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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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History Of Kidney Transplant. Taken Sensipar. Have Itching, Fatigue. Worried

Yes, please...I had a kidney transplant in July of 2012. Prior to the transplant I was on diaylis for 4 months. Sensipar helped immensely. I work for a fortune 500 company with good benefits. All of a sudden CVS mail order decided I did not need sensipar. They think that a drug company knows better than my team of doctors. I haven't had sensipar for a few months and the itching has returned a long with the fatigue. I am contact our senior vice president of benefits to find out why I can't get this drug. My calcium is at 11.4% and I am really afraid. Thanks.
Fri, 21 Jun 2013
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General & Family Physician 's  Response
Dear user, obviously you were suffering from chronic kidney disease. Secondary hyperparathyroidism is one of the common manifestation of CKD. In this condition your parathyroid gland becomes overactive and level of PTH hormone increases which ultimately raises your Serum calcium level (normal level 8.5-10.2 mg/dl). usually patient does not have any symptoms but sometimes he may feel itching, fatigue and bone pain due to bone loss (as seen in your case). Sensipar is given to suppress the parathyroid gland and lower the calcium level when patient is on dialysis. This drug is not approved for use when patient is not on dialysis.
Secondary hyperthyroidism gets corrected after kidney transplant and serum calcium come back to normal level. But sometime it may not happen and and hyperparathyroidism persists, a condition called tertiary hyperparathyroidism.
Remember, Excessive use of Sensipar may lower serum calcium too much causing life threatening side effects such as heart arrhythmias and seizure (convulsions), far more seroius than itching and bone loss.
So it needs close monitoring of serum calcium, phosporus and PTH level
In your case I would suggest complete work up of serum calcium, phosporus and PTH level and consultation with Nephrologist for further course of action
I hope I have simplified the information enough for you to understand.
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History Of Kidney Transplant. Taken Sensipar. Have Itching, Fatigue. Worried

Dear user, obviously you were suffering from chronic kidney disease. Secondary hyperparathyroidism is one of the common manifestation of CKD. In this condition your parathyroid gland becomes overactive and level of PTH hormone increases which ultimately raises your Serum calcium level (normal level 8.5-10.2 mg/dl). usually patient does not have any symptoms but sometimes he may feel itching, fatigue and bone pain due to bone loss (as seen in your case). Sensipar is given to suppress the parathyroid gland and lower the calcium level when patient is on dialysis. This drug is not approved for use when patient is not on dialysis. Secondary hyperthyroidism gets corrected after kidney transplant and serum calcium come back to normal level. But sometime it may not happen and and hyperparathyroidism persists, a condition called tertiary hyperparathyroidism. Remember, Excessive use of Sensipar may lower serum calcium too much causing life threatening side effects such as heart arrhythmias and seizure (convulsions), far more seroius than itching and bone loss. So it needs close monitoring of serum calcium, phosporus and PTH level In your case I would suggest complete work up of serum calcium, phosporus and PTH level and consultation with Nephrologist for further course of action I hope I have simplified the information enough for you to understand.