How it works:

Patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism produce too much parathyroid hormone (PTH). Normally, PTH makes sure that the body has just enough calcium and phosphorous in the blood to keep bones, heart, muscles, nerves and blood vessels working properly. Sensipar® lowers PTH by telling the parathyroid glands to stop releasing too much PTH into the blood. It also lowers calcium and phosphorous levels. Sensipar® is unique in that it lowers PTH directly at the parathyroid glands.

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Approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in March 2004, Sensipar® is an oral medication for the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism (HPT) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) on dialysis and for the treatment of elevated levels of calcium in patients with parathyroid carcinoma. To regulate parathyroid hormone (PTH), Sensipar® acts directly on the parathyroid gland calcium-sensing receptor.

Sensipar® lowers serum calcium; therefore, it is important that patients have a serum calcium > 8.4 mg/dL when initiating therapy.  Significant reductions in calcium may lower the threshold for seizures.  Secondary HPT patients, particularly those with a history of seizure disorder, should be carefully monitored for the occurrence of low serum calcium or symptoms of hypocalcemia. 

In Sensipar® postmarketing use, isolated, idiosyncratic cases of hypotension and/or worsening heart failure were reported in patients with impaired cardiac function.  The causal relationship to Sensipar® therapy could not be completely excluded and may be mediated by reductions in serum calcium levels. 

The most commonly reported side effects were nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.