Teriparatide/Forteo

I took it briefly but stopped due to severe constipation. Otherwise, I had no issue with it. Many here take it successfully and without side effects.

Those usually settle after the first couple of weeks A lot of people just take it at night so they can sleep through any dizziness.Re your biggest concern depression and insomnia they’re listed but they’re not really what most people report as the main issues It’s not like some meds where mood side effects are a big common pattern Doesn’t mean it can’t happen but it’s not the typical experience.Also really important in your case Forteo isn’t associated with osteonecrosis of the jaw and it actually works by building bone vs Prolia which slows breakdown That’s why it’s often used in more severe cases like yours like a -3.6 spine score. I think your fear makes complete sense given what you went through but Forteo generally has a more manageable side effect profile for most people and it’s one of the few options that can actively rebuild bone after Prolia issues. If you do go ahead with it you could always start with a watch closely mindset and give yourself permission to stop and reassess if anything feels off especially mentally

I’ve been on teriparatide (Forteo) after a bad experience with Prolia, so I’ll just share my experience. First off, your fear is completely understandable given the ONJ + rebound loss — that’s a serious situation. For Forteo, most side effects (if they happen) are usually early and physical: mild dizziness after injection, occasional nausea, or muscle cramps. For me, it mostly settled within the first couple of weeks. On depression and insomnia — they’re listed, but in real-world experience they don’t seem to be common or persistent issues. I was also worried about that, but didn’t notice any meaningful mood or sleep changes. The big difference is that Forteo actually builds bone, which is why it’s often used in severe cases like a -3.6 spine T-score or after Prolia complications. It’s also not associated with osteonecrosis of the jaw. Practical tip: a lot of people take it at night and just sleep through any initial lightheadedness. Overall, it’s one of the main “rebuilding” options doctors use after Prolia-related problems, but it’s still totally valid to be cautious given your history.

Thank you for this thoughtful message. It's very helpful and encouraging

@franmg

I never had any noticeable side effects with forteo.

I took Teriparatide for the full 2 years and never had any issues at all. I gave myself the shot at night as recommended by the GYN. It just became part of the routine. When I traveled I used a small case with 2 ice packs that kept the Teriparatide cold. I didn’t want to have any interruption during the 2 years of treatment. The results were great.
After I finished the 2 years, I selected Raloxifene as the next treatment. This decision was based on Raloxifene being an estrogen receptor. Now I’m on HRT (6 months) at 69 yrs old. I took me 4 years to convince my GYN. I feel great, sleep well, my skin is improving and I’m less anxious. Hopefully the next scan will show improvements.

I’ve been on Forteo since May of 2023 - No new fractures since August of the same year. Like many others here I take it in the evening. It’s hard to remember what it was like the first few weeks/months of taking it since I was dealing with other health issues.

No issues over the two years. Was hoping that results would be much better but at that time I did not know that taking a bisphosphonate for 5 years might effect my outcome. Interestingly enough I had fantastic results with Evenity and no noticeable side effects.

Thank you to everyone who has replied. All your comments are incredibly helpful and reassuring and I really appreciate themm

I just started last night so I have a looong experience to speak from ....HA! I was preparing my start with just drinking extra water. So I was awake to use the bathroom a few times but I think I slept deeper and had no problems with anything else. I'm 74 and sleeping can be a bit of challenge usually but this did not interfere with my rest. I'm taking it at night to sleep through some of the effects others mention...like nausea or light headedness. I didn't experience any of that.
Forteo seems like the best choice for me. I like that it is a hormone that the body is already using and avoids some of the problems that the other choices have. It has also been used for some time now with faster success than the bisphosphonates.