1. < Osteoporosis & Bone Health

Forteo vs. Tymlos: Which did you choose?

Posted by suze317 @suze317, Oct 17, 2018

I have to make a decision on Forteo vs. Tymlos and am not sure what to choose. Forteo has been around a lot longer, but has to be refrigerated. Tymlos only around 1 1/2 years but is shelf stable and seems to have less side effects and less issues with calcium. Can anyone offer their perspective? Thank you!

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lkel | @lkel | Sep 12, 2022
In reply to @mj20 "Thanks so much for your reply. I had read about lingering pain, so I was nervous..." + (show)
@mj20

Thanks so much for your reply. I had read about lingering pain, so I was nervous about that. I am also uncomfortable about giving myself a shot every day, but I'll do what I have to do. Thank you so much for your help.

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Hi mj20, jumping in here. I have needle aversion, but I do it anyway. I remind myself that have a cousin that gives herself insulin injections twice a day and will for the rest of her life. I only have to do Forteo for 3 years.
With Forteo, the needles are very small so discomfort is minimal.
I have a Dexa Scan scheduled for tomorrow to see how it's going.

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mj20 | @mj20 | Sep 12, 2022
In reply to @jmanj "Honestly giving yourself the shots is just about painless. The needles are hair-fine, meaning extremely tiny...." + (show)
@jmanj

Honestly giving yourself the shots is just about painless. The needles are hair-fine, meaning extremely tiny. I gave myself the shots in my abdomen … just bunched up a “pinch” of tummy and administered the shot. The most I had over two years were a couple of tiny bruises at the injection site. The first couple felt a bit strange, and then it was easy.

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Thank you! I was really nervous about it! Not looking forward to it, but will do it anyway! Thanks for your support!

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mj20 | @mj20 | Sep 12, 2022
In reply to @jmanj "Honestly giving yourself the shots is just about painless. The needles are hair-fine, meaning extremely tiny...." + (show)
@jmanj

Honestly giving yourself the shots is just about painless. The needles are hair-fine, meaning extremely tiny. I gave myself the shots in my abdomen … just bunched up a “pinch” of tummy and administered the shot. The most I had over two years were a couple of tiny bruises at the injection site. The first couple felt a bit strange, and then it was easy.

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This helps so much. I am really thin, but I'll find some tummy to pinch! You really helped. Thanks!

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bee1950 | @bee1950 | Sep 12, 2022
In reply to @mj20 "Hello everyone, I recently had dexa scan and have very bad osteoporosis, from -3.7 to -4.7...." + (show)
@mj20

Hello everyone,
I recently had dexa scan and have very bad osteoporosis, from -3.7 to -4.7. I am tall and thin and in my late 60s. I haven't had any symptoms. I also have lung infections which I'm being treated for and a history of ulcerative colitis. My rheumatologist wants to put me on Forteo, which you inject . Has anyone had any experience with Forteo? I am a little nervous about any side effects. Thanks so much for any advice.

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Hi,
I just wanted to add another positive experience (so far) with Forteo. I have been injecting it for about 6 months without any side effects or problems. I qualified for the Lilly cares program & receive free medication. It was originally suggested that I take Forteo over 15 yrs ago & after my latest bone density test, I believed it was necessary. I also have a lung condition & lung infection diagnosed nearly 5 yrs ago, but no treatment to date. I hope you also have a positive experiences with Forteo.

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1 reply
mj20 | @mj20 | Sep 12, 2022
In reply to @bee1950 "Hi, I just wanted to add another positive experience (so far) with Forteo. I have been..." + (show)
@bee1950

Hi,
I just wanted to add another positive experience (so far) with Forteo. I have been injecting it for about 6 months without any side effects or problems. I qualified for the Lilly cares program & receive free medication. It was originally suggested that I take Forteo over 15 yrs ago & after my latest bone density test, I believed it was necessary. I also have a lung condition & lung infection diagnosed nearly 5 yrs ago, but no treatment to date. I hope you also have a positive experiences with Forteo.

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Thanks so much, Bee1950 ! I am glad you are not experiencing side effects. That makes me feel better. I am in treatment for my lung infections currently, so that's another challenge I'm facing. It's good to know the Forteo will be ok, except for the needles! Thank you for your input.

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nancyoinnc | @nancyoinnc | Sep 13, 2022

I'm almost 4 weeks in to Forteo, and I think the side effects I was attributing to Forteo were instead the new strain of Covid: sore throat, migraine, extreme fatigue. I had all of those when I got Omicron last January, and I was just home from Acadia National Park when I started Forteo. (I've had 2 vaccinations & 2 boosters, traveled masked, & observed as many precautions as I could while traveling, but evidently my immune system is wimpy). Now I just have the remaining tiny dread of the needle but am getting better at imagining my osteoblasts getting all juiced up & getting to work after my nightly shot.

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etartaglione | @etartaglione | Sep 16, 2022

I have been taking forteo for 10 months no side effects but I also juice 50 oz of vegetable juice daily I can't wait to see the results

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etartaglione | @etartaglione | Oct 2, 2022

i have been taking forteo for 1 year no side effects

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ssapp1 | @ssapp1 | Oct 3, 2022

I went on Tymlos for 2 years. I only did this over Forteo because it is what my insurance covered. Only side effect is that sometimes I would get dizzy for awhile, so I started doing the injections at night, problem solved. I was very happy with it because it is easy to inject and I hate needles!! It is just a small pen needle. Then I went on prolia, then evenity. Now I am looking to go back on Tymlos. I think I got the most positive results from it. You can only be on it for 2 years, then you have to be something else for 2 years and then back on for 2 years.

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rubyz | @rubyz | Oct 10, 2022
In reply to @leacy "Thank you for reaching out to me. I’ll be happy to check out these links, and..." + (show)
@leacy

Thank you for reaching out to me. I’ll be happy to check out these links, and hear from others.
That is also what I know about TYMLOS, that detail is attractive to me. I have not been treated for osteoporosis before. Every two years, I went to radiology for bone density tests, each test progressively worse, not reaching osteoporosis til this year. Then I was referred to, Center for Osteoporosis, UCONN Musculoskeletal Institute. Come to find out in my spine I have 1or 2 vertebrae @ 3.4. After a urine test I was told I make bone at a normal rate, but lose it faster than I make it. Due to an unrelated chest X-ray, 2 more vertebrae were detected one crumbling, another almost. That’s my history in a nutshell. Now I’m trying to learn as much as I can. Once I hear back from my PCP, I asked for her opinion of TYMLOS, and want her to be aware I’ll be on it. This next week, I’ll know if my insurance will help with prescription costs, then shortly thereafter, I’ll begin treatment.

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I'm replying to this 4 years later to see what you choose and how you are doing. So many drop off the site when they have finished their course of tymlos/forteo. Would love to know how effective this was for you and how you fared.

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