Frequently Asked Questions

1. How often do I need to take FORTEO, and how long does treatment last?

FORTEO is designed to be taken once daily, through injection, for a maximum of 2 years over 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.

2. How do I take FORTEO?

FORTEO is administered through an injection with the FORTEO Delivery Device, into the thigh or abdomen.

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

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

This site provides a FORTEO Delivery Device User Manual and a FORTEO Delivery Device Demonstration Video which show you how to use your FORTEO Delivery Device to give yourself injections (or how a caregiver can do them for you). Call 1-866-4FORTEO if you need help on how to use your delivery device.

4. 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.

5. Is the injection painful?

You may experience some pain, redness, itchiness, swelling, slight bleeding, or bruising 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.

6. 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. There's no pill form available. Taking a pill would not work, as your stomach would digest the medicine before it has the chance to work.

7. How much does it cost?

Talk to your doctor about your options or click here to learn more about FORTEO Connect and how it may be able to help.

8. 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. FORTEO can be used by people who have had a fracture related to osteoporosis, or who have several risk factors for fracture, or who can not use other osteoporosis treatments. The following risk factors also increase your chance of getting fractures from osteoporosis:

  • Very low bone mineral density (BMD)
  • Frequent falls
  • 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), glucocorticoids, 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.

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

In a clinical study*, FORTEO has been shown to increase bone mineral density in men with primary or hypogonadal (low testosterone) 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.

*In 437 men with osteoporosis (of whom 151 took FORTEO 20 mcg for a median treatment time of 10 months).

Indications for FORTEO:
  • FORTEO® (teriparatide [rDNA origin] injection) is used in both men and postmenopausal women with osteoporosis who are at high risk for having broken bones (fractures).
  • FORTEO is used in both men and women with osteoporosis due to use of glucocorticoid medicines, such as prednisone, for several months, who are at high risk for having broken bones (fractures).
  • FORTEO can be used by people who have had a fracture related to osteoporosis, or who have several risk factors for fracture, or who can not use other osteoporosis treatments.

FORTEO is a prescription medicine given as a 20 microgram once-daily dose available in a 2.4 mL delivery device for subcutaneous injection over 28 days.

Important Safety Information about FORTEO

What is the most important information I should know 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.

Who should not take FORTEO?

  • You should not take FORTEO for more than 2 years over your lifetime.
  • Do not use FORTEO if you are allergic to any of the ingredients in FORTEO. Serious allergic reactions have been reported.

What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking FORTEO?

  • 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.

What are the possible side effects of FORTEO?

  • 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 including injection site pain, swelling and bruising. These are not all the possible side effects of FORTEO. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of Prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Additional safety information about FORTEO

  • 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.org.
  • 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.

How should I store FORTEO?

  • 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).

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Please see Important Safety Information, including Boxed Warning regarding osteosarcoma above, full Prescribing Information, and Medication Guide.

See FORTEO Delivery Device User Manual that accompanies the Delivery Device.