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 couldn’t agree more, Greg!
I should add a few points that appear to have been missed. I was diagnosed with Osteoporosis and I’m 48 year old male, with bone density T-Scores as low as -3.7 in my Femur’s, pelvis, and spine. Prior to the break, I was i the gym 4 times a week, and did a lot of weight lifting and had for 20 years (my loss was due to hypogonadotropic hypogonadism). I had stress fractures throughout my femur’s, pelvis, lower spine, and ankles, with some particularly bad fractures in the femoral necks on both sides and in both ankles. I also had a long history of fractures in my ribs. I was essentially unable to walk and I’m not even 50. Something as simple as rolling over in bed was excruciating and could easily result in a fracture. Standing up would take about 60 seconds of horrible pain, and then walking would take another 30 seconds or so of very small steps until my legs and hips would bear the weight. I was prescribed Forteo, The results have been nothing short of miraculous so far. Within 2 weeks I was able to walk again with some pain, and the fractures in my ankles appear to have begun healing when a year had seen no improvement at all. I was able to remove my ankle boot after 2 weeks. At 3 weeks I was able to roll over in bed relatively pain free, but with some soreness still evident. The people in here aghast that someone would risk cancer should consider the pain involved. Sometimes the end does justify the means. I was told that due to the location of some of my fractures, a simple fall could fracture my femoral necks and pelvis, and I would have hip replacement before I was 50. After 3 weeks I could stand without pain, and walk for much longer distances with no pain, although longer starts to cause some ache. I’m hoping that resolves as my bone strength improves.
Now, on to some additional info. I did some pretty lengthy research on this drug, and it is true it causes cancer in mice, but some information seems to be missing here. The incidence of tumors in mice was noted only where there was new bone growth. That’s important because a mouse never stops growing bone. A human’s bones grow to a certain size and then they are relatively stable for the remainder of your adult life. A mouse or rat’s bones continues to grow until death. The tumors were only evident on that newer growth in rats, where a human wouldn’t have that type of bone growth. As to the incidence of cancer, there have not been enough cases of cancer to indicate that the Forteo was even a causative factor. The cancer is so rare and the incidence of such cancer in humans remains rare, even on this drug, but it still received a black box warning to err on the side of safety. If you can recover via other means, then this may not be for you, but if your life is impacted the way mine was, it wasn’t even a consideration, and I refuse to do bisphosphonates.
I’ve also seen comments that all bone growth is lost. I have not seen that to be the case in the studies I’ve read. They indicated that although there is some bone loss, it is actually smaller than the bisphosphonate bone loss after each drug was stopped. The longer lasting effects of bisphoshonates risks bones actually shattering due to the breakdown of the body’s natural ability to tear down old bone and replace it with new. Forteo simply produces new bone growth. biosphoshonates ‘disrupt’ the natural process that breaks down bone, causing new bone growth to simply pile onto the old bone growth. A ‘house built on sand’ applies here. For some it can cause brittle, almost crystalized bone to just shatter due to the weakened bone that should have long been torn down by the body.
Forteo’s process is actually not ‘unknown’ as implied. It increase serum levels of calcium partially by bone reabsorption, BUT, with the intermittent injections, it hyper activates more osteoblast than osteoclasts, and osteoblasts are the essential engine in building new bone. As long as you have the raw materials, it works like gangbusters.
As far as the cancer incidence, they had 2 cases of osteosarcoma in 10 years following it’s approval (it was approved in 2002). The incidence of cancer was so small, they could not say with any certainty that Forteo was a factor. Natural options are an excellent choice if you have that option, but when you get to a point where simply walking puts your long term health at risk of severe fractures, it should not be left out as a consideration.
As to side effects, I’ve only seen mild aches for 2-3 hours every so often, usually about 3 hours after injection. They go away on their own.
I am also now back at the gym, and lifting weights as my body allows. I also ensure I get plenty of Vitamin D3 (about 6000 iU a day) when I’m not out in the sun enough, and I have it checked regularly to ensure those levels don’t get too high. You cannot get enough Vitamin D through diet alone. Only supplements, or sunshine will provide enough. I also take 1200mg of calcium a day, broken down into two does since you can’t absorb much more than 600 mg in a dose. NOTE: You do have to be careful with calcium though as it can affect a huge range of medicines due to it’s ability to affect absorption. Drugs.com is an excellent source of information for interactions.
As with all things, talk to your doctor before do any medication, or any homeopathic treatments. Sometimes you can do more harm than good. Be proactive. Research, research, and research some more, then have a real dialogue with your doctor. If your doc won’t speak with you at length, get another doctor that will.
This website is misleading. You are correct in your comments. It is a shame that people who need this drug may be scared away by this misinformation.
Thank you for your very informative comment. After taking Actonel for two years my bone mass continued to plummet. Last year I was simply coughing and I shattered my L1 vertebra so badly that it entered into my spinal column. After 6 months it continued to compress. At first I was afraid to take Forteo after my bad experience with Actonel, but finally agreed because the back pain was so intense that I decided to give it a try. The last MRI showed the fracture is finally stable. I am walking again and feel so much better. With a healthy low salt diet, which includes plenty of fruits and vegtables, core strengthening, and walking I am hopeful that my bones will continue to improve.
I am so sorry to hear about your fracture, Chris, but that’s good news about its healing and your bone-healthy lifestyle. Keep up the good work!
I started taking Forteo. The first week I felt fine. Then I starting getting very constipated. Then it went to extreme tiredness, muscle weakness, a fuzzy brain.
I was having trouble walking, and trying to cook dinner was a joke. I felt I had to
hang on to things to keep upright. I was sleeping too much. Driving was hard, as
I was afraid that I would fall asleep. I was actually afraid that I would go to sleep
and not wake up. As soon as I stopped taking the drug I was back to myself!
CAUTION!!! MY MOTHER TOOK FORTEO FOR 2 MONTHS AND NOW HAS A HUGE, AGGRESSIVE SARCOMA ON HER THIGH, RIGHT WHERE SHE INJECTED FORTEO. She has never been ill, is 72, 120 pounds at 5’2″, and had NONE of the supposed RISK FACTORS. Her doctor did not tell her of this risk. PLEASE DO NOT TAKE FORTEO!!!
OK. This drug MAY cause OSTEO sarcoma. The Forteo probably has NOTHING to do with a sarcoma..big difference.
She may coincidentally have a soft tissue tumor that had NOTHING to do with the injections.
I’ve been in medicine long enough to understand cause and effect. It used to be whenever a woman (or man) developed breast cancer they would link it back to a bruise, hitting your breast on a corner of a table..etc. With enough clinical research we realized that the contusion had NOTHING to do with breast cancer. Read the clinical findings. Not anecdotal experiences.
My mother is a 54 year old woman with osteoporosis. After breaking her hip bone earlier this year, she was advised by her doctor to inject Forteo once a day for the next 18 months. Today was her first injection, and the side effects she described were.. bizarre.. nowhere to be found on the pamphlet that came with the drug (and of course her doctor was too busy to take her calls) so I’m asking you guys: did any of you experience severe nerve pain after taking Forteo? She described it as starting from her lowest vertebrae and advancing through her spine until her mid-back, starting approx. 15 minutes after the injection, and weakening until disappearing about an hour later. She has injected herself many times before so she probably did not just hit a nerve while giving herself the medication. Anyone? Thanks a lot
Hadar, it’s really unlikely that forteo is causing the problem since it is hormonal and works very slowly and gradually, which is why you have to take it for so long to get the benefits. There’s a possibility that it might be due to a sensitivity to one of the inactive ingredients in the solution. I would suggest keep using it for awhile, see if this doesn’t just settle down by itself. Ask the doctor if reactions to the other ingredients could be the problem, if not, it may be psychological.
I have had several fractures in my spine. I was on Fosamax for 2 years and was getting progressively worse. My rheumatologist recommended Forteo. I just finished my two years of it on 8/21/14. I am scheduled to have my BMD test this Thursday. I will let you know if it helped me. I’m not sure if I had any side effects from Forteo or from something else. I had extra anxiety (I’m an agoraphobic so I’m anxious anyway). I would have days where I was tired (I’m also 68 so that could be part of that). I’ve had a few days of depression but nothing too bad. As I understand it, after your first year on Forteo a BMD will not give you an accurate reading of what it is really doing. It can be very misleading. I just broke my little toe less than two weeks ago and it is healing faster than I ever expected. My doctor told me they give Forteo to patients who have broken bones as it helps them heal faster. I have to think that’s what went on with my toe. The bone cancer scares me a bit. I’ve already had cancer once. But laying in a home waiting for a broken hip to heal scares me also. Best of luck to all of you with osteoporosis!
Jane E. – any update? How was your BMD testing? Do you think the treatment was worth it? Thanks
My doctor wanted me to take Foreto for two years because of osteopenia – not osteoporosis- in my left hip. (None in right hip or spine). I’d rather risk a fracture than a deadly form of cancer.
I couldn’t agree more, Lora!
Vivian, how many osteosarcoma a have been associated with this drug in the decade or so it has been in the market? Why don’t you share that information with this websites audience.
There have been a few instances in which Forteo caused Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), or so the patients believe. Anyone know anything about this?
I had Guillain Barré syndrome shortly after starting Forteo this year?
Have you heard anything?
In 2006 and 2007 I had daily Forteo injection. Halfway through the treatment period I had most of my teeth removed due to necrosis in my jawbone. The day of my final injection I had numbness in all fingertips. The next day I was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome, paralyzed from feet to face. Can’t say for sure Forteo caused GBS but I believe it did cause the jawbone necrosis. I wish I had not been so quick to accept the Forteo treatment.
I was on Forteo for 4 and a half months in 2013. From start to finish, it was a nightmare. Severe asthenia (fatigue) from day one, sleeping in excess of 12 hours per night. Brain fog developed from the onset. Affected my memory, could not work while taking the drug. After 2.5 months, Forteo triggered onset of thrush and candida, followed by pelvic rash and burning that spread to welts and lesions on pelvic floor. It has taken nearly 6 months for the rash to subside. I stopped the drug for a couple of weeks while fighting the thrush and candida but doctor recommended trying to continue as long as I could. Eventually I advised my endocrinologist that the side effects were so severe that my quality of life had been impacted. One of the most disconcerting aspects of this situation, is that the endocrinologist did not have any idea how to treat the side effects, and 2 of the 3 OB/GYNs I saw were also ignorant of the drug or its effects. I am still suffering from extreme fatigue and a severely weakened immune system as a result of this drug. Would not recommend it to anyone. While some individuals appear to be tolerant of the drug, others are clearly not. My brain fog has been clearing up as I put myself on a full body homeopathic detox program. I am now following a mediteranean diet, with Vitamin D, K2, and dietary calcium intake. I wound up with calcium deposits in soft tissue as a result of Forteo and it is not clear when this will clear up.
I am 60 years old and started Forteo in March 2014. I thought everything was going well, until I began to get weak and couldn’t cross the room without stopping to catch my breath. My weakness has increased to the point that showering has become tricky. I have dizziness, feel faint, very week, have yeast infections on my skin that won’t clear up, my hands are shaking so bad that I can hardly sign my name. I stopped taking Forteo about 10 days ago (it is now Nov. 3rd) and have seen no improvement in my health. My doctor has run a number of tests on me and finally is sending me to a cardiologist because some of my symptoms mimic heart failure. I’m at the point that I almost hope it is heart failure, because that can be treated and I have the possibility to return to my much more active self. This is horrible and I know in my heart that this is caused by the Forteo. Please don’t take Forteo. It can ruin your life.
Gigi, I am truly sorry to hear about your experience. I want to encourage you, though – your body was made for health, and if you want to get the Forteo out of your system faster, you might consider doing a cleanse like OsteoCleanse to give your recovery a “jump start.” Hang in there, and nurture your body with plenty of pure water, healthy Foundation Foods, and whatever exercise you’re comfortable with!
I am 63, began taking Forteo in Jan. 2013. I’ve had no side effects. I broke a finger in March 2013 and it healed faster after surgery than was predicted due to the Forteo. My doctor sees me every 6 months for bloodwork. I take calcium and Vitamin D-will have bone density test in Dec 2014. I did not want to take it in the beginning but my doctor said that my risk was very high, as I had already had a broken wrist and small break in my lower back. No one mentioned that the manufacturer will call periodically to monitor all side effects. I signed up for that the first year. They are VERY thorough in helping the patient. Medicine does have a lot of unknowns. That is why they call it “practicing” medicine. Everyone is different, what works for one will not work for another. Deciding if the risks are worth it is what is important. When my doctor told me that someone else would have to take care of my handicapped daughter for 6 months if I broke a hip made me decide to take the injections. Sometimes the circumstances in our lives make the decision for us. Please keep in mind that ALL Medications we take can have terrible side effects for some people. Thanks to all who shared their stories. I wish you all the best because it’s not fun making these decisions!
I am glad you’re doing your research, Lynn, and are comfortable with your health decisions. 🙂
I have purchased your book Vivian. I will say, it was encouraging. However, I have followed the program and my bones have become so much worse. I am sitting here reading all the good and bad about Forteo. I was told by two different physicians to take Forteo. I told them about the horrible things I have heard from your book. They feel that I need to do something since I have severe scoliosis and cannot have surgery because the past two years I have been reading all the negative reviews and became too frightened to take the drug. I am now in tears not knowing what to do. I just know if I don’t take something soon, I am slowly getting worse and I cannnot have any surgery with my condition as it is. I wish everyone the best and if you have had any luck with bone growth, please let us know what you took and if it worked at all. I really need some good advice since surgery is needed in the near future, but not without a strong foundation for the screws to adhere to. Thanks for reading and any help you can offer. Terry
What Book?
My STUPID Dr, gave me Forteo for 2 years. Each and every day after injection I hung over the toilet , like a Chemo patient. My first injection put me in the ER with a very rapid heart rate, vomiting, and horrible sick feeling, sweating, etc. He told me it was ALL in my head ? Really ? I would love to sue him!!!!! For what he put me through. After I finished 2 years of Forteo, the dexa scan was done, it did NOT help at all ! These drug companies are so crooked and what they put patients through ! Now years later, I am suffering with all this bone/muscle pain, autoimmune diseases, and I blame FORTEO ! think twice before you even think about using this HORRIFIC drug !!
I am so sorry you had that experience, Jane! I am glad that you now know you do not have to take any drug that you do not want to. It’s your health and your body – your doctor is not the one who suffers any side effects…YOU do! Now that you’re off Forteo, your body can heal and your bones can build themselves naturally. 🙂 I am glad you found this Save Our Bones community!
Why are you telling people that bones can heal naturally? Vivian please share advice on dexa scans and information to really help people. I notice you only answer the posts when it concerns the bad experience people have had with the drugs. If there are good experiences out there, you don’t comment. I am not saying I am for the drugs, but I think since I have purchased your plan and it didn’t work for me, I believe we should hear other options as well and comment on them. Thanks, Terry
Forteo is a good drug. Using now for nonunion. The rats in cancer study were poor models for humans and intensive tracking of humans has turned up nothing. Same with monkey tests. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. Listen to your doctors, not bloggers.
Mike, Are you kidding ? Some Doctors do not know the first thing about Drugs, the PHARMACIST’s are the ones to listen to !
Update: Have been taking Forteo for six weeks. A hip fracture caused by a bicycle crash was only 30 percent healed after four months. The hip was painful, particularly with full load bearing (standing on one keg). Not only can I stand on the injured leg w/o pain, I spent the weekend running around theme parks. Limp is gone. This drug has incredible potential for bone nonunion and speeding up fracture healing.
Thanks Mike for the feedback. Did you have any bad experiences with the drug Forteo. I am worried about taking it, due to the side effects.
jane ,
you must be unusual, but if this helps others, great for the drug.
if the drug bothered you then stop it. costly? so what.
thousands of people have taken it without problem. your experience was rare, it’s not your md or the drug company’s fault. stop blaming.
it works better than any other drug for this problem. professional athletes with broken are back playing unbelievably faster.
if it keeps my wife from her fifth fracture FABULOUS!
the drug was studied for only one year, and you should know that the u.s. has a terrible record in health care, and a bad record for over-prescribing drugs,
I have a non union of my tibia. I’ve been dealing with this since 2012. I just had a rod put into my leg and the surgeon wants me to take 3 months of Forteo. I’m a bit concerned about the side effects. How are you feeling now? Any problems since you stopped taking it?
Thanks for any info you could provide.
Comment: 2 Jan 2014 – My Doctor put me on Forteo in January 2004 after much consideration. I did the injections for 18 months. The Doctor told me I could never take it again after that, even though it was recommended for two years. It was a desperate attempt to put some of my bone mass back. My Dexxa scans showed I could expect a broken bone anytime. I gained about 30% of my bone mass back!! I do continue to take calcium. I did not experience any side effects. My recent Dexxa scan Sept 2013 shows my bone mass has still remained stable since 2005. I did not know about the bone cancer aspect of the drug when I was taking it. I chose to take it for two reasons. 1. My Mother suffered with severe osteoporosis for 30 years before passing. I was my Mother’s caretaker for 20 of those years. 2. In 2002 I became my husband’s caretaker. I offer no answers for others. I do have a question. Does Forteo keep working long years after finishing injections? It seems it might considering what others have said. What have others experienced? Thanks for letting me have my say.
Hi Cindy,
Great news about getting 30% of your bone mass back!
I do understand your concerns about the Forteo staying in your system after finishing the injections. According to a comprehensive data sheet on Forteo, the resorption and elimination of teriparatide (Forteo) are quite fast (which is why the injections are daily), and it is not likely to accumulate in bone or other tissue. You can read the entire data sheet at this link:
https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/datasheet/f/forteoinj.pdf
My mother has been taking Forteo app. 3 months. Has anyone had a memory problem from this drug? It has come on very fast and severe and we are trying to figure out why this is happening. She was fine before the drug and I don’t know if the drug is the problem..stumped
Girl friends 90 year old mom took it for a month and all sorts of mental problems ensued. Taken off Forteo at 1 month ( 1 month ago ) she IS doing better.
The doc said it was the excess calcium – ( and I wonder why and what do you expect from a 90 year old? Why why subject someone at such an advanced age to all the drama of Forteo? And agreed, why trade potential bone fractures for potential cancer? As wee, All the data shows people at 90 have the largest percentage of reactions by any age group – maybe the doctors get a kick back?
My mother took Forteo for two years. She has now been off of it for about 6 months. What we have discovered in that time is that it not only lays down new bone it also will form bone spurs, and kidney stones. She is 85 years old and never had any problem with kidney stones. We have no history of kidney stones in the family. She was recently admitted to the hospital and discovered a 6-7 mm kidney stone. Most kidney stones are between 2-3 mm. She has a boulder which she will need surgery to get rid of. We can only attribute the stone to Forteo. Our doctor never discussed this possibility with us. If we would have known this side effect we would have done more research on this drug. I am not sure that the “cure” was worth the side effect.
Hi,
I à ma french canadian ( so excuse me if my english is not as well it shoud ne…). My doctor suggestion me to use forteo cause i have problem to control calcium in my blood. I do hypocalcemia. The thing is that i would use forteo longer than 2 years’s as recommended, it would be for the rest of my Life. I am very anxious cause the risk of cancer bones. Also, my mother as myeloma multiple, i Wonder if the risk would be stonger for me. If you have any answer just let me know !
I started Forteo a few weeks ago, I am a 35 year old female who is taking it post spinal fusion for a fractured vertebrae with spinal instability after an injury. I am taking Forteo to encourage bone growth for the fusion. I have mild osteopenia in my hips, as well as a rare genetic condition that effects my collagen. Essentially, in layman’s terms I make defective collagen and collagen is an important part of bone formation. I had a lumbar fracture, and during surgery my physician noted that that bone was slightly soft – common with my condition. My mother and I are both nurses and discussed the pros and cons of the medication before I started it, additionally I discussed it with a couple of my physicians. I made the decision to take Forteo. I will only be doing a short course of it, and considering the risks of not having a positive outcome of my fusion should I not form a solid fusion the benefits outweighed the risks. For me the injections are not a big deal, no different than a diabetic really. The needle is tiny, and painless. I can not speak to joint pain as my genetic condition causes widespread joint pain. I haven’t noticed any side effects outside of it making me sleepy the first few days I took it. Overall I am confident in my decision and I am thrilled that there is a medication that encourages bone growth given my current post surgical status, and risks of a poor fusion.
Hi Helena, I am wondering how you are going now? I presume you have OI?
My husband at 54 has just been told that this is the likely cause of his terrible T scores.
I am trying to gain as much iformation as possible before we make the decision to try this medication after Fosomax and Prolia injections seemed to do very little. Well he has had an incidence of AF which was very scary!
This week I should be starting my third round of Forteo. I’ve been very tired since starting and have cramps in my legs off and on. I have had 2back surgeries 3yrs ago. I have back pain. Last week I started with horrible, horrible pains in my back. I need assistance in getting up from bed or chair. I think this grabbing severe pain is muscular. Never had it before. I stopped Forteo on Saturday. I’ll see my Dr. next week. Has anyone had this problem or other muscular problems? I don’t think I’ll be goin back on this drug.
I have experienced overwhelming tiredness especially in the legs,I have experienced a complete mental break down, I started not to give my take on this medicine forteo as my family thinks its all in my head,since iv’e always had thoughts about taking any medicines,I don’t even think the same as I once did,there is a metal taste in my mouth and I shake at times,I was taken off forteo when my breathing took a dive from COPD will not be starting back got to find another solution, for my bones are crumbling as I write this….
I was just diagnosed with osteoporosis , what is the natural way of treatment ?
I have been using Forteo for 3 months. The first month i experienced joint and muscle pain in the 3rd and 4th weeks. Since then I have not experiencied any pain outside my usual aches. I did have a dental implant done and my periodontist noted that bome had grown over the implant during the 4 month waiting period. I am taking Forteo because of previous bone lose in my jaw. I now have osteporosis in the neck of my hip that continued to progress with calcium and D use. I have never used bisphosphomates because of the bone loss in jaw.
I am guilty of lack of regular exercise. When i do vigorous exercise i have a two day recovery time. I am 59 years old 5’4″ and 144 lbs. I do not have any other health problems except for skin cancer removals due to over exposure to the sun as a youth.
I think I should be monitored more closely by my doctor while using this drug.
I have been using Forteo for almost 2 years and my bones have gotten much worse. I want to stop the Forteo but my doctor won’t hear of it. Said I have to take it until mid September to get the full effects. Before taking it I had broken both collar bones, left worst and right hip. Since on Forteo I now have osteoporosis in my lower spine, right forearm and left thigh bone. This meds has only made it worse. On the Forteo site it says that if your bones worsen to stop taking it immediately.
I broke my right hip at 43 years old. That’s when they discovered severe osteoporosis. I was on Fosamax for 12 years, when I broke left hip. I was taken off Fosamax, and put on Forteo. I’ve been on Forteo for 14 months. The bone density scan done two months ago showed that my T Score in my lumbar spine had dropped from minus 3.1 to minus 3.7 during that first year of Forteo, yet the doctor tells me to continue the injections….
In my opinion, you both should seek new physicians. Sounds like the doctors may be “bought” by the perks they are receiving by placing patients on forteo and other drugs for the “companies studies”.
I have a friend who worked “the other side”, and he said doctors “win” cruises and other trips for pushing their new pills, thereby using you in the blind study. You are the only one blind to that fact.
IF you are having any doubts about your doctors motive, seek care elsewhere asap!! Doctors are pretty easy to replace now-a-days.
First and most importantly I would like for everyone making comment here to be assured that I believe in freedom of choice. Having said that, please let me share with you what has happened to my Mother since her doctor put her on Forteo. Although it is very expensive, she able to acquire this drug for free because of being on a fixed income. Anyway, since taking this drug she has had more fractures, aches and pains and now the doctor is telling her that her heart is of a concern. (Heart disease does not run in our family, that is, not until the doctors start prescribing pharmaceuticals.) Further, when she fell and broke her arm three years ago, she had been taking some other osteoporosis drug. Even though she was put on Forteo, her arm looks no different than the day she broke it. When she faithfully took Fosamax, I was taking her to the hospital every six months to a year for a procedure to put medication on the inside of her esophagus at the opening to her stomach. So, now y’all tell me . . . are these drugs worth all that? And now I ave read that this Forteo can cause bone cancer?? So, then isn’t Forteo an oxymoron? Will I take these drugs????? I think not! TY for letting me share. 🙂
there is a big picture most people are missing, and that is that drug companies are big businness in the u.s. more than anywhere. the u.s. is #1 in the world in spending in health care, yet is like #20 in actual care. so that tells you the u.s. is doing something wrong. You are lucky to find a SMART doctor who actually gives a damm about you and not his income, those are few and far between.
Should I spend the $ (which I don’t have) on it? My mom had amazing results fro this med.. I am going down the same road and DO NOT want to suffer as she did before she received Forteo – but I don’t have the requisite $10,000.00. I am otherwise a young 54 year old. My daughter is 10 years old. What should I do?
If you have severe osteoporosis, you need to look at your risk factors for vertebral fracture or hip fracture. These both come with extreme costs associated with surgical repair and after care. The cost of Forteo is a small price to pay considering the fractures it prevents.
Hi. To respond to your question, please note that all pharmaceutical companies offer financial assistance for their expensive medications. All you have to do is ASK. If you qualify, they could pay up to 100% of your treatment as long as you need it.
Try, worth a shot. Most people qualify for at least 50% coverage.
i am to begin forteo treatments on friday. my concern is that i have both myasthenia gravis and asthma. how will this affect me or should i not even think of starting forteo injections?
Linda, your health is in your hands – the decision is up to you! Armed with information from this site, you are free to choose whatever you think is best for your body. The important thing to remember is that you do not have to take Forteo – you do have a choice! 🙂
i am 80, been on forteo for 7 months. i have alot of aches and pains but i had them before forteo. i will continue forteo and hope that no more pains occur. if they do i will deal with it.
Well, I am a 58 year old, I was diagnosed with osteoporosis back in 2002, my primary doctor recomended Foxamas, took it 2 years, the disease didn’t improved or got worse, then I think took actonel for another 2 years, no results, not getting better or getting worse. Then in 2009 I was offered Forteo. Something very important my primary and I we had a very trusthful relationship. She laid all the side effects of forteo but also maybe the benefits. So we weight in was was the best route for me, and we choose to go for Forteo. I was very pro-active so I find out that you have to have a thyroid test done, and a parathyroid which the results shown me that it was low with the hormones.My treatment went by, my result for the oesteoporosis shown an improvement in 2011 when I finished it. I didn’t have any side effect knock on wood, and I really would like to go back with Forteo, the reason being is that if you have any side effects you can stop the treatment right there. There is other treatments that they give you one injection per year and what happens if really you get sick with it? Since the other medication didn’work on me I really would like to find a way to go back with forteo. I haven’t been taking forteo almost for 2 years know and the results of my last test show that again the disease is not getting worst.
My good friend, Anne, has been taking Forteo for less than a month. She is only 50 but just two days ago she suffered an aneurism and nearly died!!! She has never had anything like high blood pressure, etal. yet her bpressure went up to 170 over 90. Anne is a very slight, underweight woman. My immediate thought was this had something to do with Forteo. Anybody know anything on this? Thanks
Re BP: this med can cause swift bp changes with change in position. I am always the canary in the coal mine, and have had almost every side effect. I have autoimmune disease and chmical sensitivities. I fear this drug is not for me. To top off the headaches, the entire days of severe nausea, the diarrhea…80 lbs now, yesterday my bp began spiking…158/?? Can’t recall the bottom no….along w terrible headache. My cardio tells me that if my bp is over 100 Systolic at bedtime, am to take extra half of bp med. the last time I was 158/ I was in an ambulance, going to rule out MI. (hrt attack).good luck, all, and thanks.
Remember, density tests do not measure tensile strength or flexibility. 🙂 That’s more important in preventing fractures than high density scores. Mainstream medicine focuses so much on density because it needs numbers (i.e. fixed parameters) to prescribe drugs, so most doctors follow the same protocol.
While density is an indicator of bone metabolism, the main focus of bone health is simply to prevent fractures, and less dense but healthy and renewed bones have better tensile strength than thicker, denser, older bones.
I explain this in detail in the Save Our Bones program! 🙂
My husband and i are trying to make the decision what to do and how to manage his osteo. We are waiting for the diagnosis however it seems that he has Osteo. Imperfecta. Does the Osteoporosis Reversal Program work in conjunction with those on Forteo?
Generally speaking Forteo is supposed to be taken for 18m months to two years. I took itg for ten months and got curious as to what effect it was having on bone dxdensity.i read and was told that an improvewment of 1 to 2% is expecteed after two years.Whdn i asked for a bone density test after 10 months i wsaS ALMOSYT LAUGHED AT..AFTER all IT TAKES two years to even see the slightest improvement,AND MEDICAREwill not pay for a test done in less than two years because the Forteo would not have had a chance to work in that short a period of time.
eI told them i would pay for the test myself and insisted on taking it.
I took he test and found that bone density had improved not one or two% but 22%!!!!!!!i went from severe Osteoporosis to Osteopena.
Granted i exercised daily and Drank and ate DAIRY PRODUCTS but 22% in 8 MONTHS!!!
hi hi so i have been reading most comments about forteo and does any body have the bone creaking ?
I feel and i hear sounds like my bones cracking from all over my body. tips of toes to up and out to fingers and up to the shoulders and neck with a few aches in my skull. these are all random. but sometimes intense enough to wake me.
i have very tired spells, and then i can go a couple days with no problems what so ever.
my bone scan was 3.4 or 4.3 approx. and it must come up to qualify for lung transplant.
i lost most of my bone density in one year probably due to the prednizone for the lung problems my lungs were ok in jan 12 and oct 12 to much osteopourus to qualify
I thought forteo was the only bone building drug. I thought i was told that fosomax and all the others that we have all been on were medications to prevent bone loss. but could not build bone once it was lost.
i eat lots of green vegetables cheese beef chicken water
I would like to hear what other people’s experiences have been
Thanks and have a Great Day. Timi
Hi Timi,
I’ve been on Forteo for two months now and also experience the bone creaking and cracking. When I first start with a fresh batch at the beginning of each month I experience 3days of severe headaches and fatigue and joint stiffness. The rest of the month tends to fluctuate with days of normality and days of fatigue. My kidneys seem to be working overtime and I have to urinate frequently. This can vary with the odd day being so extreme tha I don’t know where all the water is coming from and I feel really dehydrated. I’ve partially solved that problem by mixing coconut juice with the water I drink. I live a very healthy diet with lots of fresh vegetables and fish, minimized the sugar and other toxic substances out of my diet and I think it’s this that’s helping me. Foreo is my last hope since nothing else has helped so I’m determined to continue.
It’s now 12months since I started with Forteo. I found I had to stop the calcium supplements to reduce the frequency problem. My dexa scan showed an improvement in my spine from -3.7 to -3.1 and slightly less improvement in the hip. However my wrist has worsened to -4. Will continue for final 6 months but a bit disappointed by these results, was hoping for more. It’s the only osteo medication thatI’ve been able to tolerate.
6 months on and feel all the same effects, tired!!!
headaches, creaking am praying this works, age 61, legs hurt every day, how did your final come out? please let me know
I am 70 year old male and my endo doc wants me to start with Forteo in November. I have severe ostop. in my hip and spine….no other medical problems so far…… Your comment almost seems “to good to be true.” I have been excersising and taking loads of vit. and mineral suppliments and eating dairy for the first time in 30 years since i was told I have osteop 9 months ago. All side and lower back pains are gone now (two rib bones were broken). My vit D and parathyroid numbers are all in the normal range now. I wonder if I should take the drug at all. {Please comment……
Hiya, so that was 3 years ago. Have you managed to maintain that gain? and if so how please?
It has been 1 year since I had forteo…for 2 years I had the shots every day..I had no bad reaction during that time and my bone scan showed a 22 percent improvement .I had had no luck with the medications I had taken for several years previous..so I am very grateful for my Dr prescribing forteo Mary
I used Forteo for 2 years. My T score for my hips went from -3.4 to -2.8
so the drug seemed to increase bone during that time. Because of a problem with reflux— I cannot take any other type of osteoporosis medication orally and I did not want an infusion drug. Forteo was my only choice.
OK, I’ve been on Actonel for as long as I’m allowed (4.5 years), Reclast for 2 years and Forteo for 2 years. According to my doctor the only two things left for me to go on are Evista or Prolia because she will not recommend I return to any of the others I’ve tried. Since my T scores have continued to look bad (now – 3.4), what are my other options? Can I just eat right, take calcium, etc. without fear of further deterioration?
I have been taking Forteo for 6 weeks. Side effects have started such as muscle cramping and numbness around my mouth. This is such a highly recommended drug for the severe osteoporosis I have, but these side effects scare me. I am also a cancer survivor and the warnings about cancer this drug can cause is very concerning to me. Has anyone else had these side effects?
Decided against Forteo because of “black box” and went on Prolia. I hardly felt the pinprick in my arm and have had no negative reaction. Continuing to drink 3 glasses of milk per day. FYI
Prolia works by turning off a natural process of the body…bone turnover…long term effects of this can include additional fractures. BMD or bone hardness is only one contributing factor to overall bone strength…the most important factor is bone quality. Prolia can be a good option only after bone quality is addressed.
I should also note that the black box warning refers to rats, which have VERY different bones than humans, and even the rats had no problems when given normal human doses…read the warning…osteosarcoma was dependant on dose and duration…not seen in rats until 3 to 60 TIMES the normal human dose….suprised osteosarcoma is the only thing they got at those levels…lastly, rats were injected with forteo which is a human hormone.
This is a great point and often missed in the scaremongering.
What is even more problematic is that rat bones grow over the course of their life while humans do not. The high levels of Forteo given to them resulted in a small percentage of rats getting cancer in only those new growth areas at the ends of the rat’s bones.
I was on Forteo for a year and had 12% increase in bone density but it stopped working after that.
I too am a cancer survivor, and have had the same side effects as you…muscle cramps, pain behind knees and knee joints. I also got extemely itchy after taking Forteo after 6 weeks. By 2 months I was so itchy I couldn’t even sleep. Pharmacist and dr, said to stop for a few day…the itchy part stopped alost immediately, but the joint pain lingered. So I stopped for 2 months! Now I face the delemia…do I take it again and face joint pain, itchy nights and days, and possibly cancer? Or do I give it the old “college try” just one more time? My numbers were also -3.4 Any input would be appreciated
I have just completed 2 years on FORTEO, and my bone scan reveals no improvement in my bone density. Having paid approx. $25,000 of my own money on the understanding from the doctor that my body would receive a “real boost” from taking this expensive medication, I feel very annoyed and disappointed. Annoyed because I would never have agreed to taking FORTEO on the basis that it ‘might work’. The story line given to me 2 years ago by the doctor, contradicts in every respect the explanation offered this week after my bone density results. I was told that FORTEO does not in fact have an effect on bone density, but rather strengthens the bone itself. However, there is absolutely no evidence to support such a claim. As of this week, I am told by the same doctor, that there is no test to the effectiveness of this very expensive medication. It is all guess work – very expensive guess work.
Forteo forms new bone as collagen… If your looking for a BMD increase, you must have proper vit-D levels and take supplemental calcium.
My Dr. has suggested that I start Forteo & I’m having a difficult time in deciding. I have had an upper arm fracture and there isn’t any change with the aclasta injections that I’ve had two times.
Help !
Understand that all osteoporsis drugs other than Forteo, have a warning stating that they can actually inhibit or slow fracture healing…just FYI.
I am looking for testimonials from people who have been prescribed teriparatide forteo for osteoporosis and knee bone degeneration.
I was on Forteo 2002-2004 (2 years which is the maximum). My t-score did improve while I was on the injections. Prior to that I hadn’t had improvement with any other drugs. I didn’t have any side effects at the time. However, in 2008 I developed Hypothyroidism. I have no family history of this, and I don’t know if it could be related to the forteo or not…. Now I have a large mass in my thyroid. I just had an ultrasound today so I don’t even have the Doctor report yet. Again, I don’t know if it could be a side effect or not.
So true! Just love that humour!
I turned 70 this year. I had been on fosamax for 15+ years. My Gyn said my bones would be ok with this. I feel I should not have taken it so long. I was active (did Zumba) and tripped over my dog August 4 and fractured my hip. Bad break with the ball being fractured. The Dr put 3 screws in since it was in place. He wanted me to do Forteo because it helped bone to heal. I am on my 3rd round of shots and I am quitting. i have had so much pain I find it difficult to walk. I want to get my life back to normal and I feel Forteo bringing me down. Before this I was active and now I hurt all over. By the way my bone density of my hips looked good and showed osetopenia in my back.
I’m 59 yrs young, hx of osteoporosis,with 3yrs on Fosamax and continued loss of bone density. I was put on Forteo last year and I have had NO…as in ZERO side effects or complications from this “horrible secret agent” med! I’ve not had another Dexa scan yet, because of $$, but I have had 5 major falls in the past 6mos (cause by my loss of sight and “ghosting” vision in my sighted eye)…the last 2 falls in the past week…one off a step ladder down 6 stairs onto a concrete porch. NO FRACTURES TO REPORT!, so the Forteo must be doing somehing positive for me! I ABSOLUTELY WILL CONTINUE TAKING THE FORTEO FOR NOTHER FULL YEAR! I am healthy, happy and walk daily for 10K steps, and watch a toddler and a newborn 4 days/week. I can only share MY outcome, but after lots of research, and MANY prior fractures throughout my active life (10+), I continue as a happy Forteo user!
I am 71 with severs osteoporosis. I have been on Forteo for three and a half months. Last week I tripped and fell on my back…..and nothing was broken!! I am very pleased about this.
I am 55. On Sept 2013 Dr told me I have osteoporosis an a really high risk of fracture. my to score is -3.4 I refused to take medication since I am afraid of the side effects, I have been taking calico AlgaeCal, strontium and walking. I was helping my daughter in her apt and fell down 3 times, also I felt down in my bath and nothing breake. I never have a breake bone in my life. And I do no take medicaments. Now my Dr told me that I need to take forteo for the Hight risk since I. Did no taking other drugs. I am really undicided if I take it or not. The only thing I am doing is walking and taking my calcium, eating better, everything that improve bones is the only thing I ate, I neend to wait till Sept 2015 for my next Dexa. I would let you all know if with exercise and calcium and eating the right stuff is enough, if not I will start forteo. But a least I want to take the risk of getting better without the risk of getting cancer or other health problems due to the medicaments. I am really scare, but at the same time say to my self, my mother have osteoporosis felt down many times and never fracture a bone why it should happen to me? It is not God how will know what happen. No the doctors?
Four years ago I began FORTEO injections. After a month my body begain to hurt all over, then came the upset stomach, after 6 months I carried a paper bag all the time because I gagged so bad. AT Seven months I quit. I made about 5 calls to Lilly at this time. All they did was ask me all kinds of questions, each time the same questions. I could not get any answers from them. Before starting forteo my kidneys were fine, 3 months after I stopped I still had upset stomach and passed out 3 times. Had doctor do enascope and blood work. My HGB was 9.6 and other blood work showed Kidney Failure. Since, I have go for injections, every 4 – 6 weeks to keep my blood count up to 11. IS THERE ANY ONE ELSE OUT THERE THAT MAY HAVE GOTTEN KIDNEY DISEASE TOO FROM FORTEO ???? PS my bone density never changed in 7 months.
The half life of Forteo is less than an hour. Any lasting nausea is usually caused by the anxiety of injecting something into your body. Understand that forteo is biologically identical to the first 34 amino acids of the PTH your body produces naturally.
John what is your experience with Forteo? Do you prescribe it?
6 weeks ago i began FORTEO injections after a week I felt chest pain then I went to Urgent care they told me the forteo is cause me the acid Reflux also they gave me other medicine since then i been feeling worse.now i have upset stomach a week ago i stop one medicine next Friday i will see my Dr. so I will quit FORTEO because I am on pain all over my body.
What are your thought about Magnesium Infusion™ is a ‘Pharmaceutical Grade’ Magnesium Chloride Hexahydrate derived using a critical extraction method from Dead Sea Minerals
This is a spray that you spray your skin with to improve your bone health they claim that magnesium is need to move calcium from tissue to your bones. This spray is found at Nature City Products
NatureCity
This sounds like witch doctor medicine–
Witch Doctor medicine? How absurd! The magnesium works! Do your research.
You think it makes sense to fix a mineral or vitamin deficiency with a drug instead of with vitimins and minerals, which all work together inside your body to give back what it lost, causing the condition in the first place? That’s insane.
What is the best alternative to Forteau? I can’t spend another winter afraid I will slip, fall, and end up with several broken bones. The doc keeps pushing the Forteau. I would like an option, something to compare it to.
I have been on forteo for about 8 weeks now and my pains are getting worse each day. So much that tomorrow at my GP’s office I am going to tell him that I am coming off this terrible drug and not going to see my specialist anymore. I have severe bone loss but at 68 I would rather risk a fracture then continue taking this drug, maybe it would be worth it if I were much younger, but I promise you the pain is so bad and I have enough to deal with pain due to bone spurs in my neck and surgeries in my neck and back…Just saying it is not worth it to me as of tomorrow I hope to stop destroying my body with Forteo….
Every one take my advise don’t ever take Forteo i took it 1 year now it has been 3 years. July 2012 i got 1 fracture in my right foot and my lower back.In September 2012 both feet started hurting at the same time.October the MRI showed 10 fractures in my right foot the fracture in July did not heal my left foot i had 8 fractures in it.I had 6 fractures in my lower spine,memory loss and weight loss.I can’t walk 5 feet without more fractures.I do have osteoporosis after the sever pain i have had i will never take anything for it again.
My mother who has broken her hip. Now has broken her clavicle and ribs. The doctor wants her to take Forteo. She also has Croans diesease
Are these adverse events being reported? Your doctor should contact the Lilly Pharmacovigilance Department at 1-800-Lilly-RX (800-545-5979).
The website is: https://lilly.com/products/patient-safety/providers-role/Pages/report-adverse-events.aspx
I have been to the Save Our Bones site before. On behalf of my wife, whom is 59 years old, I need to tell this story. Please be patient.
Prologue:
She has had about everything imaginable happen to her during the 12+ years we have been happily married. She lost her spleen due due to a complication of surgery in 2003, she suffered loss of vision due to Optical neuropathy in 2001. In 2010 was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Thankfully she survived all the horrible chemo, and radiation, and underwent a 7.5 hour surgery, in 2011, where 80% of her pancreas was removed, along with the remnants of the cancer. She is cancer free. But was also diagnosed sometime in 2010, with severe osteoporosis.
1st she was put on Fosamax, which caused her to neck to hurt and indigestion. The Dr. said not to take it because of the reaction. Whatever other alternatives there were, she could not do, due to one or another contradictions with other health problems or conflicting medications. Which brought her to the Forteo choice. We were even given a grant for the $2000 worth of meds still in our fridge.
The truth: Wednesday Sept 26th, 2012 in a instructor led classroom, she, along with others administered their first shots. The nurse/instructor told them that if they were going to have an adverse reaction, they would know in 10 minutes or so. After 15 mins, everyone left, apparently nobody had problems. HOWEVER, after about 5 minutes more when Maggie (my wife) went downstairs to wait for her ride, she was overcome by what she can only describe as the back of her head wanted to explode, this coming in waves , like birth contractions. Followed by the same intense and unbearable pain, in her calves. Luckily, this site is located near both our local hospital, and a walk-in clinic. She got the nurse within 5 minutes and went to the clinic. The doctor she recants, sort of took this in stride and he looked up some info on his iPad, and maintained that it was indeed a side effect. DUH…..
I got the call at work after she went home. The intense pain waves in her head and calves subsided. But she still had a headache. She described it as the pain you have after a migraine (yes she takes meds for those too). That was yesterday. Today she awoke early in the am, headache just as it was yesterday. I took her to our GP and although he is not an expert, and obviously knows the injection was the cause. He wants to know why or how, himself. He believes that the injection caused a metabolic imbalance. Hence the reason he sent her to the lab, for a blood draw, to check on calcium, magnesium, and I can’t remember the third component. All in the hopes of finding what went wrong.
We’ll know the results Monday or Tuesday. Anyone wanting to know know more about this, you will be able to email me directly.
Epilogue: Maggie is 59. Takes several different Rx’s. Oh, by the way, one of the drugs that it said to avoid taking it with, is Advair. Yes she takes that. Whether it’s found out that it was a drug interaction, or that the shot caused an unnatural or unstable metabolic reaction, that trigged the very horrible adverse reaction, she won’t take any more.
I would hate to see almost $2k worth of Forteo be destroyed.
Sincerely,
Steve (bidelmanst at yahoo dot com)
Hello,
My name is Randa, I suffer from a very severe osteoporosis. This morning was my very first injection and I had exactly the same wavy pain in my neck, head, lower back. Same as contractions that were leaving me with such a shortness of breathing. My head was exploding. Was rushed in ambulance to hospital. The symptoms occurred after exactly 15 minutes of the injection, the teaching nurse was still at my place. I’m back home now with a terrible migraine but reading and googling about it, found your testimony, flabbergasted because of the similarities in the adverse reaction, decided to drop you a note. Please did you know better of what happened to Maggie, if it was an metabolism imbalance or a medication interaction?
Thank you so so much for giving me some feed back. Did she use it again?
The medicine costs 7000 INR in India. You can buy it from India, but I don’t know about the legal aspect.
How was Forteo prescribed when the company states that nobody who has received radiotherapy should get this drug. I ask because I have had radiotherapy and have been refused Forteo.
I started Forteo in February 2012. This website has been very helpful in hearing other people’s stories, since February my overall health has really deteriorated. I have an extreme lack of energy,my wrist and hands ache, and
I have a lot of flim build up in my esophagus. I have lost about 15 pounds and have little appetite. I have gone from a healthy man to extreme feeling of being unwell. I’ve also suffered from shortness of breath which I haven’t seen other people complain of , but I had my heart checked completely and it’s very healthy! it’s been so helpful to know that others have these side effects. I’ve been relating them to other possible causes. I called my doctor and he was very defensive but did say to stop the
Forteo. I’m going to stop it today and will let you know if my good health returns.
Sincerely, Lazyj
I have been on Forteo for one month and have shortness of breath, loss of appetite and extreme fatigue. I haven’t had any factures in the past month which is a big improvement because I had 7 spontaneous fractures in 4 months after being treated with steroids for Crohn’s Disease. I see my doc on Monday and will probably stay on the Forteo as long as the symptoms don’t get worse. I’m going to try pilates for osteo now that I am stabilized.
please let me know what happens. i have myasthenia gravis and asthma and i am to start forteo in 2 days. i am scared to death of it.
My GYN has prescribed since my bone density test revealed -3.5 on my hips. I am 53. Thought I was healthy. Never broke a bone, have one crowned tooth in the back. No pain (not even Advil in my med cabinet) I do need to eat better, and exercise more. I am little 5’5 115 lbs. which comes naturally. After reserching the internet on this drug I say NO WAY! I wiil clean up my diet, excercise and take more vitamins and supplements. I am not a guinea pig!
Me too – same age. Gyno gave me the option for Forteo – read the reviews and I think I’m going to pass. 5’3, 116 pounds (petite). I walk daily but I’ve now increased my walks, started taking calcium and vitamin d (never did – I’m a very healthy eater – just can’t drink milk – makes me sick). I think I’ll choose Boniva and then get another bone density test next year.
I HATE the fact that I would be taking a medicate that if I’ve ever lost my job (husband is self employed so we depend on my health insurance) then what? I can’t pay 600.00 a month for a medication that may or may not work.
Glad to see that others have the same doubts as I do.
my ins. co. was billed $1100.00 for my first dose of injections. how can they justify that? and it may or may not work. i think i will opt not to use the forteo. too many adverse side affects. i already have myasthenia gravis and asthma. don’t need any more problems.
I am the same. I am 54 and was diagonised wit severe osteoporsis in my spine with a t score of -2.8. I have esophogus problems and therefore can not take any Fosomax etc by mouth. My doctor said Foreto is my only option. I am totally surprised by this diagonsis – I have never broken a bone. I am really afraid to take Forteo because of the side effects but wonder if I should because I of my age. I am terrified of needles (still cry when I get a shot) and then recently read that people can lose their hair – not to sound vain, but I have beautiful hair. I don’t like to do any research on what to do, because I feel lik my options are limited and I start to get discouraged when I read anything about osteoporosis. My husband is self employed and I pay for my own insurance – I am terrified of fracturing a bone and losing everything I have to be in a state run nursing home! Any suggestions would be great!
I am 55 and have been taking Forteo for almost one year. I too had osteo in my spine (-3.5) I have seen a marked improvement in my spine which is now at -2.6. I have had no ill effects from the drug and have been religious about giving myself the shot every day, along with Ca and Vit D. I will continue to take Forteo for another year and then switch to Reclast (most liekly) to preserve what I have gained back. The needle feels like barely a pinch. I have gotten used to it. Yes, it’s a pain in the rear, but it’s worth it to see such a dramatic change. Best of luck to you!
i drink ovaltine every day several times a day in soy milk. i too have significant bone loss, but i think i am better off taking my chances with an altered diet, and using natyral, possible remedies, and skip the osteocsarcoma. i have 5 fractures in my spine, have never broken a bone so i think forteo is a bit extreme for me. i am 63 years old.
That t-score is surely not even mild osteoporosis.
good for you. i think i will also clean up my diet and take my chances. i drink ovaltine several times daily in soy milk. forteo scares me and i do not need any more problems added to the ones i already have. thank you for your input.
I WAS STARTED ON FORTEO LAST SUNDAY (ONE WEEK AGO). I STARTED OUT WITH 1 FX RT. WRIST> FX PELVIS >ANOTHER FX PELVIS> 6 FX RIBS, FX FINGER, FX ANKLE> ONE MORE FX PELVIS AND FX ANKLE. THEN FX TO BACK IN 2006 AND ANOTHER BACK FX IN 2010 THEN 3 MORE BACK FX THIS MARCH TO L AND T-SPINE. DOCTORS SAID THAT FORTEO MAY HELP. WHAT WOULD YOU DO.
As I wrote just before your entry…forteo worked wonders for me!!! It greatly improved my T-scores and obviously strengthened my bones enough to endure a horrific fall without any fractures! I, personally, am so grateful for the invention of this medication. For the most part, I do not like to use pharmaceuticals and look for other healing/treating modalities; however, there are times when a medication is beneficial. Forteo literally saved my life. If you chose to maintain this course of treatment, may it help you as it did me. Jo
I don’t think anything is 100% good or bad. Forteo saved my life! When I started taking Forteo in 2006, my T-score was
-5.3 and my ribs were fracturing literally from rolling over in bed. After the 5th rib fractured (I thought I was just having muscle spasms until a PET scan proved otherwise) my endocrinologist recommended Forteo. At that time, after forteo had been available for 4 years, there had not been one documented case of osteosarcoma in a human. I felt it was “take the forteo or risk my lower spinal column crumbling”. I took the forteo injections daily for 2 years until 2008 with absolutely no side effects. In 2009, my dexascan score was -3.1. At that time, I had a very serious fall while holding something in each hand. I landed directly on my chest and chin requiring 6 stitches in my chin. My chest was bruised from the falls impact and very painful. And…nothing broke!!! If not for the forteo, I would have ended up like a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle with bone fragments ripping into my heart and lungs. My belief is: saying something is always “bad” is the same as saying something is always “good.” I’ve been maintaining stable T scores. Also, I’m VERY grateful for this SaveOurBones program. I stopped fosamax 6 months ago, made significant changes in my diet (I had no idea about alkaline/acidic foods and learned I had been eating about 80-90% acidic foods) and feel empowered and wonderful! Yeah to us all for taking care of ourselves!…and thank you to Vivien!
pls tell me how the last year has done with the forteo ?
especially regarding your statements about acidic food .
hi!,I like your writing very a lot! share we keep in touch extra approximately your post on AOL? I require a specialist on this house to solve my problem. May be that is you! Looking forward to see you.
HIGH VIVIAN;
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INFO. ON FORTEO.MY DOCTOR SUGGESTED A NEEDLE CALLED
PROLIA. HOWEVER, I WENT ON MY COMPUTER & FOUND OUT THAT I SHOULD NOT
TAKE IT & MY PHARMASIST AGREED . SHE ALSO MENTIONED FORTEO –NOT TO
TAKE IT EITHER.
I am suffering from serious osteoporosis because no doctor bothered to find out WHY I had osteoporosis. They just wanted to prescribe Fosamax. This went on for several years until I went to a good Endocrinologist who found out using 2 simple blood tests that I have parathyroid disease. I am awaiting surgery.
In the process of researching parathyroid disorders, I came across some interesting things about FORTEO. There are some other very mysterious things about this drug also. For instance, why was it approved by the FDA for osteoporosis when it was developed specifically for a very rare disorder called hypOparathyroidism? In addition, why do the foremost experts in the world on parathyroids and PTH NOT RECOMMEND FORTEO for the treatment of osteporosis? It appears that FORTEO was approved for osteoporosis AFTER it was developed and approved for hypOparathyroidism, which is very rare. Oh and how do over 99% of people with hypOparathyroidism get it in the first place? By being operated on for hyperparathyroidism by a clumsy general surgeon, who accidentally removed all traced of parathyroid tissue, leaving the hapless patient not able to regulate calcium in their bodies.
Thyroid cancer also removes your parathyroid glands. They try to save two of them, but ?? Depends on the surgery. I have one, and they lost sight of the other. They are real small.
I feel for the people that go to doctors & follows orders without hesitation regarding pharmaceuticals. It’s like sheep being led to slaughter. One should research & educate themselves at least to a certain extent. I would never be put in a position to be used as a guinea pig like that & for that amount of money?! I was diagnosed with osteo years ago, had some symptoms show up but w/checking out all my options on alternatives (I am taking 50,000 units a mo. of Vit.D3, & K2.) Do other supplementation of the best available along with tonic herbs & bone strengthening exercises. I’m back at Risk now. I’m feeling fine. I believe in what I’m doing because it resonates with me. I could never believe in toxic synthetics put into my system.
You really are smart, aren’t you? But do you really feel you need to deride other people? After all, everyone has different backgrounds, and you can’t possibly know what made a person take osteo drugs. I think this forum would be a lot nicer if we stayed away from mockery and tried to support each other instead.
I’d sure love to know what all you’re taking. I am seriously considering starting Forteo this week.