Bethanechol Oral, Subcutaneous and Calcitonin

• Generic Name: bethanechol
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names: Duvoid, Urecholine

Bethanechol is taken to treat certain disorders of the urinary tract or bladder. It helps to cause urination and emptying of the bladder. Bethanechol may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Bethanechol is available only with your doctor's prescription.

• Generic Name: calcitonin
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names: Miacalcin, Fortical, Miacalcin Nasal

Treatment of Paget disease of bone. Consider treatment with calcitonin or a bisphosphonate (e.g., alendronate, etidronate, pamidronate, risedronate) in patients with biochemical markers suggestive of an increase in bone remodeling, those who are symptomatic, and those at risk for future complications from their disease (e.g., those with pagetic lesions in weight-bearing regions or adjacent to joints).

Early treatment of hypercalcemic emergencies (with other appropriate agents) when a rapid decrease in serum calcium concentration is required.

Treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis in women >5 years postmenopause.

In addition to adequate intake of calcium/vitamin D and other lifestyle modifications (e.g., exercise, avoidance of excessive alcohol and tobacco use), experts recommend that pharmacologic therapy for osteoporosis be considered in postmenopausal women with high risk of fractures (generally those who have experienced a previous hip or vertebral fracture or who have low BMD); pharmacologic therapy also may be considered in postmenopausal women with low bone mass, although there is less evidence supporting overall fracture risk reduction in such patients.

Use of a drug with proven antifracture efficacy is recommended; experts generally recommend calcitonin as a last-line therapy when other drugs are not effective or tolerated.

Individualize choice of therapy based on potential benefits (with respect to fracture risk reduction) and adverse effects of therapy, patient preferences, comorbidities, and risk factors.

Has been used in the treatment of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis; however, other therapies (e.g., oral bisphosphonates) are preferred.