Forteo: Uses, Side Effects, and Safety Information

Forteo is a medicine used to treat certain adults with osteoporosis. Osteoporosis weakens bones and makes them more likely to break ^9,10.

This guide explains the uses and side effects of Forteo (teriparatide) and provides safety information in plain language. It covers approved uses, common effects, key warnings, and safe use.

Forteo contains teriparatide, which helps the body form new bone. It can raise bone mass, bone strength, and bone mineral density ^8,9.

Careful health screening is important before treatment. Teriparatide can raise blood calcium and may cause low blood pressure when standing ^4,6,7.

The medicine also has warnings about a rare bone cancer called osteosarcoma ^1,4. Human studies have not found a higher risk, but data beyond two years are limited ^1,3.

Forteo is one brand of teriparatide ¹⁰. Teriparatide is a synthetic form of natural human parathyroid hormone.

The medicine treats osteoporosis by helping the body make new bone. A health professional teaches patients how to give the injection ⁹.

Forteo is not right for every person with weak bones. Its approved uses focus on specific adults who face a high risk of fracture.

Important topics to review before treatment include:

Forteo contains the active ingredient teriparatide ^8,10. Teriparatide is a man-made form of natural human parathyroid hormone.

Teriparatide treats osteoporosis, which causes weak bones ^9,10. These weak bones are more likely to break ⁹.

The medicine may be an option for people with a high fracture risk. It may also be used when certain other osteoporosis treatments cannot be used.

Forteo is not the only teriparatide brand named in the sources ¹⁰. Patients should follow the directions for the exact product they receive.

Teriparatide helps the body make new bone. It can also increase the amount of mineral within the bones.

This increase is called a gain in bone mineral density. Teriparatide may also improve bone strength ^8,9.

Stronger bones are less likely to break ⁹. This is why teriparatide may help selected people who face a high fracture risk ^8,9.

A clinician can explain the planned treatment goals. The discussion can also cover how teriparatide differs from other osteoporosis medicines.

Teriparatide is given as an injection under the skin ¹⁰. A health professional teaches the patient how to give it ⁹.

Correct technique matters. Patients should ask for another demonstration if any step is unclear.

The supplied sources do not state the current Forteo dose. They also do not give complete storage or pen-use directions.

Use the instructions packaged with the prescribed Forteo pen. Ask the pharmacist or prescriber about any unclear step.

Do not guess about storage, missed doses, or needle disposal. Check the current product directions instead.

Approved Forteo uses cover three main adult groups. These include some women after menopause, some men, and adults with steroid-related osteoporosis.

Selection depends on the approved patient groups and the risk of fracture. A clinician must decide whether Forteo fits an individual patient.

Teriparatide treats osteoporosis in postmenopausal women who face a high risk of bone fracture. In these women, it lowers the risk of bone and spine fractures.

A woman can ask why her fracture risk is considered high. She can also ask why teriparatide was chosen.

The expected benefit should be weighed against the medicine’s warnings. This discussion should occur before treatment begins.

Teriparatide can increase bone mass in men with primary or hypogonadal osteoporosis. This use applies to men who face a high risk of fracture.

It may also apply when these men cannot use other osteoporosis treatments. The prescriber can explain which approved group applies.

Teriparatide can increase both bone mass and bone strength ^8,9. Stronger bones are less likely to fracture ⁹.

Teriparatide can treat osteoporosis caused by glucocorticoid medicines. These medicines are also called steroids in the source.

This approved use includes men and women at high risk of fracture. It may also apply when other osteoporosis treatments cannot be used.

The presence of steroid-related bone loss does not answer every treatment question. A clinician should assess whether teriparatide is suitable.

Useful questions about approved Forteo uses include:

Teriparatide side effects can include joint pain, other pain, and nausea ^1,10. Early doses can also cause a brief drop in blood pressure when standing ^4,7.

A severe allergic reaction has also been reported ¹. Patients should learn which concerns need routine advice and which require emergency care.

The label lists arthralgia, pain, and nausea as the most common adverse reactions ^1,2. Arthralgia means joint pain.

Each of these reactions occurred in more than 10% of patients in the cited clinical studies ^1,2. WebMD also lists joint pain, other pain, and nausea as common effects ¹⁰.

Not every person will have these effects. The cited sources do not provide a full list in the supplied text.

Common effects listed in the prescribing information include:

Tell a health professional if these effects are bothersome ¹⁰. Contact the prescriber if any suspected medicine effect causes concern ¹⁰.

Do not make an unplanned treatment change based only on a general article. Ask the prescribing clinician what to do next.

Temporary low blood pressure when standing can occur with initial teriparatide doses ^4,7. This effect is called transient orthostatic hypotension ^4,7.

Low blood pressure upon standing is listed as a serious teriparatide side effect ¹⁰. The label connects this concern with the first doses ^4,7.

The supplied sources do not state how long an episode may last. They also do not provide full steps for managing one.

Ask the prescriber where early injections should take place. Also ask what to do if dizziness, weakness, or faintness occurs.

Forteo must not be used by a person with hypersensitivity to teriparatide or its ingredients ¹. Hypersensitivity means an allergic reaction.

Reported reactions have included angioedema and anaphylaxis ¹. If anaphylaxis occurs, call emergency services now.

Angioedema is another reported hypersensitivity reaction linked with Forteo ¹. If a severe allergic reaction occurs, seek emergency care now.

Tell the prescriber about known allergies before starting Forteo. Include reactions to teriparatide and any product ingredient.

Forteo safety warnings involve several different risks ^1,4,7. These include osteosarcoma risk factors, calcium problems, urinary stones, and allergy ^1,4,7.

The risks do not all have the same evidence. The osteosarcoma warning includes animal findings, postmarketing reports, and human study findings ¹.

Teriparatide increased the rate of osteosarcoma in male and female rats ¹. Osteosarcoma is a cancerous bone tumor ¹.

The increase in rats depended on the dose and length of treatment ¹. Cases have also been reported after Forteo reached the market ¹.

However, human observational studies have not found a higher osteosarcoma risk ^1,3. Evidence about that risk after more than two years of treatment is limited ^1,3.

Forteo should be avoided in people with a higher risk of osteosarcoma ^4,7. The label names several higher-risk groups ^4,7.

Those groups include:

The rat findings do not prove a higher risk in humans. The available human observational studies did not find an increased risk ^1,3.

Still, the lack of long-term data matters. Evidence beyond two years remains limited ^1,3.

Teriparatide can raise blood calcium ⁶. It may also make existing high calcium worse.

The medicine has not been studied in people with pre-existing high calcium ^1,6. It should be avoided in people with an underlying high-calcium disorder ^4,6,7.

Primary hyperparathyroidism is one example named in the source ⁶. A clinician should review any known calcium disorder before treatment.

The label also warns about cutaneous calcification ^4,7. This term means calcium deposits in the skin.

Treatment should stop if previously stable skin calcium deposits become worse ^4,7. The prescribing clinician should guide that decision.

Patients should not try to judge blood calcium without medical help. Discuss known calcium test results and calcium disorders with the prescriber.

The label uses the term urolithiasis for urinary tract stones. This group includes kidney stones.

A clinician should weigh the risks and benefits in people with active or recent urolithiasis ^4,7. The warning reflects a risk that teriparatide could make the problem worse.

Tell the prescriber about current or recent urinary stones. This history can affect the treatment decision.

Forteo safety warnings require a careful health review. Some conditions mean the medicine should be avoided.

Avoid Forteo when a person has a known higher risk of osteosarcoma ^4,7. Examples include Paget’s disease, skeletal cancer, bone metastases, and skeletal radiation ^4,7.

Inherited risk disorders and open growth plates are also listed ^4,7. The prescriber should review these points before treatment.

Avoid teriparatide in people with an underlying high-calcium disorder ^4,6,7. The medicine may raise calcium or worsen existing high calcium.

Worsening skin calcium deposits may require treatment to stop ^4,7. Active or recent urinary stones require a review of risks and benefits ^4,7.

A teriparatide allergy is a contraindication to Forteo ¹. A history of severe allergy to any inactive ingredient in Forteo is also a contraindication ¹.

Reported allergy reactions include angioedema and anaphylaxis ¹. If anaphylaxis occurs, call emergency services now.

Before treatment, discuss these health topics:

Safe treatment begins with training from a health professional. It also requires attention to early-dose blood pressure effects ^4,7.

Human studies have not found an increased osteosarcoma risk with teriparatide ^1,3. However, evidence beyond two years is limited ^1,3.

The supplied excerpts do not contain the full current rule for treatment past two years. Ask the prescriber to review the current FDA-approved label.

A treatment visit can cover goals, side effects, and safety concerns. It can also address how long the planned course may last.

Teriparatide is injected under the skin ¹⁰. A health professional should teach the patient how to give the injection ⁹.

Temporary low blood pressure when standing can occur with initial doses ^4,7. Ask where to give the first injections and what precautions to use.

The supplied sources do not contain full pen directions. They also do not establish that storage, missed-dose, or needle-disposal steps are identical across pen products.

Use the current instructions packaged with the Forteo pen. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber if any direction is unclear.

Before the first injection, review these questions:

A written list can help during the visit. Consider asking these questions:

Keep the current pen instructions available. Follow the training given by the health professional.

Pay close attention during early treatment. Initial doses can cause temporary low blood pressure when standing ^4,7.

Report bothersome joint pain, other pain, or nausea to the healthcare provider ¹⁰. Contact the provider about any suspected medicine side effect ¹⁰.

Discuss new health information during treatment. This includes recent urinary stones or worsening skin calcium deposits ^4,7.

Do not rely on general online directions for the pen. Product-specific instructions may contain the needed storage and handling steps.

Tell the prescriber if joint pain, other pain, or nausea becomes bothersome ¹⁰. Contact a healthcare professional about any suspected medicine side effect ¹⁰.

Tell the clinician about active or recent urinary stones ^4,7. The label advises a review of the risks and benefits in this setting ^4,7.

Report worsening skin calcium deposits to the prescriber. The label states that treatment should stop if stable deposits become worse ^4,7.

Reported Forteo allergic reactions include angioedema and anaphylaxis ¹. If anaphylaxis occurs, seek emergency care now or call emergency services.

Forteo helps the body form new bone. It can increase bone mass, mineral density, and bone strength ^8,9.

Approved Forteo uses cover selected adults with a high fracture risk. They include postmenopausal women and certain men with osteoporosis.

The uses also include adults with osteoporosis caused by glucocorticoid medicines. A clinician must decide whether the treatment fits the patient.

Common teriparatide side effects include joint pain, other pain, and nausea ^1,10. These effects occurred in more than 10% of patients in the cited clinical studies ^1,2.

Early doses may cause temporary low blood pressure when standing ^4,7. Important Forteo safety warnings also cover high calcium and urinary stones ^4,6,7.

People with certain osteosarcoma risk factors should avoid Forteo ^4,7. Human observational studies have not found a higher osteosarcoma risk ^1,3.

Evidence beyond two years remains limited ^1,3. Review treatment length, personal risks, and current pen instructions with the prescribing clinician.

Forteo is contraindicated after hypersensitivity to teriparatide or a product ingredient ¹. If anaphylaxis occurs, call emergency services now.