Considering Forteo

Posted by lisitabelle @lisitabelle, Feb 22 7:54am

Hello everyone,

My doctor would like me to start Forteo. I am 62 and have what is considered severe osteoporosis. It has been stable for many years and I have been treating it holistically (fit and exercise) and with Evista. Due to my age and underlying Panhypopituitarism (needing steroids for most my life) , my doctor is very concerned about my bones.

Has anybody used Forteo and how has that been? I am concerned about side effects and he mentioned that the black box warning of osteocarcinoma has been removed, but I still worry about that as well. It’s one of those things that I need to consider the benefits versus the negative side effects.

Thank you all so much for any information you may have.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Osteoporosis & Bone Health Support Group.

Profile picture for lisitabelle @lisitabelle

@luckypup It’s funny you say that because I need to go pick up the Rx for needles at CVS, but haven’t yet gotten the med from CVS specialty. 😂
It may be next week for me too.
😊

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@lisitabelle and @luckypup
you can order on amazon without script https://www.amazon.com/s
probably lower cost with insurance
I use these with Forteo BD Ultra-fine 32G (a little finer than the 31 G) 4mm shorter than the 5 to 8 recommended for Tymlos

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Profile picture for gently @gently

@lisitabelle and @luckypup
you can order on amazon without script https://www.amazon.com/s
probably lower cost with insurance
I use these with Forteo BD Ultra-fine 32G (a little finer than the 31 G) 4mm shorter than the 5 to 8 recommended for Tymlos

Jump to this post

@gently Wow! Thank you for that! Very useful info 🙂

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Thank you for the tips! Going by a Dollar store today 🙂

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FWIW, I had first in JanuDXA scan in 2014 at age 57. I didn't find out the results until 2016. I was told I had the bones of a 70 year old woman at age 57. Fosomax from 2016 to 2019 until it caused bad gut issues, so I stopped. I'm still left with gut issues from that. I read in a white paper that Fosomax stays in the body continuing to work for 10 years after you stop. That it also pulls from the femurs to fee the hips and pelvic region. That was years ago and I cannot locate that same white paper. Judging form the surgeon's comments and sort of odd behavior I feel that white paper was right.
I broke my femur in January. It snapped like a dry branch even after years of exercise, good diet, all the right supplements. The femur broke in midfall, not when I hit the ground. So finally got apporved for Forteo after a 2 month struggle with insurance. Began treatment 2 April. That first injection , after 5 to 10 mintues , severe bone pain in lower lumbar and pelvic region of my back. It lasted for about 20 minutes in intensity then began to subside. My husband panicked and called 911. By the time the ambulance got there, it was already simmering down. I was left with a headache and nausea I managed with meds. My doctor said stop so I did. A week later, after giving it thought, I knew there was nothing else I could take so I decided to tough out the pain until my body adjusted. I was fully expecting the same reaction. 7 days between 1st and 2nd injection. My doctor gave me the green light. So far, so good, no really bad anything. Minor headaches and/or nausea and other days nothing. Some fatigue. I don't have a choice, this is the only medicine that seems promising. According to the PA for a followup after my surgery, she said I fell in the rare 5 to 10 % of people who have that sort of reaction.
Prolia and Reclast are off the table due to how bad my osteoporosis is. I can't risk my other femur breaking. I've given birth twice with no meds and would rather go through 10 more no meds births than break a femur. It was the worst pain ever. Everyone is different, so take my experience for what it's worth. I'm glad I decided to push through with the Teriparatide/Forteo.

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