Brand Name: Sensipar®
Active Ingredient: cinacalcet HCl
Strength(s): 30 mg, 60 mg, 90 mg
Dosage Form(s): Tablet
Company Name: Amgen, Inc.
Availability: Prescription only
Date Approved by FDA: March 8, 2004

What is Sensipar used for?        

Sensipar is used to treat patients:

•        with high levels of parathyroid hormone in their blood due to chronic kidney disease that requires dialysis.
•        with high levels of calcium in their blood due to cancer of the parathyroid gland.

Who should not take Sensipar?

Do not take Sensipar if you are allergic to Sensipar or to any of the ingredients in Sensipar.

Special Warning(s) with Sensipar:      

Sensipar lowers the amount of calcium in the blood.   Low calcium levels may increase the chance of seizures. Blood calcium levels should be checked often during treatment with Sensipar, especially in patients with a history of seizures.

General Precautions with Sensipar:

•        Patients should report the symptoms of low blood calcium right away.  Symptoms of low blood calcium include abnormal tingling sensations, muscle pain, cramping, spasms, and seizures.
•        Sensipar may cause bone disease if parathyroid hormone levels drop too low.
•        Patients with liver problems may need a lower dose of Sensipar.  Patients with liver problems should be monitored carefully during treatment with Sensipar.

What should I tell my health care provider?

Tell your health care provider if you:

•        have or had liver problems
•        have or had seizures
•        have or had problems with low blood calcium
•        are pregnant or trying to become pregnant
•        are breast-feeding.

Tell your health care provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.  Sensipar and other medicines may affect each other.   The dose of Sensipar and your other medicines may be adjusted to avoid serious side effects. Especially tell your health care provider if you take: 

•        Tambocor (flecainide)
•        vinblastine
•        thioridazine
•        Elavil (amitriptyline) or other medicines called tricyclic antidepressants
•        Nizoral (ketoconazole)
•        erythromycin
•        Sporanox (itraconazole)

What are some possible side effects of Sensipar? (This list is NOT a complete list of side effects reported with Sensipar.  Your health care provider can discuss with you a more complete list of side effects.) 

The most commonly reported side effects with Sensipar were nausea and vomiting.  Other side effects include:

•       diarrhea
•        muscle pain
•        dizziness
•        high blood pressure
•        weakness and tiredness
•        loss of appetite