Treatments for high calcium levels (hypercalcemia)
Hypercalcemia means there is too much calcium in the blood. Many people who have parathyroid cancer have hyperparathyroidism (overactive parathyroid glands) and then develop hypercalcemia.
Hypercalcemia can cause serious and life-threatening health problems. If you have it, treating it will be an important part of your treatment plan.
Treatment for hypercalcemia may include the following.
Replacing fluids
in the body treats dehydration (the loss of too much water). People who have
hypercalcemia are often dehydrated and need more fluids. Drugs called
Bisphosphonates are drugs that help slow the breakdown of bone, where calcium is stored. This helps to lower blood calcium levels. Find out more about bisphosphonates.
Calcitonin is a hormone that helps control the level of calcium in the blood. It is normally made by the thyroid, but it can also be made in a lab and taken as medicine. Calcitonin slows down the release of calcium from bones and increases how much calcium the kidneys release into the urine to leave the body.
Calcimimetics, such as cinacalcet, are drugs that signal to the body to make less PTH, which then lowers blood calcium levels.
Find out more about high calcium levels (hypercalcemia).
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