← Return to Forteo (teriparatide) followed by HRT: My Experience

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@mayblin
I read ur post and was happy to hear that Forteo is working for u. I have severe osteoporosis and have bilateral hip replacements so my ortho surgeon told me that I must do something for my osteoporosis. I was prescribed Forteo but have not started taking it yet. I was told I will need Fosomax or Reclast after Forteo. I am afraid of bisphosphonates bc I have alot of dental problems and I have many teeth that are capped but might need dental implants in a few yrs. I am on a .075 transdermal estrogen patch and was wondering if that could hold my gains from the Forteo. From reading ur post it sounds like the HRT is holding ur gains. Can I ask u if u think a transdermal estrogen patch could hold my gains? Thank u for reading this and for any suggestions. I wish you healthy bones! : )

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Replies to "@mayblin I read ur post and was happy to hear that Forteo is working for u...."

Thank you, @goseve.

There are two small clinical studies that examined the use of teriparatide (the active ingredient in Forteo) in combination with HRT. In one of the studies, participants continued HRT alone for one year after stopping teriparatide, and their bone density remained stable. It's worth noting though, that the treatment dosing regimens in those studies differed from yours - you'll be using 20 mcg of teriparatide along with a 0.075 mg estradiol patch - so the findings cannot be directly applied to your situation. I'd be happy to share links to the studies if you're interested in reading them.

Given your bilateral hip replacements, your managing physician will likely need to consider not only your overall bone strength but also the long-term stability of the bone surrounding the implants.

If you decide to rely on HRT alone for skeletal protection after Forteo, I think it’s good idea to discuss this plan with your doctors early on; whether the approach is appropriate for your situation, how best to monitor the maintenance of your Forteo gains (such as with DXA scans and possibly bone turnover markers), and what backup options might be available if additional treatment becomes necessary.

Good luck on your journey, and please keep us posted on your progress.