Side effects of Forteo? Does your insurance pay for Forteo? See dr. next week, I'm pretty sure she will put me on this drug. I'm very nervous about this.
Also, how often do you need to see the dr. while on treatment? I have a high copay for this dr. Sigh........
Hello! Forteo was an excellent decision for me. I live in the USA and started it in my late 60s. Read my reply and ask any question you may want me to answer, anything at all. And Eli Lily has a great website on the internet regarding Forteo, from testing results to getting help to pay for it.
During the two years my rheumatologist RX it, my borderline osteoporosis edged back into osteopenia. No side effects whatsoever for me. But it works slowly and carefully, so may be nearly 16 months before results can be firmly documented. Once you learn how it works, you will understand. So the patience is worth the benefits. My doctor is a teaching professor at the nearby state university medical school.
After the RX is written and filled, the patient does the home injections. I only saw my doctor every 8-12 months. And Eli Lily will even provide a nurse to come to your home to show you how to take the tiny shot in your abdomen by folding skin a little. One injector has 28 days supply, and you keep the injector in your refrigerator. Eli Lily even provides a little travel bag to insulate your Forteo so you can travel.
If your insurance does not cover it, you may be able to receive it free as I did from Eli Lilly through its Lily Cares Foundation. Forteo can be expensive.
Eli Lily also has a team of medical professionals who will work hard with your insurance carrier to get it approved,,, and you actually talk to a PERSON whenever you call that Forteo group or the Lily Cares Foundation.
And the main reason you may only take Forteo for two years is the FDA approved its use after the remarkable results after two years of human group testing. Eli Lily did no testing on people who took Forteo for more than two years, which explains two year approval period limit for its use by anyone.
I volunteered to be followed by Eli Lilly to see how I do after Forteo. I am doing very well.
If you have heard any scary reasons not to use Forteo, that's all they are... dangerous reasons based upon misinformation. The ones that I read were mainly by UK women. And they are rarely able to even get it through their health system.
My worst fear was how I was going to give myself that daily injection. My friends who use insulin assured me the needle would be tiny and they were right. NO BIG DEAL.
After two years after Forteo, your doctor will help you decide the next medical support your body needs to maintain your bone density.
I agreed to an annual Reclast infusion for the last three years. Again good results and no side effects, just several hours at the hospital infusion center. Not painful to me.
Next month I will decide with my doctor what the following maintenance should be for me. Osteopenia requires a lifetime plan, including continuous care.
And that's ok, too. You are going to do great! If I did, so can you, really!
And there is a way to afford this rather expensive but effective medication.
There simply is nothing else produced in the world like Forteo that I could find in researching and reading about every product available;e. I spent three weeks straight researching.
Forteo approaches increasing bone density where I needed it and in an approach which nothing else does.
I hope the administrators of this community save this reply. I have written regarding MY experience concerning Forteo many times on several bone and osteoporosis communities. Forteo may not be appropriate for everyone, but I encourage it for whom it is recommended.
😀👍😍😍👏🥰 YES I AM THE FORTEO CHEERLEADER!
Gosh, just a cheerleader? You sound more like an employee. If you’re not then Eli Lilly are missing their chance. 😉
Don't think you meant to take a pot shot at me, but after all the misinformation I was bombarded with when I needed to make a decision about Forteo and NO ONE I found seemed to actually have taken it. much less had several years after completing the two-year regiment, my experience with it is one of the true pleasant health success stores I have heard, much less actually had personally. I worried if there were documented side effects, how is it administered, and how could I ever afford it. Just do not want another person to have to spend the huge amount of time and confusion I had just to get the information desired: Is it good and is it going to hurt me?
Good that you found something that is perfect for you. It sounds as if you have stopped taking Forteo - what are you taking now or if you haven’t stopped yet what will you do next?
Lawdog said an annual infusion of reclast, which I believe is zoledronic acid, usually prescribed after teriparatide (Forteo) to prevent the loss of the new bone density.
Exactly. I receive Reclast once a year for up to three years and now my physician at the medical school and I have an appointment in November to determine what maintenance would be appropriate. Reclast was covered under Medicare. I had no side effects...takes several hours for the IV and then I go home from the local hospital infusion center. Maybe my diet and exercise will be enough for now, or maybe due to my age or situation, I may require a medical RX for something. I'll let you know. Reclast was chosen because my doctor had several options on his table and I simply asked which would he choose for me if I was his sister. He selected Reclast infusion.
Thank you sooo much for your response. I feel alot better now! 
It's nice that you have been doing so well, but I believe you are mistaken if you meant it when you imply that "osteopenia (as opposed to osteoporosis) requires a lifetime plan and continuous care". Osteopenia does not require medication, and it should never be recommended to anyone who does not actually meet the criterion for osteoporosis (my thoughts on actual osteoporosis are not relevant here). This condition is also and more accurately known as "low bone mass" and can usually be reversed by nutrition, including a few judicious supplements, and appropriate exercise. Anyone with low bone mass that does not improve with this regimen should be assessed for "secondary causes of osteoporosis" in case there is a pre-existing condition which can be treated to prevent bone from losing mass.
I'm not saying you made the wrong decision for you as it appears your low bone mass was edging into the accepted osteoporosis range, but I think it important to point out, so that others reading this thread know, that medicating osteopenia is not generally necessary nor should it be recommended, as the bone medications all come with risks of serious side effects and are best avoided if possible. I do understand that in your case you require the further medication to prevent loss of the new bone provided by the two years of teriparatide. My comments are meant for those with "low bone mass" who have not yet taken any pharmaceuticals.
My friends son who is in his early forties discovered that he had osteopenia a few years ago when someone gave him an over enthusiastic a bear hug. He was prescribed exercise and weight bearing exercises - and diet too but no OP drugs and last time I asked how he was his mum said he was fine, still going to the gym. At least if you have osteopenia (I think) you have a bit of time on your side - I would absolutely love to have been ‘discovered’ when I was at that stage.
Except that is awfully young for anyone, particularly a male, to have that condition waiting to be discovered in the first place! I agree, though, that people should be monitored much younger for signs of bone thinning.
We should be educated, same as we are taught about risks of smoking, signs of diabetes or heart disease, symptoms of stroke, etc.
That is a real sore point for me - Back in 2012 I was diagnosed with Graves’ disease - autoimmune overactive thyroid, then a couple of years later along came RA, when I was prescribed steroids, PPIs etc.
In my case it was never suggested that there was a link between between these conditions or those from what I’ve seen, very widely prescribed drugs and bone health / osteoporosis.
So yes, we, the public should definitely be educated about this but I think, far more importantly doctors also need to be educated.
I have told my sons about the dangers and advised as best I can but I worry that the young feel invincible and will just say ‘Yes’ and carry on as they were.
You are absolutely correct to further discuss this. Ideally, Forteo is prescribed at the suspected first break and there is an indication it was due to low bone mass. It does not mend breaks but strives to increase bone density where needed. I must be followed up in my situation by my doctor for maintenance in some form to keep the increased bone density that my diet and exercise aren't doing alone. I have a condition called EOE; many dietary sources of calcium and other foods supporting good bone health are not tolerated by my body. It was diagnosed just a few years ago.
I want to thank you for posting this! My plan is to start on forteo once my labs are checked followed by reclast. I am so happy to read a positive review. There is a lot of scary info out there, and I appreciate this so much!
Great! Please check my post a few minutes ago explaining why after 3 Reclast years I will have a Prolia (sp?) injection this year. Nothing negative but one point on the lower backbone is not responding as great as rest of my body to the Reclast. I have absolutely no dental nor jawbone issue, it may be a good alternative to get that part of my spine to kickstart improvement since it’s being a bit stubborn.😘
It has been hurting my hips to lie on them since June. Used to sleep on a futon.
Very nervous about taking Reclast
Experience with Echolight versus DEXA
Near Collapsing Spine
