Intranasal Salmon Calcitonin Effectively Reduces Pain Due to Spinal Collapse

Introduction

Pain is a common feature of bone diseases which arises due to rapid bone resorption or destruction.

Aim

To evaluate the analgesic effect of intranasal salmon calcitonin in the treatment of osteoporotic fractures of the spine.

Patient Profile

• Patients with 1-4 vertebral fractures diagnosed by clinical observation and by radiography of thoracolumbar spine
• N=18 (13 women & 5 men)
• Age 67 to 81 years

Methods

• Randomized, placebo controlled, double- blind pilot study
• Patients were randomized to receive
  • Salmon calcitonin nasal spray twice daily (BID) at 100 IU/activation/dose (200IU/day) (n=9)
  • Placebo containing carrier (n=9)
• Treatment for 4 weeks
• Visual analogue scale (1-10) was used to assess the pain at start and then weekly after intranasal administration of salmon calcitonin

Results

• Salmon nasal calcitonin significantly relieved pain within 7 days in bone pain due to osteoporotic vertebral fractures

• Intranasal salmon calcitonin significantly relieves pain within 7 days and continuously improves over time
  • The intensity of pain decreased with time in patients in both groups. However, significant lower pain score throughout 28 –day assessment was observed in patients treated with salmon calcitonin
• Intranasal salmon calcitonin significantly decreases the consumption of analgesic drugs within 7 days
• No significant side-effects were reported by either group during 4 week treatment

Conclusion

• Intranasal calcitonin significantly reduced pain of osteoporotic collapse of vertebrae
• Due to easy intranasal administration, it can be good option for patients requiring daily treatment for osteoporotic pain.

Clin Ther. 1989;11(2):205-9.