Forteo

Generic name: Teriparatide
Drug class: Parathyroid hormone and analogs

Usage of Forteo

Forteo is a man-made form of parathyroid hormone that exists naturally in the body. Teriparatide increases bone mineral density and bone strength, which may prevent fractures.

Forteo is used to treat osteoporosis caused by menopause, steroid use, or gonadal failure.

Forteo is for use when you have a high risk of bone fracture due to osteoporosis.

Forteo side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Forteo: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

bone pain;

new or unusual swelling or lumps under your skin;

a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out (may occur within 4 hours after injection);

pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest after using an injection; or

high calcium levels - confusion, muscle weakness, nausea, vomiting, lack of energy, constipation, increased thirst or urination, weight loss.

Common Forteo side effects may include:

nausea;

joint pain; or

pain anywhere in your body.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Forteo

You should not use Forteo if you are allergic to teriparatide.

Forteo is not for use in children or young adults whose bones are still growing.

To make sure Forteo is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

Paget's disease or a bone disease other than osteoporosis;

bone cancer or radiation treatment;

a genetic condition that increases your risk of bone cancer;

overactive parathyroid glands;

high blood levels of calcium;

a painful skin condition caused by too much calcium;

kidney failure;

a kidney stone; or

an autoimmune disorder such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or psoriasis.

It is not known whether teriparatide will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

It is not known whether teriparatide passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while using Forteo.

Relate drugs

How to use Forteo

Usual Adult Dose for Osteoporosis:

20 mcg suBCutaneously once a day into the thigh or abdominal wall -Duration of Therapy: Lifetime use greater than 2 years should only be considered if fracture risk remains high Comments: -This drug is indicated for men and women as described below who are at high risk for fracture or who have failed or are intolerant to other available osteoporosis therapy. -High fracture is defined as history of osteoporotic fracture or multiple risk factors for fracture. -Supplemental calcium and vitamin D should be taken if daily dietary intake is inadequate. Uses: -For the treatment of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis -To increase bone mass in men with primary or hypogonadal osteoporosis -For the treatment of men and women with osteoporosis associated with sustained systemic glucocorticoid (equivalent to prednisone 5 mg/day or greater)

Warnings

Forteo has caused bone cancer (osteosarcoma) in animals but it is not known whether this would occur in people using this medicine. Talk with your doctor about your own risk.

Tell your doctor if you have conditions such as Paget's disease, high blood levels of calcium or alkaline phosphatase, or a history of bone cancer or radiation treatment involving your bones.

Avoid smoking cigarettes or drinking alcohol. Smoking or heavy drinking can reduce your bone mineral density, making fractures more likely.

What other drugs will affect Forteo

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

digoxin, digitalis.

warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven); or

a steroid medicine (such as hydrocortisone, prednisone, methylprednisolone, and others).

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with teriparatide, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.