Sensipar (cinacalcet) is a medication used to manage hypoparathyroidism, a condition in which your parathyroid glands no longer produce hormones to regulate your body's calcium levels. This condition is prevalent if you receive dialysis (artificial method to rid your body of toxins) when you suffer from chronic kidney failure or parathyroid cancer. Sensipar also helps lower your elevated calcium levels.
Common Side Effects
In a placebo-controlled clinical trial of 656 patients receiving Sensipar, the National Library of Medicine reports that 31 percent had nausea, 27 percent experienced vomiting, 21 percent developed diarrhea, 15 percent had myalgia (muscle pain) and 10 percent had dizziness. Additionally, 7 percent developed hypertension (high blood pressure), 7 percent had asthenia (physical weakness) and 6 percent developed anorexia (loss of weight due to lack of eating).
Serious Side Effects
Sensipar can cause potentially life-threatening side effects. According to MedlinePlus, it can cause convulsions, infection at the site of dialysis and muscle constrictions in your throat, hands, feet or face. Sensipar can also cause burning and tingling of your tongue, lips, fingers or feet. Sensipar's other effects include fainting spells, rapid weight gain and trouble breathing. Call your doctor immediately should you experience these side effects.
According to the National Library of Medicine, Sensipar can cause hypocalcemia (low blood calcium levels). Hypocalcemia symptoms include muscle pain, numbness and tingling, convulsions and cramping.
Additional Concerns
Inform your doctor whether you suffer from liver problems, seizures, heart failure, heart disease, hypertension (high blood pressure) and heart irregularities such as palpitations (an irregular heartbeat). Sensipar may worsen these conditions or lead to the aforementioned side effects.
Drugs.com says you should avoid combining Sensipar with such medicines as chloroquine, isoniazid, imitanib, erythromycin, itraconazole, tamsulosin or diclofenac. Sensipar can interact with these drugs and provoke the aforementioned effects.
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