Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

1. How often do I need to take FORTEO^® (teriparatide[rDNA origin] injection), and how long does the therapy last?

FORTEO is designed to be taken once daily, through injection, for a maximum of 2 years in a patient's lifetime–although your doctor will tell you exactly how long you need to take it. Use for longer than 2 years has not been studied and is not recommended. It is administered through an injection with the FORTEO Delivery Device/Pen, to the thigh or the stomach. It is important to remember that taking FORTEO for as long as your doctor prescribes it is a commitment to yourself that can decrease your risk of fractures.

See How to Take FORTEO for more information about the FORTEO injection.

2. How can I learn to inject myself? Is it difficult?

This site offers an animated tutorial which shows you how to use your FORTEO Delivery Device to give yourself injections (or how a caregiver can do them for you). To view, click here. Call 1-866-4FORTEO if you need help on how to use your delivery device/pen.

3. I can't do the injections myself. Am I still able to take FORTEO?

Yes. Talk with your doctor about arranging for a caregiver, such as a neighbor, relative, or even someone from your pharmacy or insurance plan, who can help you with your injections.

4. Is the injection painful?

You may experience some pain, redness, itchiness, swelling, or even slight bleeding immediately after your injection, but these effects should go away quickly. If they do not, be sure to contact your doctor.

To learn more about the side effects you may experience, visit Side Effects.

5. Why do I need to take FORTEO through an injection? Why can't I just take a pill?

FORTEO only works when injected directly into your body. Taking a pill would not work, as your body is not able to absorb FORTEO through digestion.

6. How much does it cost?

The cost of FORTEO therapy will vary depending on whether or not your insurance will cover it. Talk with your doctor about your options. Or, click here to learn more about FORTEO Connect and how it may be able to help.

7. I've never had a bone fracture. Is FORTEO right for me?

FORTEO is approved for patients who are at "high risk" for fracture, even if they have not had a bone fracture yet. The following risk factors increase your chance of getting fractures from osteoporosis:

very low bone mineral density (BMD).
frequent falls.
limited movement, such as using a wheelchair.
medical conditions likely to cause bone loss, such as some kinds of arthritis.
medicines that may cause bone loss, for example, seizure medicines (such as phenytoin), blood thinners (such as heparin), steroids, high doses of vitamin A.

In the end, only your doctor can decide whether you are "high risk" and if FORTEO is right for you.

8. I am a male patient. Is FORTEO right for me?

FORTEO has been proven to increase bone mass in men with primary or hypogonadal osteoporosis who are at high risk of fracture. If you are a man, talk to your doctor about whether FORTEO therapy is appropriate for your condition.

Questions for your doctor

Important Safety Information about FORTEO

WARNING: POTENTIAL RISK OF OSTEOSARCOMA

During the drug testing process, the medicine in FORTEO caused some rats to develop a bone cancer called osteosarcoma. In people, osteosarcoma is a serious but rare cancer. Osteosarcoma has been reported rarely in people who took FORTEO. It is not known if people who take FORTEO have a higher chance of getting osteosarcoma. Before you take FORTEO, you should tell your healthcare provider if you have Paget's disease of bone, are a child or young adult whose bones are still growing, or have had radiation therapy.

You should not take FORTEO for more than 2 years over your lifetime.

There is a voluntary patient registry for people who take FORTEO. The purpose of the registry is to collect information about the possible risk of osteosarcoma in people who take FORTEO. For information about how to sign up for this patient registry, call 1-866-382-6813 or go to www.forteoregistry.rti.org.

Do not use FORTEO if you are allergic to any of the ingredients in FORTEO. Serious allergic reactions have been reported.

Before you take FORTEO, you should tell your healthcare provider if you have a bone disease other than osteoporosis, have cancer in your bones, have trouble injecting yourself and do not have someone who can help you, have or have had kidney stones, have or have had too much calcium in your blood, take medications that contain digoxin (Digoxin, Lanoxicaps, Lanoxin), or have any other medical conditions.

You should also tell your healthcare provider, before you take FORTEO, if you are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant. It is not known if FORTEO will harm your unborn baby. If you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed, it is not known if FORTEO passes into your breast milk. You and your healthcare provider should decide if you will take FORTEO or breastfeed. You should not do both.

FORTEO can cause serious side effects including a decrease in blood pressure when you change positions. Some people feel dizzy, get a fast heartbeat, or feel faint right after the first few doses. This usually happens within 4 hours of taking FORTEO and goes away within a few hours. For the first few doses, take your injections of FORTEO in a place where you can sit or lie down right away if you get these symptoms. If your symptoms get worse or do not go away, stop taking FORTEO and call your healthcare provider. FORTEO may also cause increased calcium in your blood. Tell your healthcare provider if you have nausea, vomiting, constipation, low energy, or muscle weakness. These may be signs there is too much calcium in your blood.

Common side effects of FORTEO include nausea, joint aches, pain, leg cramps, and injection site reactions such as redness, swelling, pain, itching, a few drops of blood, and bruising. These are not all the possible side effects of FORTEO.

The FORTEO Delivery Device has enough medicine for 28 days. It is set to give a 20-microgram dose of medicine each day. Before you try to inject FORTEO yourself, a healthcare provider should teach you how to use the FORTEO Delivery Device to give your injection the right way. Inject FORTEO one time each day in your thigh or abdomen (lower stomach area). Do not inject all the medicine in the FORTEO delivery device at any one time. Do not transfer the medicine from the FORTEO delivery device to a syringe. This can result in taking the wrong dose of FORTEO. If you take more FORTEO than prescribed, call your healthcare provider. If you take too much FORTEO, you may have nausea, vomiting, weakness, or dizziness.

Keep your FORTEO Delivery Device in the refrigerator between 36° to 46°F (2° to 8°C). Do not freeze the FORTEO Delivery Device. Do not use FORTEO if it has been frozen. Do not use FORTEO after the expiration date printed on the delivery device and packaging. Throw away the FORTEO Delivery Device after 28 days even if it has medicine in it (see the User Manual).

©2010 Lilly USA, LLC. All Rights Reserved. This site is intended for U.S. residents age 18 and over.
For more information about severe osteoporosis, contact your doctor or health care professional.
FORTEO® and FORTEO.com are trademarks of Eli Lilly and Company.
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