Treatment for Osteoporosis

[Pheewills]

Is anyone taking Teriperatide for osteoporosis of the spine? Are you living in the UK? How many fractures do you have? I have refused Alendronic acid because of side effects - Osteo necrosis of the jaw, principally. Phyllis Wilson

[Snowybear]

Hi Pheewills. I’ve been on Teriparatide (Movymia) since last July. I’ve quite severe osteoporosis according to scans and, like you, have declined other treatments. Had an L2 fracture from heavy lifting (I was given the wrong scan result in 2019) and wasn’t taking enough care. I’ve not had any side effects so far, which I was worried about beforehand. Don’t know what I’ll do after the 2 years!

[Deanee in reply to Snowybear]

What did you DEXA scan show for the spine? Worried mine is getting worse. No fractures yet.

[Pheewills in reply to Snowybear]

Hi SnowybearI have declined all treatments except for pain killers and Vitamins. I had an L2 fracture from helping my son with his decorating. That was in 2017. Since then I have had 2 other fractures of the spine. I think I could now persuade the consultants to give me Teriperatide , but I have heard that it causes cancer in rats

[Snowybear in reply to Pheewills]

Hi Pheewills. It’s supposed to be safe for 2 years for humans. It’s the only treatment which builds new bone (as I understand it) rather than retaining / hardening old bone. My consultant says it’s very good at improving the “architecture” of the spine and it helps to fill the holes in the vertebrae. Very hard to know what to do. I had several very helpful phone calls with ROS beforehand. Now Teriparatide is available as Movymia I think it is a more affordable treatment option.

[Mavary]

Hi . I took Terraparatide for two years and had no problems at all. I’m now on Denosumab and after having four new fractures in the first five months am fine now. I was told it takes a year or two to be effective. My last fractures were last June so as you see I’m doing quite well. I was given Alendronic acid in the first place but couldn’t take it because of my stomach. I suffer with reflux. I took one and was violently sick .

[Tuckress]

Hi, I started out with spine -5.6 and 2 fractures, Took Alendronicacid for over 4 years, no side effects but made little difference. Just finished Teriparatide, could only manage 18 months because of side effects - nausea, weakness, joint pain, fat belly. DEXA after 12 months showed big improvement in spine -4.5. Having another scan tomorrow. Don’t know what’s next.

[Posy-White]

Hello Pheewills

Yes I live in the UK and like Mavary took Terraparatide for two years (mine was 2018 - 2020) I had only a few minor problems at the start, which where quickly sorted. I had 8 spinal rebound fractures, hence the Terraparatide.

I have not had any further fractures.

I do hope you are able to find a suitable medication that you feel is right for you. Have you looked at all the fact sheets on the different medications on the ROS website? I found them very helpful.

Posy White

[Hidden]

HI Pheewills, we have fact sheets on all of the drug treatments available on our website. You can download them for free at theros.org.uk

[elmaaa]

I have been on Teriperatide for 14 months. I had 5 spinal fractures before starting on this and no new ones since. I fractured my ribs and my radius after a little fall a few months ago. I spoke with my consultant last week, her future plan for me is I will be on Teriperatide for two years, a repeat DEXA scan, then only calcium and vt D no other osteoporosis drugs.