I could not tolerate Forteo. My heart sped up and I felt like I was going to pass out, and my lungs had an icy pain. I went to an immunologist to try to get on it by desensitization but the same thing happened, even at 10% of the normal dose. The immunologist said my immune system had "gone awry." I wondered if I had some sort of sensitivity to the carrier solution rather than the active medication itself.

Several years passed. I tried to get on a study for the Tymlos patch, thinking Tymlos injections might have the same effect and that a patch would be gentler. I offered to drive 4 hours a few times a month. I was all set to go when they called and said that the two doses of Forteo in the past, disqualified me.

Then I fractured three lumbar vertebrae and went on shots. I am relieved and happy that I can take Tymlos. It's been 6 months. As I have written here already, I started at 2 clicks of the pen and have been on 7 clicks for months. I still can't handle 8 clicks. My doc is thrilled with 6 or 7.

If anyone else cannot handle Forteo, don't make the same mistake and assume that Tymlo would also be a problem. And vice versa. They both affect parathyroid function, but there are differences in how they work and differences in inactive ingredients as well.