Question about sensipar

[del]

Hubby has to start sensipar.  His PTH has been slowly creeping up this past year.  he is taking rocaltol but it is not working as well now.   What are some of the common side effects of this drug?  Neph wants him to still take the rocaltrol (vitamin D) with the sensipar. he has to have blood work done 7 days after he starts taking it.

[G-Ma]

I had nausea, almost like flu so I started taking the sensipar after a few bites of food and no problem.  I only had to take it for a month and so far low PTH, thank God.

[willieandwinnie]

del, this came from the WebMd site. Len was on it and did have muscle weakness. 

Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea, dizziness, or muscle pain may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.

Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: fast/pounding heartbeat, headache, unusual weakness, signs of infection (e.g., fever), severe or worsened bone/joint pain, burning/tingling of hands/feet, severe muscle spasms, mental/mood changes, seizures.

This medication can infrequently cause chest pain that is usually not serious. However, you may not be able to tell it apart from chest pain due to heart problems (e.g., heart attack). Therefore, seek immediate medical attention if you develop chest pain.

A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction may include: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.

[del]

sounds like the side effects of most drugs!!!!  hopefully he won't have any of the side effects.

[cherpep]

del - I was very nauseous.  It is extremely important to take it after eating something.   It lessened the nausea, but it still took about a month or so for me to finally be able to tolerate it.  Some people don't have this problem, but it hit me big time.

[twirl]

I could not take sensipar at all -- made me so sick
so later, I had that parathyroid surgery 

[del]

Thanks for the info. I checked with the pharmacy this afternoon. Still waiting to see if my insurance will cover it.  It will cost us $350 a month if not covered.  if covered $6!!!  I will buy it on Tues anyway even if it is not covered and deal with the insurance after!!!

[willowtreewren]

Check with your clinic BEFORE you get your prescription, Del. Ours had a coupon from Sensipar which they gave us AFTER the initial $350 hit to the budget. Now we don't pay a thing for it.

My husband had nausea for the first month. Then he must have acclimated to it. No more problems.

Aleta

[del]

I have to call the dialysis nurse on Monday and ask if I pay for this first month will I be reimbursed if the insurance approves it.

[RichardMEL]

Just a comment from the other side.

I have been on Sensipar 30mg (initial/lowest dose) for over a year now. This stuff is WONDERFUL!!! It has definitely lowered my PTH from 70odd down to 23.1 (I know the US figures are different - roughly multiply by 100) and has saved me from a parathyroidectemy being performed which I am pretty happy with (enough people want to cut my throat as it is !!  ).

I have had no issues with taking it at all. It is very easy to take and I've never had a side effect.

I also take rocotrol(calcitricol) and the only thing they've told me to do about that is have that at a different time of day to the sensipar. So I have the calcitricol at lunch time with my food and phosphate binder(renagel) and then have the sensipar with dinner, again with the renagel... and that's my daily routine.

So far it has been a bit of a miracle drug for me. My Calcium, Potassium and Phosphate levels are finally in the "normal" range all at the same time, and my PTH is down. Prior to that I had elevated calcium and there were signs of bone disease being caused by the elevated PTH.

As others here have said though some do have adverse reactions to it. I hope you don't, but do give it a go. It has made a world of difference to me.

Incidently it is only very new down here in Australia and when I was first put on it it required the authorisation of the Minister of Health (!) the forms were pretty awesome. Now it has been put on our PBS scheme so everyone who needs it can access it. I think patients like me have proved it's worthiness to the quacks and bean counters here

[del]

Good news!!!  Just had a call from the dialysis nurse and hubby doesn't have to take sensipar. Not yet anyway.  His PTH was over 600 but the test he had done a couple of weeks ago it was down to 380!!  He hasn't taken any sensipar!!!  The neph was writing the letter to get it covered by my insurance when the nurse got the results of the last test!!

[Wallyz]

I vomit exactly 90 minutes after taking sensipar.  Violently.

[bmevans]

Del,

On PD, I have had no problems with Sensipar, thank God.  Considering the tub of medications I have to take, I surely have to eat before hand.  Personally, if my PTH level is at 380, the doc will put me on Sensipar.  My co-pay was $35 a month but lately they have given me coupons that bring the cost down to $5.  Check into it if he ends up needing it.  It does work wonders!   

[Restorer]

Sensipar does make me somewhat nauseated. It's better if I eat something first.

Wallyz, that's exactly my reaction to hydrocodone (Vicodin). No one believes me - they offer me Vicodin, I tell them is makes me vomit, and they say, "Well, you need to eat something with it," rather than giving me something else.

[petey]

del -- I'm glad your hubby doesn't have to take Sensipar (one less pill of any kind is a good thing).  Marvin's been on Sensipar for a couple of years.  At first, he took it every other day, but now he takes it every day.  No side effects for Marvin -- thank goodness.