Loss of BMD in hips after taking Forteo or teriparatide?

Posted by lynn59 @lynn59, Mar 29 9:14pm

I’m scheduled to start a biosimilar to Forteo in a couple of weeks and I just read a post today from a woman who lost bone density in her hips after being on Forteo. I got interrupted and couldn’t find the post again, so I’m asking the question here as now I’m afraid to start. My T-score in my spine is -3.1 and my hips are -2.8. I’m borderline whether I need an anabolic and the only reason I’m doing it is because I downhill ski, as well as cross-country and backcountry skiing. I can’t afford to lose in my hips. My endocrinologist warned I may lose in my forearm, but she didn’t say anything about losing in my hips. Now I’m wondering if I should not start it and just go on a Actonel, Reclast or Prolia …. Or do nothing! This is all scaring me silly.

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windyshores | @windyshores | Apr 8 5:55pm

In reply to @lynn59 "Hi! I’m just watching a video by Dr. Susan Ott that says it takes 3-5 years..." + (show)

@lynn59 My DEXA gains were at 18 months.

lynn59 | @lynn59 | Apr 9 7:22am

Good to know. I decided to get a baseline DEXA at a new facility that offers TBS and will measure my forearm as well. I’ll get my next DEXA in two years after I finish Osnuvo (Forteo bio-similar). I also decided not to do bone markers. I talked to my endocrinologist yesterday and she assured me that my bloodwork shows I’m a very good candidate for this drug, and I will benefit with stronger bones, even if it doesn’t show up in my DEXA. She isn’t interested in following my bone markers, so I don’t want to spend the money and worry unnecessarily. I’m completely changing my mind on this. My sister is a clinical trial nurse at a prestigious breast cancer clinic here in Toronto, and she said some of her patients get blood markers done regularly but no one looks at them but the patient!

My endocrinologist assured me I would not lose in my hip, but the forearm has more PTH receptors so I can potentially lose there. I watched a video by Dr. Susan Ott showing a “movie” of how teriparatide works on bone, and she commented that it can take 3-5 years to completely mineralize. The drug creates tunnels in our bone, which in effect create new branches, giving us stronger bones, as well as adding new bone on existing bone.