Adults with chronic kidney disease (condition in which the kidneys stop working slowly and gradually) who are receiving dialysis (medical procedure to clean the blood when the kidneys are not working properly) are treated for secondary hyperparathyroidism with etelcalcetide injection. Secondary hyperparathyroidism is a condition in which the body produces excessive amounts of parathyroid hormone (PTH; natural substance needed to control the amount of calcium in the blood). Etelcalcetide injection belongs to the group of drugs known as calcimimetics. In order to lower the level of calcium in the blood, it signals the body to create less parathyroid hormone.

A solution (liquid) to be injected intravenously (into a vein) is how etelcalcetide injection is delivered. It is typically administered by a doctor or nurse at the dialysis centre three times each week at the conclusion of each dialysis session.

Your doctor will likely start you on an average dose of etelcalcetide injection and gradually increase or decrease it, not more frequently than once every four weeks, depending on how your body responds to the medication.

Ask your doctor or chemist for more details if you believe this drug should be used for something else.

Before receiving etelcalcetide injection,

• If you have an allergy to etelcalcetide, any other medications, or any of the substances in etelcalcetide injection, let your doctor and chemist know right away. Request a list of the ingredients from your chemist.
• Inform your doctor and chemist about any additional prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products you are now taking or intend to use. Additionally, let your doctor or chemist know if you are currently taking cinacalcet (Sensipar) or have recently stopped using it. Your physician might need to adjust the dosage of your drugs or keep a close eye on you for side effects.
• Inform your doctor if you have or have ever had long QT syndrome, heart failure, low potassium or magnesium levels in the blood, seizures, stomach ulcers, any type of irritation or swelling of the stomach or oesophagus (tube that connects the mouth and stomach), or severe headaches. Long QT syndrome increases the risk of developing an irregular heartbeat that may cause loss of consciousness or sudden death.
• Inform your doctor if you are expecting, intend to get pregnant, or are nursing a baby. Call your doctor if you get pregnant while having etelcalcetide injection.
• Inform the surgeon or dentist that you are receiving an etelcalcetide injection if you are undergoing surgery, including dental surgery.

Keep eating normally unless your doctor instructs you otherwise.

This drug is only administered in conjunction with your dialysis regimen. If you are unable to attend a scheduled dialysis treatment, skip the missing dosage and resume your regular dosing regimen at the following appointment.

The injection of etelcalcetide may have negative effects. If any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away, let your doctor know right once:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Headache

Some adverse effects can be very harmful. Call your doctor right away if you encounter any of these symptoms, or seek emergency care:

• Rash
• Hives
• Itching
• The facial swelling
• Feeling of tingling, prickling, or burning on the skin
• Discomfort or muscle spasms
• Seizures
• Unsteady heartbeat
• Fainting
• Breathing difficulty
• Weakness
• Unanticipated, unforeseen weight increase
• Ankle, leg, or foot edoema that is either new or getting worse
• Reddish blood in the vomit
• Poop that resembles coffee grounds
• Faeces that are dark, tarry, or vivid crimson

Other negative effects of etelcalcetide injection are possible. If you experience any strange issues while taking this medicine, contact your doctor right away.

You or your doctor can submit a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting programme online at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch or by phone at 1-800-332-1088 if you suffer a serious side event.

Call the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 in the event of an overdose. Additionally, information can be found online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. Call 911 right once if the person has collapsed, experienced a seizure, is having difficulty breathing, or cannot be roused.

Keep all of your appointments with your physician and the lab. To monitor your body’s reaction to the etelcalcetide injection, your doctor will request specific lab tests both before and after your therapy.

Ask your pharmacist any inquiries you may have regarding the injection of etelcalcetide.

You should keep a written record of every medication you take, including any over-the-counter (OTC) items, prescription drugs, and dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals. This list should be brought with you whenever you see a doctor or are admitted to the hospital. You should always have this information with you in case of emergencies.