Forteo weight gain…anyone experience this?

Posted by penk0213 @penk0213, Apr 16, 2023

I have gained weight recently at the 3 month mark of using Forteo. It is not listed as a side effect.

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Profile picture for kave @kave

I've never replied on a comment section before. I was extremely happy to read the other comments on Forte and weight. The literature does not emphasize but I have experienced this big time. I'm over 65 but I've always had a low weight so when I noticed how much weight I put on at least 10 # after about 2 1/2 months, primarily in the belly, I kept asking what was I doing that I put on so much weight. I wouldn't have been able to confirm this except for all your comments! Forteo absolutely causes weight gain. I've also had numerous falls and couldn't figure out why. I think this is due to the Forteo too. Once I had the beginning of a fall I could not stop the fall, if that makes sense. I just fell twice again today taking my dog for a walk. I stopped the Forteo about 1 1/2 weeks ago so I hope to reduce falls and weight gain. Thanks everyone.

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I was on Forteo for 9 months. I had some side effects. Weight gain, constipation, dizzy spells, lethargy and alopecia areata.
Are you falling due to dizziness?

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Profile picture for dcook0154 @dcook0154

How long after stopping forteo do you lose weight

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On the Inspire forum, a woman claimed she lost 12 lbs within 4 months of stopping forteo with no exercise.
We are all different but seeing as this is a synthetic hormone, I’m hoping that stopping it will yield weight loss, especially the belly fat. Ugh!

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Profile picture for kave @kave

I've never replied on a comment section before. I was extremely happy to read the other comments on Forte and weight. The literature does not emphasize but I have experienced this big time. I'm over 65 but I've always had a low weight so when I noticed how much weight I put on at least 10 # after about 2 1/2 months, primarily in the belly, I kept asking what was I doing that I put on so much weight. I wouldn't have been able to confirm this except for all your comments! Forteo absolutely causes weight gain. I've also had numerous falls and couldn't figure out why. I think this is due to the Forteo too. Once I had the beginning of a fall I could not stop the fall, if that makes sense. I just fell twice again today taking my dog for a walk. I stopped the Forteo about 1 1/2 weeks ago so I hope to reduce falls and weight gain. Thanks everyone.

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I’m on Tymlos and had weight gain the first several months of treatment, primarily in my belly, about 15# total. At 72 years old I’m now struggling to lose it

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Some say with anabolic OP drugs you can have *growing pains* like what happens during growth spurts in puberty. That's also a time of increased appetite. When my kids were gobbling up their food and asking for more, I'd often say, "You must be having a growth spurt."
I don't think this is much different. The food is providing the building blocks we need to build bone. It can't be grown from nothing. Our bodies are going through an artificially induced growth spurt, and it's making us (some of us) hungry.
The biggest challenge is craving things that are unhealthy. I've been keeping those out of the house, and loading the fridge with things that are good for my bones.
I've also found that some of what I think is hunger is actually thirst, so, to stop myself from overconsuming, I'm also drinking far more water than I used to.
I'm 4 months into Evenity treatment, and I've put on 12 lbs so far. I trust my body when it tells me that I need to eat more, because that's something I haven't experienced much since being a teen.

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Profile picture for vkmov @vkmov

Does anyone know if there are any interactions between Forteo and weight loss drugs like Wegovy or Zepbound?

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Yes. With my frustration over this weight gain and loss of my waistline, I did research. It shows the semaglutide accelerates osteo/ bone erosion.

I’m moving to Prolia after 18 months on Forteo and already looking at liposuction for this forteo jelly roll.

Best of luck to you!

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Profile picture for tricia225 @tricia225

Yes. With my frustration over this weight gain and loss of my waistline, I did research. It shows the semaglutide accelerates osteo/ bone erosion.

I’m moving to Prolia after 18 months on Forteo and already looking at liposuction for this forteo jelly roll.

Best of luck to you!

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Thanks! I appreciate your response. I think it is in part because people skip meals on Wegovy because they aren’t as hungry. I’m going to go forward and make sure I’m still getting enough protein, etc. I heard back from my doctor who said: “No direct interactions with the Forteo and Wegovy of which we are aware
Some diabetes/weight loss medications (possibly the GLP-1 agonists such as Wegovy) can be "bad" for the bone. The jury is still out on whether and how significant this is with this group of medications.It is an area of ongoing research. If the benefits of using it outweigh the risks, then it can be used.”

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I started Forteo on Jan. 11, 2024. Every month at one of my many doctor appointments, I was always gaining slowly. I weighed 110 in December 2023 and now I weigh 130 and mostly the extra weight is in the abdomen and thighs, I have itchy skin and pain in both knees.

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Profile picture for tricia225 @tricia225

Yes, I began with Tymlos in late November and the weight gain began in earnest by February. I switched to Forteo in April as I couldn't take the side effects of Tymlos and that's when the weight and the belly appeared. And, yes, soooo distressing and I know its health over vanity, but, still...

I called the mfr and they claim having never heard of this before, despite me reading it on every forum like this one and my primary doc saying she's heard the same from others. Trouble is, they did the clinical research 32 years ago and, unless we all begin dying from this thing, they don't ever go back and keep monitoring and retooling the product to optimize it.
Best of luck to you.

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Since January, I've put on 20 pounds. It's really frustrating that Lilly continues to deny that weight gain could be a side effect. I believe that everyone's body reacts differently. Even the doctors seem to dismiss it. I dread taking the shot because the weight gain is also taking a toll on my joints.

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I am not experiencing this after being on Forteo now 4 months, however when I spoke to the Specialty Pharmacy issuing my Forteo that people are posting this as happening - her response was you all should report it to the FDA as it’s only after they hit a number that is statistically significant that they can then add that as a potential side effect. If you all did this you could impact that and possibly change the information given as a side effect of that drug.

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Profile picture for hopeful2025 @hopeful2025

I started Forteo on Jan. 11, 2024. Every month at one of my many doctor appointments, I was always gaining slowly. I weighed 110 in December 2023 and now I weigh 130 and mostly the extra weight is in the abdomen and thighs, I have itchy skin and pain in both knees.

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I'm on tymlos and having pain in both knees too. It's harder to go up and down the stairs and I've only been on it for 4 months.

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