcitonin dosage

Calcitonin. Calcitonin is available commercially from pork and salmon extracts (Calcimar, Armour) as well as by synthesis. Preparations are bioassayed on the basis of their calcium-lowering activity in comparison to the potency of pure pork calcitonin of which ca 4 p.g is equivalent to 1 MRC unit (Medical Research Council, U.K.). For clinical use, vials containing 400 units in 4 mL are available. The recommended daily dosage is 100 units to be adrninistered subcutaneously or intramuscularly because its plasma half-life is short (4—12 min). 

The benzyl ester of hyaluronic acid (HYAFF 11) is a highly mucoadhesive polymer which can be processed into microspheres. Such microspheres containing salmon calcitonin were intravaginally administered to rats as a dosage form for the prevention of ovariectomy osteopenia [65]. In recent studies, HYAFF 11-salmon calcitonin microspheres were formulated as single-dose pessaries, resulting in sustained plasma concentrations of calcitonin [67]. 

Guggi, D., A.H. Krauland, and A. Bernkop-Schnurch. 2003. Systemic peptide delivery via the stomach in vivo evaluation of an oral dosage form for salmon calcitonin. J Control Release 92 125. 

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