Pharmaceutical companies are constantly trying to outdo each other and to come up with new patentable drugs for diseases that already have existing drug treatments.. A good example of this is teriparatide, or Forteo in the US (Forsteo abroad), a new class of osteoporosis drug known as anabolic agents. This daily injectable drug was approved by the FDA in 2002.
Forteo is an incomplete synthetic or man-made form of the human parathyroid hormone (PTH). You see, human PTH has 84 amino acid residues but teriparatide has only 34. Teriparatide has become the osteoporosis drug of choice mainly for patients who can’t tolerate bisphosphonates, have failed to improve with bisphosphonate therapy, or suffer from extreme bone loss.
As touted on the drug’s insert, Forteo “increases bone mineral density and bone strength.”
Many unanswered questions
But the puzzling catch with Forteo is that the way in which it works remains a mystery. This is openly acknowledged by its maker, pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly and Company. The drug’s brochure states that “the role of PTH in control of bone mass is still not really understood” and that “intermittent spikes of PTH, such as given by daily injection, will cause more increase in bone formation than in bone resorption… This has been shown in rats.”
Unfortunately, what has also been shown in rats is the development of osteosarcoma, a lethal bone cancer caused by an abnormal proliferation of osteoblasts or bone-forming cells. Below, I quote again from Eli Lilly’s pamphlet (https://pi.lilly.com/us/forteo-medguide.pdf):
“During the drug testing process, the medicine in Forteo caused some rats to develop a bone cancer called osteosarcoma. In people, osteosarcoma is a serious but rare cancer. Osteosarcoma has been reported rarely in people who took Forteo. It is not known if people who take Forteo have a higher chance of getting osteosarcoma.”
Because of this serious side effect risk, Forteo is prescribed for a maximum of two years. This is as close as one can get to playing Russian roulette! Who would trade a potential fracture for the awful risk of acquiring a lethal cancer? And as if this were not enough, teriparatide has a long list of nasty side effects such as joint and chest pain, muscle pain and weakness, esophageal problems, nausea, and vomiting. Plus having to inject oneself subcutaneously each and every day is most certainly no picnic.
Exorbitant price tag leads to exorbitant profits
The unanswered questions don’t seem to hamper Forteo’s skyrocketing success. According to drug-industry analysts, an estimated 600,000 prescriptions were written in 2005, which generated more than $350 million in revenue. And in 2008, Eli Lilly reported $778 million in sales. (https://newsroom.lilly.com/ReleaseDetail.cfm?releaseid=362195).
Indeed, the future looks bright for Forteo. As predicted by Pharmacor’s June 2009 osteoporosis report, by 2018 Forteo sales may reach close to the $2 billion mark.
One easy way to explain these numbers is Forteo’s exorbitant price tag. It costs nearly eight times as much as bisphosphonates, running up a tab of about $6,700 a year. That’s a pretty high cost for a drug whose mechanism is not even remotely understood!
Doctors ignore ignorance?
Another puzzling aspect of this drug is that while doctors openly admit their ignorance regarding how it works, they choose to prescribe it anyway.
Dr. Roberto Pacifici, head of the division of endocrinology at Emory University School of Medicine, comments that “…how intermittent treatment (with teriparatide) works has remained a mystery”. (https://whsc.emory.edu/home/news/releases/2009/09/bone-building-hormone.html).
This is clearly a rather unusual and perplexing situation to say the least.
And it sounds like a job for Agent 4T0…
Mission: Impossible
Remember the TV series with this name? I used to be a big fan of Mission: Impossible. Each episode began with secret recorded instructions to the brave agents describing a very complex and often dangerous mission. The agents could decide whether to accept the mission or not. Of course, the fearless members of the Impossible Mission Force (IMF) never walked away and in the end, always succeeded. But here's what happens when a reluctant osteoporosis drug is the agent chosen for the mission… Read my Mission: Impossible spoof below:
“Good morning, Mr. Paratide. Your mission, should you decide to accept it, comes from the top boss, Big P.”
“You can call me Terry… What is my mission?”
“First, from now on your new name is Agent 4T0. Your mission is to strengthen this patient's bones and report back to us detailing exactly what you did. And you have to report back to us fast, 4T0. Time is running out.”
“Well, I may be able to strengthen the bones, but I have no idea of what I'm doing! Big P knows that we've been trying to find out without success. I need written instructions!”
“You’re the ACTIVE INGREDIENT, for crying out loud! Plus Big P has given you a team of helpers…”
“What… you mean the Inactive Ingredients? I don’t see how glacial acetic acid, sodium acetate, mannitol, metacresol, and hydrochloric acid can help me. They’re INACTIVE, remember?”
“Stop acting like a coward, 4T0. Here’s a little secret for you: metacresol is highly flammable and poisonous – even lethal in the right dose. It can help you solve this mystery if anyone gets in your way. So get creative and solve it once and for all.”
“I’m not a fighter! I’m just a synthetic wannabe, I don’t know what to say…”
“Remember our motto: Ignorance is Strength. You don’t have to know anything… nobody has to know anything… that’s our strength, 4T0. Big P’s survival depends on ignorance. Just invent something and Big P will make sure that everyone will take our word for it.”
“Yes, I know that's the way we've been operating in the past, but now people are waking up real fast…Why me, why me?”
“This tape will self-destruct in five seconds.”
“Oh, nooooooo!”
So there you have it.
Were you prescribed Forteo? Even if you weren't, please share your experiences, thoughts, and comments with the community below.
I want to know of a natural to build bone density.
I have been on forteo for 2 months. I had a fractured vertebre and all the tests proved I had a severe case of osteoporosis. They did a plasty for my fracture. I don’t really know how this will go with the forteo but I haven’t seem to have any side effects that I can recognize as yet. I do experience pain around my waist and lower back. When I lay down in bed at night I experience bad pain at first and then as I relax the pain subsides but if I move or try to lay on my side it hurts. Well I enjoy reading what others are experiencing. I shocked by all this because Im 59 years young and have never had anything like this to ever happen. I’ve always been healthy and then this. Not complaining, just surprised. It could be worst.
Search for Forteo success stories. They’re out there and I am proof. It worked great for me!
Thank you! I needed to hear a success story this morning because I am determined to at least give Forteo a chance. If the side effects worsen I can always stop. But I’ve tried everything else (to include acupuncture and “cupping” which is very painful) so I want to see if this might be what finally helps me. So thank you so much for giving me a little hope today.
Hi Vivian, this is an excellent article, I was prescribed Forteo two years back, I did my research and decided not to take it…as you said, I am not going to risk to have bone cancer because of the possibility of getting a fracture in the future, maybe will never happen. Besides my osteoporosis problem I have always been a very healthy woman, I am 56 years now…I prefer to live less years than to submitt myself to all these drugs that who knows what can bring me in the future. Keep up the good word educating people, we usually believe what doctors say without questioning and there is a lot of $$$$$$$$$ behind all these drugs.
I’ve been on Forteo for four months. I have had an occasional headache, upset stomach, etc., but I cannot say that Forteo caused them. I have also been on an alkaline diet for three months yet find that eating the same foods can cause opposite pH results in my urine tests. My judgement is that there is not enough science to support the alkaline hypothesis and that there may be a psychosomatic effect with those using Forteo.
Hi John! I have had osteoperosis for 9 1/2 years. I took fosomax for 9 months and acquird GERD. To this day, I have problems with my vocal cords and voice. For the last 8 1/2 years I have taken a high dose of Calcium Citrate w/Vitamin D. Last week my Osteoperosis Specialist recommened I take Forteo. I am so afraid to to any pharmacutical drugs due to the side effects. I know we are individuals and are affected by drugs in different ways. I wish I knew what to do! Any advise would be appreciated.
Don’t do it
Ask your doctor.
I have been taking forteo since aug 2010 and prev from aug to nov 2009.
stopped because gave me more pain in back and all leg joints, I also have RA and asked if that could effect that condition, they said no.Dex scan was low so decided to try Forteo again, same situation, but kept taking it. I am still having pain and wondering if the drug can grow bone where I don’t want it, my fingers for example. My back is still painful at times, next bone scan is Sept, I have to get off of it then and now fearful of reclast, I have taken fosamax, actinel, daiky, then weekly and then monthly. Have also taken calcitonin nasal spray, all of this for 12 years. Have had 3 fractured vet in back and then bone glue,,,was 5-7, now 5-4, WHERE DO I GO NOW//////. i THINK FORTEO HAS NOT HELPED ME
HELP
KIP
I am 59 years old and have severe osteoporosis brought on by a hyperparathyroid ten yers ago. My specialist wants me to start taking Forteo for two years. Because I am still working, it is probable that I could get most of the cost covered. I am still researching and evaluating, but I must say that this drug terrifies me.
I was on Forteo for 2 years and was extremely compliant. The only side effect I had was some weight gain at the very first and I have still not gotten it back off. It was approximately 8 pounds. I had my DEXA scan yesterday after having completed the Forteo. I had excellent results, in fact my doctor who is over the Osteoporosis Clinic at a very well known clinic said it was the best results she had ever seen. I had severe osteoporosis and now am considered to have osteopenia. Because I take hormones, I will not go to another osteoporosis drug treatment. I am to go back in one year to reevaulate and take another DEXA scan to see if things are going the same. (she said the hormones I am taking is a bone stabilizer). Please research this and consider taking this drug. I am so pleased that I did, because my doctor said that previouslyI was a big risk for fractures which I had in the past. I am very excited.
I agree with you. Forteo helped me immensely. At the age of 42, I had the bones of an 80-year-old. I had good eating and exercise habits. I’ve always had a great shape. I tried natural ways to improve bone density, but the problem was too severe. I also tried calcium and mag supplements. I also tried fosamax. Nothing made any difference – until I took Forteo. After 18 months of shots, my DEXA showed NO sign of osteoporosis or even osteopenia.
Forteo worked great for me.
Do you work for Forteo?
I took foteo for 2 weeks had a 24 hour a day killer headache and exteme bone pain especially in the thigh bones.
Dear Vivian,
Thank you very much for your great information, I have learned a lot. I love you very much,I will say like our Queen, Long live Vivian so that many more people you can help.
love,
Juvy
I have taken Forteo daily for a year and a half and have had no side effects. I had taken Actonel for years and then Fosamax and then a generic Fosamax. The generic one caused lots of gas and was making for some difficulties at work, as you can imagine. My bones continued to deteriorate during these many years, instead of improve — even though I went regularly to the gym and watched to include a bone-healthy diet. I looked for something else and Forteo is what they came up with. I will stop at the two year point. I just had a bone density test (after the 1 1/2 yrs. on Forteo injections) and the osteoporosis in my hips has improved somewhat for the first time since I began trying to treat it. I hope I don’t get bone cancer. So far, so good. Forteo is difficult to travel with. Otherwise it is not a problem. Good luck everyone!
Dear June! I am very afraid to take Forteo!!! My doctor recommended this RX as well. What type of hormone are you taking that stabalizes your bones, if I may ask? Your assistance is appreciated. Thank you! Congratuations on your positive results.
First of all I would like to introduce a CONTROVERSIAL topic. What if these DEXA scan machines are rigged to give these Hazard indications on most scans???? Just a question.
Doctors seem to be telling almost every single person writing, whether following a healthy lifestyle or not, that they are just about to collapse like a shattered pane of glass.
Furher, Vivian, won’t you write something about the benefits of taking silica as a supplement extracted from horsetail. From what I’ve read, it helps the body to absorb bone-building minerals like calcium, magnesium and others better.
Kind regards
Johanita
I am suspicious as well.
Oh my God. And you were once abducted by aliens, too, right?
Can you tell me about Miacalcin as I never see anything about it. I could not take any of the other medication and my Dr. says it is not very good but better than nothing.
Thanks,
Blanche
Just saw the Rheumatologist 2 days ago. I have refused Fosamaz, Fosavan, Methotrexate/
Sulfasalazine,. The latter caused me to fall and brake a colorbone,fell again and broke a finger. 5 falls in less than one month.I went off this drug also about 1 month ago also. She said it was the RA. that caused the falls not the drug?
She now wants me to start Leflunomide(Arava- a “cousin”to Fosamax) What am I?An experiment! I am hoping someone can inform me of Traumeel,which I am now taking untill I can see my holistic doctor in Toronto,Ontario?
Love this website,because you know, you are not alone.
Thank you,
Heidi.
I am in need of a drug now for my osteoporosis and Forteo was one that has been suggested. I have been questioning the Drs. and they are
furious with me as they do not want to be questioned. They just want you to say yes you will take the drug of their choice. Forteo or
Evista and I have said NO to both. I took
Fosamax for 2 years and it did a reversal on me.
Hi Vivian; Never knew a persistent cough could
be a side effect of the bone drugs. Perhaps
that is where mine came from! Always some new
information from your emails and these
comments. Louise
After reading all that literature on Forteo, I refuse to take any of those drugs….I learned the hard way when I took Boniva for 2 months and suffered knee and leg problems…my doctor wanted me to go on a different medication, but I refused…that being said, he is not happy with me. Vivian’s program is my saving grace.
Nothing like doing things the natural way. Doctors should experiment on themselves before passing on the poison to others!!
Here here I agree with you, if the doctors took it and got the side effects they’d know what patients are telling them , don’t give them to me !!!!
I am a70 year old women with a muscel diese called polymyositis ,have osteoporisis, ws on Fosamax for 4 years then went on boniva for 4 years. Bone Density real bad. Had stress fracture insept 2009, broke angle june 2010, heart attack July 2010. Dr. wnts me to take forteo but I’m scared of side effects.Also the drug called Prolia was a possability but afraid of that to. I have refused and Dr. not happy,so Ibought your book and have been following your suggetions, I eat healthy and belong to a gym and exercise regulary. I feel good and take calcium +D, omega 3, b12,multi vit, I hope I will improve my bone density.
Good for you, Jane! You’ve taken your health into your own hands and are on the right track.
How’d that fracture feel?
My husband was percribed Forteo. He has been on Fosamax for three years and had a follow up bone scan. Our dr. said his bones loss was about the same or worse and gave him Forteo.
Now he gave him this drug without any warning of the side effects, and of course my husband is one of those who does what the dr says – started injecting himself.
I on the other hand read and what I read scared me to death of this drug. We started researching and even called Lilly wanting to know just how many cases of cancer had been reported and if you did not take the drug for the full two years, what benifits were or were not seen. Lilly was not helpful – but we did come accross several reports.
Seem the FDA approved this drug conditionally – as they stopped the testing on humans before the two years was up because of the cancer possiblity (50% of the rates got cancer) so they want everybody taking the drug to be in a program where they can moniter your progress.
We also found a report where 76% of women had some bone gain but only 26% of men, and all of them loss there gain once they stopped Forteo.
Even while taking Forteo, maxium bone gain is at about 4 months then you again start to lose bone mass.
Just not worth the risk. Break a bone or die of cancer
For the record my experience with Forteo was quite the opposite, and was in fact, in line with what Lilly’s clinical testing had shown: bone density improved markedly for both years, and CONTINUED to improve for at least the next year. Measured density improvement was about double the best bisphophonates like Fosamax can achieve, and I’m an expert veteran there. I also had no noticeable side effects.
I’m a 58-year old male who was diagnosed with borderline osteoporosis at age 43, apparently due to a life-long excretion of too much calcium in my urine of idiopathic (unknown and undiagnosable) origin. My doctor was the leading bone endocrinologist at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles who did what he knew: he started me on bisphophonates. After a year I went on to Fosamax, which had just been approved, and took it for at least 5 years, at which point the “density gain” plateaued and I switched to Forteo. After 2 years of that back to Fosamax.
Until last year when I suffered a stress fracture in my foot, which is probably due to the way bisphophonates work. So now I’m off everything but plenty of calcium citrate, magnesium, and Vitamin K2 on top of a good diet and exercise. My bones may measure more dense, but now we know the truth. Even my current endocrinologist at Cedars acknowledges this.
I was just curious, how much calcium citrate do you take daily? I was told I should be on Forteo, too and I refused. Now my doctor is extremely upset with me(?)and I will not go back to her. I would like to just take calcium and look into the more natural way of helping myself. I’m just not sure of the dosage and I’m really afraid to ask her.
I took Forteo for 59 days. The injection was not a prpoblem, but at the end of 59 days I was a real basket case with problems of cognition and a lot of extreme fatigue. Fortunately I discontinued the drug and have recovered. One friend discontinued Forteo because of a build-up of calcium in her blood. Another discontinued it because she could not handlethe injection process with her shaky hands.
I stopped taking Forteo after being on it for 10 months. My doctor who prescribed it for me said nothing when I told her I didn’t want to do the shots anymore. Did she find out more info and didn’t want to say ??? I wonder…………
I have been on Fosomax, Actonel, and now Boniva. My endochrinologist wants me to continue with the Boniva but my rheumatologist says I should discontinue the Boniva and start taking Forteo. I’m so confused I don’t know what to do and really don’t want to take either of them! Please help!!!!
Recently visited my dentist & he asked if I was on Boniva. He no longer treats patients taking this drug as when he needs to make an extraction/or serious dental work he’s found that the jaw bone l dissolves. I also took Fosamax for 2 years & stopped as I developed a chronic cough, then tried Actonel which made the cough even worse. That’s been 12 years ago & I’m still coughing. Have been through every test/med possible but won’t go away. Said I’d just have to deal with it & that I was lucky it wasn’t something worse…….
My mom took fosomax several years ago (2003) and ended up with lymphoma. She stopped taking it, had chemo, and was fine. Now she has been on forteo for about a year or so, and guess what?, she’s got lymphoma again. Is this a coincidence, or what? Can these drugs cause lymphoma?
Thank you for all your info,
Jan Carr
I was put on Fosamax, as my doctor had said my bones were like crystal. I could not take that and was put on Evista and the bone density got worse. Then tried Miacalcin, but that didn’t help.In the meantime,was having, very bad pains in my back and could not stand or walk, very far.Then had back surgery, where they put in a rod and screws, plus taking out some bone.I still have pain, but better than it was. Before the surgery, I had Osteoporosis and took Forteo, for 13 months, before I could have the surgery. Now I have Osteopenia, except in my left wrist, which is still Osteoporosis. I have been on Actonel for some time, and finally, stopped taking it, a few weeks ago.I haven’t told my doctor, as yet. He had told me, if I stopped taking the Actonel, that I would lose, all, that I had gained from the Forteo. Iknow, he is not going to like this. I have Acid Reflux, pretty bad, and take Omeprazole for it, but sometimes, it still bothers me.I was wondering, Vivian, if the natural hormones would be helpful to the bone density.I am 85 years old.Thank you, so much for all your help.
thank you for all your infomation i read it dayly .Ido not take any medication, Have been eating fruit and take a lot of vitamins daily ,I have to say i realy do feel different .Thank you
I was prescribed Forteo 7 years ago after 4 years on Fosamax failed to stop a downward trend on my bone density tests. I was 55 at the time. I had no side effects, and my t-scores improved into the osteopenia range. I continued to use Forteo for the full 2 years. I was told that I had to resume Fosamax or I would lose all the benefits of Forteo. Now I will go to a specialist to help me make a decision about continuing the Fosamax. BTW, while on Forteo, a person’s calcium level has to be monitored by an endocrinologist or other specialist, and it will probably be necessary to decrease any calcium supplements that are being taken.
My doctor has tried to get me to go on Forteo but I have refused because of the high cost and the possibility of osteocarcinoma…I have already gone through breast cancer and I sure don’t want to go through bone cancer.I would rather have a fracture.
Hi Vivian. My Dr got quite upset when i told him i was not going on any drugs for oesteporosis and was treating myself with exercise and diet.IT is my choice and responsibility so why did he get so upset?
I feel great and have noticed i do not have as many joint pains since following the diet.
This is for me.
Thanks Cathy
I am confused about Strontium. David Wolfe is very much for it. My Naturopath is for it. My friend’s doctor suggested it. BUT Vivian is against it. Why?
I was prescribed Actonel and researched the side effects and decided not to take it. Two years later and a bone density test and now I am told I have gone from a risk of osteoporosis to osteoporosis in the spine! My doctor suggested 2 choices Aclasta , one shot a year or Forteo , daily ingections for 24 months. I researched these drugs and talked to a friend, a retired nurse who researches drugs,she sent me information from Dr. Dean and I found you on line. I was also fortunate to meet a Dr of Pharmacy who has become a herbalist, Dr. Al Bailey and he congratulated me on researching the drug! I appreciate your research and am fortunate to have so many good people in my corner.
Carole
Dear Carol! I was recommended by my osteoperosis doctor, I should take Fotea. I AM SO TERRIFIED TO TAKE THIS RX!!! I do not take prescriptio drugs at all and 9 1/2 years ago when 1st diagnosed with osteoperosis, I took Fosomax for 9 months. UGH!!! I acquired GERD and have had problems with vocal cords and acid reflux ever since. If you have any other information that your friends gave you regardig alternative therapy, would you consider sharing with me your information? Thank you so much.
This is an interesting website, yet I doubt the scientific validity of some of the statements. I am a 56 year old white male, with idiopathic osteoporosis. Part of the cause maybe due to low free testosterone, but I still remain a faithful heterosexual sex maniac.
Forteo really has worked for me, and I am on my second round after two years off of it. The Fosamax like drugs are indeed toxic to bone.
Recent research out of New Zealand states that calcium supplements do nothing to help bone health, but do increase the risk of heart disease by 30%. In summary, no one is getting out alive, so might as well do the research and take the best that science has to offer, which right now is Forteo.
Kind regards,
Boning up in Atlanta
wow…no one told me you can take Forteo twice…I was told …no no….after forteo…reclast…hey guy…uoi sound interesting tell me more…why a second round….did round one not last ????
What do you mean, your second round of Forteo. I was told by an Eli Lilly rep that you can only take it for 2 years for a whole lifetime. I am trying to decide whether to take it for the first time; I questions anything that cannot be used after 2 years though.
Hi! Vivian
I Myself Am Trying To Replace All My Prescriptions With Herbal And/Or Natural Equivalents. I Had Bad Side Effects With A Lot Of Them. I Haven’t Been Diagnosed With Osteoporosis Yet. But I Don’t Plan To Take Any Prescription Drugs For It, If I’m Ever Diagnosed With It.
LOVE, L.
I hear (read) you & appreciate the article. After 2 years & 3 spinal fractures ,one as the result of lifting a lightweight plastic porch chair…….despite having studied nursing and read the forteo insert with a fine tooth comb & several medical dictionaries & almost totally exasperating my doctors with detailed chemistry questions…I made the dreadful decision…for the past 3 weeks I inject myself every night before bed with forteo…injections are not difficult..diabetics do it many times a day…but ..as you say…not knowing what is going on in my body until next bone density…months away…& having a healthy distrust of pharmaceutical companies & doing all the correct supplements & eating right….the facts remain: I am in my 60’s tho I am told I look much younger ( which by the way has made getting treatment difficult as I look very healthy and am rotting i.e. aging.. from inside)….so here I am with no family or spouse or money (tho I once had them all…long story) working at a job that requires a strong body covered by a state insurance which approved the forteo….I am what I tried not to be….a test for forteo…if I get osteosarcoma or more fractures…either way…I wind up on disability….possibly homeless…alone…or dead…so….I inject…pray for me & all of us…because let’s face it….we need something that works….and unfortunately proper nutrition & exercise is not going to work completely…it helps….but with so many women developing osteoporosis especially after menopause it is my belief that the true “cure” will happen when someone makes and utilizes the estrogen link..or when they can get the gene thing to make us grow our own bone like frogs grow amputated legs….until then…here i am…if anyone wants to communicate…I would love it as I am discovering the HEPA laws of privacy & no osteoporosis support groups in the area (tho another woman & I are trying to start one…if it happens maybe Vivian will come & speak ???)..so can I possibly be the only woman wanting to communicate about the various drugs & treatments ???? having this site is a beginning but Vivian….I think you can do much more….not sure what…let me think>>>>
Judith, I would love to communicate with you re forteo. My e-mail is ca********@*****st.net if they will let me post it. Write soo as I must decide quickly if I will try the forteo.
I have been drinking raw milk for at least the past two years. I feel great and hope it has improved my bone density. I had a dexa scan a number of years ago and it was not great! But i feel wonderful and hope the raw dairy helps, although Vivian does not endorse milk. Maybe she means the fake milk put out by the dairy industry. I also exercise almost every day and drink vegetable juice and am getting another slow juicer, to replace my Champion. Any comments? Of course I absolutely REFUSE to consume anything from Big Pharma.!!! We don’t get bone thinning due to a deficiency of boniva! (YUK!!)
My two brothers and my sister as well as me was raised on raw milk right through our teens. This was in the 1930’s through the 1950’s. My 2 brother’s had good strong teeth and my sister and I both had to get dentures in our 20’s. I think genes have a lot to do with with it. We also didn’t get much vitamin C in our diet. I have had over five compression fractures during the past year. I also have the hump. My sister has the hump as well but no fractures. As for taking the drugs, I will stay clear and continue working on taking better care of myself and ingesting the proper supplements as well as getting the bio-identical therapy and doing balance exercises. I am 72 now.My Dr. wants me to take the forteo but I won’t go that route.
ARe you in northern New Jersey? I like the idea of a support group.
Ladies if you are feeling like you are a lab rat on Fortego, you are! I have tried every bone medication that has come on the market for bone loss and they ALL have SERIOUS side effects. Don’t take them!
I had many side effects while using them. Only now that I have been off these awful meds for a year have I started feeling like I am finally starting to heal. My last medication was Boniva. Every time I see Sally Fields on TV for Boniva I want to vomit.
I now use BONE-UP, it’s all natural. Ladies do your homework find something natural for your body so you can heal again.
Good Luck!
Hoorah for you using Jarrow Bone-Up. ITS THE BEST!!! My mother had her L5 vertebrae crumble because of fosomax and was put on Forteo, she is just completing her 2 years. Forteo was the only thing that would get her bones to start regenerating as they were at 0 turnover, total suppression. Mom was lucky to have one of the experts working on the bis. drug investigations, but she has virtually dropped off the face of the earth so now we are going to have to travel out of state to get with another of the few experts. During her time with the doctor she was very impressed with the Jarrow Ultra Bone-Up formula, she had me send her the ingrediant info so she could get her other patients on it as my mom’s progress exceeded all her other patients even those with less sever suppression. Be sure you take the Jarrow Sil (silica) as silica is very important to bone development. Good luck, because bone density test only tell half the story, what you need more than density is flexibility, thats where the silica comes into play.
This sounds promising, but I’ve never heard of Jarrow Ultra Bone-Up. Where do you buy it? What studies have you seen that prove it really works??? (I’ve been on Fosamax, Actonel, and now Boniva and my doctor is now suggesting Forteo! I really don’t want any of them!!)
Thanks so much!
I love Garden of Life’s Grow Bone because it’s an all raw product which means that there are no excipients in the vitamins like magnesium stearate and other additives. Garden of Life is a really good company, not that Jarrow isn’t — it is definitely but I would rather take a raw product.
How do i find out more about the program & bone up? I took myself off Forteo after 18 mo.
where do you get Bone-Up?>
tell us about bone-up , please
Thanks for the tip. Garden of Life has a nice product too for bone health. it also includes Strontium to take at night.
Who makes Bone Up?
WHAT IS BONE UP AND WHERE DO YOU GET IT? kIP
After being on Fosomax for several years, I was troubled with acid reflux. Doctor convinced me to take Forteo for 18 mos. It was a nuisance, but didn’t have too many problems. Actually, someone else’s comment reminded me that I did have trouble turning my head which took one year at the Chiropractor to fix. After my bone density test, Doctor said it was improved, but still in danger, and wanted me to take the other 6 mos. of Forteo. Agreed reluctantly, but restarted. This time it made me nauseous and so I stopped. The Doctor wanted me to take Reclast but I have refused two years in a row. He is angry. Density is dropping so Forteo was a temporary fix. Bottom line is that it is dangerous and not a permanent solution, so no one should be taking it. Am now concentrating on the alkaline concept and feeling good about it. Have had problems with the acid reflux, so have slowed down a little. Feel I am consistently doing 50/50, which is miles better than the mostly acid food I used to eat. Have also purchased an Osteoball and am doing isometric exercises with it.
Am glad I found SaveOurBones!
Sally
thank you for this info….I am 3 weeks taking forteo & will keep your experience in mind…from what you said…my next inquisition with dr’s & Eli Lilly will be…what are the long term results with bone density because if it’s a temporary fix I must consider that…how long was your “fix”???…of course the fact it’s only been around for 10 years with 500,000 patients WORLD WIDE…I just found that one out…will make getting this info more difficult…that is why it is in my opinion…important for past & present Forteo patients to communicate…
I took Forteo for 2 years–It did build bone according to my bone density tests. Then my endrocronoligist?? put me back on Fosamax..After Channed 7’s article–I went off it per my Gyno docter. When I went to see him in April he said I must go back on it. & so I did.. I take lots of vitamins-for many many yrars–but stillhave very bad ostoporosis…?? between a rock & a hard place. Scheduled for a bone density tomorrow & I’m seeing my endo DR??
I started on Forteo in March 2010 (I am 65. In dec 2009 fell & broke my pelvis & collar bone).
My daughter asked me to see a osteoprorosis Dr.
who told me I have it (and she said I have it bad) and she prescribed Forteo. I stopped taking it at the end of May 2010 – I had no side effects during the time I was taking it. The reason I stopped was that I was getting 2, sometime 3 calls a month from the drug company asking me to join their cancer (sarcoma) registry. They said they had mailed me the necessary forms to get on the registry along with a five dollar bill!!! WHAT???!! I never did receive that letter! When I asked questions about Forteo & bone sarcoma I did not
get any answers. This is a scary drug I think and I do not want to take it or any other osteoporosis drug judging from what I have read and heard about them. Now I still have to tell my daughter that I have stopped using the medication – that’s scary too!!!
I have found the forteo connect people to be as you said…inefficient & sometimes….less than personable…I pwrsevere…despite all that and not to mention conflicting info from the various agents…I did get the $5 & did register….I am only 3 weeks into the forteo….on a wing & a prayer & very grateful for all this communication….
I took this drug 7 months, lots of side effects after 5 months. off now and Dr. not happy witrh me.
could you elaborate ???? what were your side affects???
The Forteo is not for me. I took the Foxamax for 4 years, since my right hand could’nt lift, then I stopped it .
Thank you Vivian, you do a great job, and wish all of us are healthy.
I took the Forteo shots for 1 mo & 15 days and every shot was a little worse side effects. Cramps, you name any unpleasant side effects and it happened to me. The injection goes in cold and then the med starts to spread as it warms in the body and more & more pain as it spreads, but when it began affecting my breathing I stopped it. With my Dr.’s blessing,
thank you for this….I am 3 weeks & not experiencing the cold warm problems you encountered BUT am questioning the breathing since I have been attributing my minor morning breathing symptoms to the heat wave..
I was diagnosed with RA 10 yrs, ago,osteoporosis was 8 months ago after the dextra scan, and the doctor wanted me to take forteo, I have second thoughts about this, I am already taking Remicade infusions, and I do not want to hasten my death any time soon! My age is 74. I have a tread climber at home, which I use for the walking, walking outside makes me afraid of falling as my gait is not so good.
JUST TOOK THE FORTEO FOR 2 MONTHS, THE 3RD PEN IS IN THE REFRIGERATOR AS CVS RX WOULD NOT TAKE IT BACK. AFTER READING ALL ITS EFFECTS AND CONTENTS I DECIDED FOR NO MORE OF IT. THE COST NOW IS $886.29 A MONTH. MY PLAN PAID THE 800. & i PAID THE $80. BUT NOW i AM IN THE DONUT HOLE AND CAN NOT AFFORD IT. SO IT ALL WORKED OUT PERFECTLY WE DO NOT NEED ROACH STUFF IN OUR MEDS. THANKS VIVIAN…..
sunlight is the best form of vitamin d. at least 20 min. per day on as much as your body as you are able to expose! just do not burn. time it! stop when your skin just starts to turn pink!
I HAVE REFUSED ALL BONE BUILDING DRUGS FOR MANYO YEARS BECAUSE I HAD A REPORT OF THE PROBLEMS WHEN THEY FIRST WERE INTRODUCED TO THE PUBLIC! I GOT MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS OFF OF THEM AND STOPPED SOME OF THEM FROM STARTING THEM! I WAS TOLD I HAD SEVERE OSTEOPOROSIS EVEN THOUGH I AM A BODYBUILDER AND POWERLIFTER AND EAT A HEALTHFUL DIET. WHEN I GOT A 2ND DEXOSCAN, I WAS TOLD I HAD OSTEOPENIA. THEY EXPLAINED THAT THE OLD DEX MACHINES WERE NOT ACCURATE! DUH? I AM 67 YRS. YOUNG AND ONLY HAVE OSTEOPENIA. I DO NOT TAKE ANY OTC DRUGS OR ANY RX. I AM IN PERFECT HEALTH! THANKS FOR LISTENING.
I had a very similar experience I am 69 . Three months ago I had a dex a scan and was told I had to take Forteo because my t score was so much worse than 2 years ago. I spent the past 3 months deciding I changed docs and on her suggestion paid to have a second scan on a different machine The results were very similar to what they were 2 years ago. Machines are different. I am now taking nothing after being on fosamax for 12 years. I too lift weights, spin ,swim and eat a healthy diet. It is good to know other people have had similar experiences. Janet
I was on Fosamax for 5 yrs. Forteo for one year and Boniva for 3 yrs. Both of my femurs have broken and I now have rods in them. My orthopedic surgeon said they should not have broken. So which one of the drugs did it or was it the combination of them all. If you are on any of them I would stop immediately.
why did your doctor say the femurs should not have broken???? if you were on those drugs than you must have been diagnosed with osteoporosis….
66 yr. old female. Took Fosamax for 9 yrs. Stopped w/ esophageal problems. Took Boniva for 9-10 yrs. Osteoporosis continued worsening. -3.2 in hip/lower spine, less deterioration in mid back and neck. Both hips have been replaced.
Took Forteo for 3.5 mos. Blood calcium spiked.12 Stopped Forteo. After 6.5 months blood calcium is at 10.6. Fluctuated for several months.
Dr.s undecided what to do. I have always eaten healthy and continue to do so. Walk 3x a week and go to the gym 3x week.
Follow up on May 10 2010 reply. Hopefully working with the alkaline and acid foods in your Save your Bones book, there will be a difference in my bone health. If not, I fear my Dr.s will want me to start Forteo again. This I do not want to do and must stick to it. How would you feel about presenting my osteoporosis Dr. and endocrinologist with your Save our Bones book. You truly need to doctor yourself as drugs are a business and Dr.s just go with it without real knowledge. Please help inform all doctors as to the natural way of healing. Thank you, Diane
okay this is VERY important….can you elaborate or what your calcium levels were before Forteo…how soon were they tested after beginning forte????in other words can you chart your calcium levels before during after Forteo???
Have been taking Evista for several years. Have an osteo diagnosis. Is it wise to keep taking it? what are the down sides – anything else besides blood clots?
Yes, it was prescribed to me and I refused to take it.I experienced enough adverse effects from the phosphonate drugs and will not take anything else includig clot-forming Evista.After threats of getting a broken hip, in the five years since, I have taken anything for my bones,I’m doing very well.I was told that he could get sued if I didn’t do as he had advised me.Truthfully,my confidence in the doctor went to zero.I’LL EAT THE PROPER FOODS AND SUPPLEMENTS.
A new building was added on to the hospital just to treat osteoporosis.BIG BUSINES!
After a DEXA scan I was diagnosed with osteopenia lower spine and osteoporosis in hip.
I have purchased Vivian’s book, and Montel’s HealthMaster so I’m determined to do all that I can the natural way to reverse my bone loss + some exercises. Serious drug side effects is no joke and not for me unless needed to save my very life.
Thanks Vivian, and good luck to all of us!
I live in Melbourne, Australia and suffered a fracture to a vertebrae in my upper spine without having had a fall or accident of any kind. My bone density scan in September 2008 was -0.9 for lumbar spine and -1.1 for left femoral neck. I am 55 years of age and was prescribed Actonel Combi which due to my ignorance I took for approximately 8 months, when I stopped taking it because it had given me gastritis of the stomach and duodenum. I also find that I don’t seem to be able to tolerate Calcium Carbonate or Vitamin D which I was told to take if I was not taking the Actonel. I seem to suffer from the same stomach issues with these as well. I guess my body does not like pills!!! I was referred to an endocrinologist to see if there was any medical/hormonal reasons for this loss of bone density. He could not find any, apart from being post-menopausal and prescribed Protos which I took for approximately 4 weeks. It made me feel absolutely shocking, with aching limbs, headaches etc. I stopped taking it and in that time discovered The Bone Revolution Program. At my next visit to the Endocrinologist (about 6 weeks ago) I told him that I had stopped taking the Protos and that I was now following the Bone Health Revolution Program which included drinking distilled water. He was not impressed with me at all. He told me that the side effects I had experienced would not have been because of the drugs!!!!! He also told me that my bone density was not that bad. So I asked myself why had he prescribed Protos!!! I am really over these doctors in a big way. Thankfully I have a wonderful GP who is very supportive and who agrees with me about the Biophosphonates. I am currently not taking any of these medicines at present, including Calcium and Vitamin D because the gastric symptoms have recurred due to the calcium. I am trying to follow your advice from the Bone Revolution Program. I certainly have found that I feel a lot better on this program and exercise as much as I can, but with an extremely large Tarlov Cyst which has eaten away some of my sacral bone and caused some nerve damage to my bladder, I do have to be very careful of the type of exercise I do. I walk every day and am thinking of starting hydrotherapy which I hope will help in some way with weight/resistance training as I am not able to do this under normal conditions, because of the damage from the Tarlov Cyst. Can anyone suggest another type of calcium that I could take in these circumstances. I will never take any biophosphonates again. I have learned my lesson!!! Thank you for all the wonderful information you have shared.
Hi Chris, I am from Karridale in the SW of Western Australia. I too have had problems with taking some types of calcium. I have found calcium cabonate seems to suit me, but apparently the upstake is not as good as calcium citrate which has a better uptake. I have found that the calciums that caused the most problems were the ones containing magnesium. My body seems to have a problem with magnesium, manganese,zinc and boron. When I take these minerals for any length of time I become extremely stiff in the joints, start getting rashes on my hands and legs and eventually feel extremely agitated and unable to really get a good nights rest. I have found that having a hair analysis which showed I had very high levels of mercury in my body prompted me to seek help in this area – I have now after treatment become clear of the mercury which will help me to absorb the nutrition from my food more efficiently as the mercury was blocking some of the channels in the cells. Maybe a hair analysis may help you to work out just what your body can deal with or not deal with and in turn help you with your calcium problem.
Cheers, Penny Owen
you are the 1st person I have heard mention tarlov cyst….please tell me more…I also found out I have one and have heard that 10% of population USA have them & do not get diagnosed unless seen on MRI & sometimes even then they are not told….at present I understand little is known or done for them in USA…what have you heard in Australia????
I have been taking Forteo for 11/2 yrs.In october I’ll be finished.price started at $40.00,now $811.00.
Oesteoporosis is my problem,but physical problems I have are becoming more severe.
they are walking painfully,getting in and our of a bus or high step van.Getting into my own car is fine.
suggestions! thank you!
After being on Forteo, what were the results of your DEXA test? Was there improvement in your bone density? I too am listed in this column and took Forteo for 3.5 mos. Blood calcium went too high and was taken off. Now Dr. wants me to go back on. That is not my wish.Please let me know about the condition of your bones after taking Forteo and any side effects. Thank you.
has your bone density improved on Forteo???
Not for me either. Keep up your good work Vivian, greatl;y appreciated.