Interrupting Forteo for two weeks

Posted by delongak @delongak, Jul 31, 2019

I'm 66, female, and have been on daily Forteo injections since March. I have a two-week trip in October during which I will not have dependable access to refrigeration, so I expect to stop the injections for two weeks and resume when I get home. Has anyone here done something like this? What was your experience? Any advice? Your comments can help me be more informed when I discuss my plan with my endocrinologist. Thanks!

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I am also on Forteo (age 65 and started in April) and recently took a trip where I was concerned about keeping it cold. I found an item on Amazon that consists of a wide-mouth thermos using an oblong plastic chill-pack that worked very well. I have some high-low thermometers, so placed on of those in the thermos. This worked very well to keep the Forteo between the 2-8 degrees C (or 36-46 degrees F) for easily 48 hours. So if you have some access to refrigeration such that you can re-freeze the chill-pack in between travel stops, that could work for you. (I can send you the link to the item if you want.). Otherwise, I can’t really find anything definitive about stopping Forteo for a two-week period. So hopefully your endocrinologist will be able to tell you what the impact is to stop for two-week after doing the injections for 6+ months, and then resuming. I’ll also be very interested in hearing what he/she has to say.

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@jmanj

I am also on Forteo (age 65 and started in April) and recently took a trip where I was concerned about keeping it cold. I found an item on Amazon that consists of a wide-mouth thermos using an oblong plastic chill-pack that worked very well. I have some high-low thermometers, so placed on of those in the thermos. This worked very well to keep the Forteo between the 2-8 degrees C (or 36-46 degrees F) for easily 48 hours. So if you have some access to refrigeration such that you can re-freeze the chill-pack in between travel stops, that could work for you. (I can send you the link to the item if you want.). Otherwise, I can’t really find anything definitive about stopping Forteo for a two-week period. So hopefully your endocrinologist will be able to tell you what the impact is to stop for two-week after doing the injections for 6+ months, and then resuming. I’ll also be very interested in hearing what he/she has to say.

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@jmanj , Good morning. Thanks for connecting with us. A quick thought. I get a medication shipped. It comes in a very thick walled styrofoam square box. There is room for ice. Mine is scheduled for delivery today.

There is also a recent post from a lady who had a solution. Let me see if I can find that post.

I have lots of Forteo information, I will check that out. Have you looked on the website? My last suggestion would be to ralk to your pharmacist. Have a joyful day. Chris

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@artscaping

@jmanj , Good morning. Thanks for connecting with us. A quick thought. I get a medication shipped. It comes in a very thick walled styrofoam square box. There is room for ice. Mine is scheduled for delivery today.

There is also a recent post from a lady who had a solution. Let me see if I can find that post.

I have lots of Forteo information, I will check that out. Have you looked on the website? My last suggestion would be to ralk to your pharmacist. Have a joyful day. Chris

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Thanks, Chris. My Forteo packages are also shipped in styrofoam box with ice packs, three months' worth at a time. There is good information for travelers on forteo.com and even some links to the US State Department website. Traveling itself isn't the issue, it's that period when I won't be able to keep the stuff chilled!
I'm contacting my endocrinologist today. Still hoping to hear experiences of anyone has stopped and restarted this medication.

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@delongak

Thanks, Chris. My Forteo packages are also shipped in styrofoam box with ice packs, three months' worth at a time. There is good information for travelers on forteo.com and even some links to the US State Department website. Traveling itself isn't the issue, it's that period when I won't be able to keep the stuff chilled!
I'm contacting my endocrinologist today. Still hoping to hear experiences of anyone has stopped and restarted this medication.

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@delongak, Good evening. I think you know everything that I know. I have reviewed the promo booklet, visited the website and read the pamphlet attached to the medication. Nowhere is there any information about taking a vacation from the medication. You can call
800 545-5979 for assistance. Or you can join the online community and ask your questions.

I was concerned about this issue since I fly back and forth from MN to CA. So....I chose Tymlos. Hopefully, that will work because it does not require refrigeration after it has been opened. However, I am a bit concerned about getting the next dosage if I am in another state. It kind of feels like I am shackled to one place or the other for another 17 months. At 77 years old...being tied down and shackled because of medication isn't much fun.

Have a lovely sleep tonight. Let me know what you find out so I can inform others. Chris

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Thank you Chris. Here's what my doctor wrote back to me:

"You may hold the Forteo for the trip and resume when you return." Then she also included this package insert info:
"Lilly has not identified any safety concerns, including adverse reactions or side effects, associated with temporary interruption or withdrawal of Forteo® (teriparatide [rDNA origin] injection) therapy during our clinical studies or follow-up analyses (Neer, 2001; Orwoll, 2003; Lindsay, 2004; Saag, 2007; Saag 2009; Silverman, 2013).
It is not known how stopping and starting teriparatide effects how it works as teriparatide was studied as a once daily injection without interruptions for 24 months (Forteo Package Insert, 2012)."

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@jmanj

I am also on Forteo (age 65 and started in April) and recently took a trip where I was concerned about keeping it cold. I found an item on Amazon that consists of a wide-mouth thermos using an oblong plastic chill-pack that worked very well. I have some high-low thermometers, so placed on of those in the thermos. This worked very well to keep the Forteo between the 2-8 degrees C (or 36-46 degrees F) for easily 48 hours. So if you have some access to refrigeration such that you can re-freeze the chill-pack in between travel stops, that could work for you. (I can send you the link to the item if you want.). Otherwise, I can’t really find anything definitive about stopping Forteo for a two-week period. So hopefully your endocrinologist will be able to tell you what the impact is to stop for two-week after doing the injections for 6+ months, and then resuming. I’ll also be very interested in hearing what he/she has to say.

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There are so many sold on Amazon. Could you please tell me which one to get? I am going to Cozumel for two weeks at the end of Jan. 2023

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Wha tis the best cooling method to use when traveling to Cozumel with Forteo for two weeks?

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@janflute have you asked your pharmacy? They may have options or good suggestions.

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I just talked to my pharmacist about traveling with Forteo. Just get a small insulated bag or lunch bag. Put 2 ice packs in it and it should be fine. It is also fine for it not to be refrigerated for 36 hours SS long as the temp does NOT get above 77 degrees.

It all can go through the scanner at the airport. I use Accredo Specialty Pharmacy. I also went to the Lillymedical.com site and it provided the same information.

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In the middle of my Forteo my physical held mine for 6 months because of emergency bone surgery. Then he resumed it. Yes you can
hold it. They put me on Reclast one a year if you have any bone surgery 's the delay your prescription 6 months.

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