Forteo side effects high calcium decreasing dosage to every other day

I'm curious how you have done taking every other day? That is what my doc told me to do from the start. I am the same size as you. I've had bad constipation and a lot of fatigue and hip pain. What are your symptoms now? I've been on for 7 most.

I'm following your comment with interest. I beginning month six of Forteo, with no side effects, but will be interested in my calcium and albumin levels when taken next month. I'm about your size as well. Concerning that you began experiencing symptoms at month six.
I hope things go well for you.

Just goes to show everyone can respond differently. I'm 101 lbs, 5'2.5in.(hence the OSTEOPOROSIS). Sorry that happened after 6 months! We have to be vigilant and listen to our symptoms and report them. So important. I'm on teriparatide(FORTEO) since end of April and had several side effects initially but all but Nausea and DRY mouth persist.I get reflux but was generally controlled by lifestyle modifications. I had continued to take my 1000mg calcium carbonate(TUMS), usual Vitamin D in addition to my dietary dairy(best absorbed),leafy greens, fruits with calcium, adding up to 1200 or even more per day) I just dealt with the nausea( a listed side effect but can be a symptoms hypercalcemia) because my blood levels were normal in beginning and at 3 month check . Then in my 6th month , I woke up with terrible nausea in middle of night for a couple weeks, then suddenly esophageal spasm (OK ,so Stomach issue and Reflux can cause NAUSEA too). Labs checked again, NORMAL. Got started on Nexium 40mg a day, stopped the FORTEO for a week, stayed on TUMS that week and STOMACH FELT GREAT! Slept well. Restarted the FORTEO and TUMS for a week still feeling great but had to switch to Citracal (calcium citrate 1000mg for better absorption while on the temporary Nexium until I get an EGD) That being said, the NAUSEA CAME BACK with a vengeance so I stopped all calcium supplements and it WENT AWAY. Back to a Mild Nausea occasionally. Back to baseline. Right now I rely on my diet getting about 800-900mg a day in dairy(16 ounces of skim milk, 1/2 cup cottage cheese), veggies, fruits, and whatever else I eat I check on calcium content. Not advocating reduced supplements at all but I had trouble tolerating most forms of supplements years prior when I started them, hence TUMS was easiest for me to tolerate. I WONDERED too if my small size even needed the 1200mg recommended. I'm still Gonna, take it because my Calcium levels are normal and unless I have symptoms to suggest otherwise. I know my calcium and D INTAKE WAS POOR in my adult life as I stopped a lot of dairy and didn't take any supplemental D until my level was found to be way low 12 years ago at age 55. First DEXA at 61 by request. Yikes, not good. No Family history, no other Secondary causes. Started with RECLAST . I had 4 years (4 infusions ) prior to FORTEO and my Lumbar spine BMD worsened so I really want it to work . I am working up to 1200mg a day in diet. Skim milk isn't so bad! Also who knows exactly how much and how good our absorption really is from food and or supplements?? Hoping for the best.

@amdf - I too am small (weigh 102 pounds), and I've been on teriparatide for 6 weeks+. I had terrible side effects for the first 2-3 weeks and I basically could not function (exhausted, gastric upset, lack of appetite, etc). At that point my doctor said I could take it every other day "for now", and after about a week I started feeling much better (yeah!). My doctor (an endocrinologist) said my calcium shouldn't exceed 500-1000 mg. total because if your calcium gets too high on this drug it's very hard to bring it down. I'm only taking supplements of 400 mg. I had my calcium and thyroid checked at the end of October and it was fine. So I've been eating a moderate amount of calcium containing foods. Of course everyone is different. I have severe osteoporosis at age 76 (t-score in femoral neck, -3.6 in June of this year), never broke a bone. I could never tolerate any of the bisphosphonates (except Reclast, which did not improve my BMD from 2023-2024 but kept it stable). Thank you to everyone for posting here. It has really been a great help to me.

@barb3 Thanks for your feedback. I plan to revisit this topic of calcium intake with my Endo . I feel so much better off the supplements but not sure I can sustain eating/drinking enough to reach 1200mg a day.

Are we certain side effects are from our osteoporosis drugs?
Does anyone get other tests such as endoscopies and other gastro tests?

@donnapace
Great question…

Thanks for sharing everyone I love how we learn so much! I just started Forteo Oct 1st! I had all of the side effects everyone mentioned plus
Dry heaving exhausted couldn’t get out of bed. Ears ringing. Couldn’t eat anything but ice pops Dr said go off three days and then take at night ! That did help somewhat ! Came to realize that the calcium calrate also cause some of the persistent side
effects ! So I started doing calcium just one pill rather than two in between during the day and not close to the pm shot to level out the dosage of calcium
That helped ! I stop it eveyone once in awhile if traveling if off schedule and immediately feel normal again by being off it one day ! Again thanks for your comments I have a follow up next month and will inquire about the every other day. I am 5feet 4 and 124 lbs
Good luck to everyone

@barb3
I'm on forteo now for gums that would not heal after tooth extraction. Healed them within 2 months. It was 10 months with no healing in site. I read they are using it for this reason. I was on forteo when I broke my pelvis. They were non union
Forteo healed them. Said the gums wouldn't heal, my endocrinologist, because of the reclast still on bones after 2 years. Stays on your bones for years. Will never take it again

@laurie2111
I'm so glad the Forteo is helping you and hope your problems are now in the rearview mirror. I was very worried before deciding to go on the Reclast for two years and now am concerned about having dental issues. But for now, I'm trying to get comfortable with taking the Forteo (will be traveling with it at Thanksgiving) and then hopefully will try to get back on the every day dosing after the holidays. Apparently there is no data on the every other day dosing in term of efficacy (although I noticed in Japan a twice a week dose is approved).