How FORTEO (teriparatide injection) works
FORTEO is a medicine that helps build new bone. FORTEO is similar to part of a protein your body naturally produces. FORTEO also helps increase bone strength.*
*Only proven in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.
Help build new bone with FORTEO
FORTEO helps reinforce bone in two ways:
- Replaces bone you’ve lost due to osteoporosis
- Adds more bone than what you had before treatment
Here is some important safety information you should know about FORTEO:
Do not use FORTEO if you are allergic to any of the ingredients in FORTEO. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction of FORTEO may include swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat that may cause difficulty in breathing or swallowing. Call your healthcare provider right away or get emergency medical help if you get any of these symptoms.
See the difference FORTEO can make
Postmenopausal Woman with Osteoporosis Before FORTEO†
This small sample of bone was taken from the upper part of the pelvis (iliac crest) of a postmenopausal patient with osteoporosis and viewed using microscopic imaging technology.
Same Woman After 21 Months of FORTEO Treatment†
After 21 months of treatment with FORTEO, another sample taken the same patient shows new bone has been formed.
†Bone biopsies were obtained from a subgroup of 51 women who participated in a clinical study of 1,637 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis (of whom 90% had a spine fracture). In the overall study, 541 women took a daily 20-mcg dose of FORTEO and 544 took a placebo for a median time of 19 months and a maximum of 24 months (all women took calcium and vitamin D daily).
Help reduce your risk of a future fracture with FORTEO
In a clinical study of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis who were at high risk for fracture, when taken with calcium and vitamin D, FORTEO‡:
Significantly increased bone mineral density (BMD) in the spine at 3 months and throughout the treatment period.
Reduced the risk of new spine fractures by approximately 2/3 (65% relative risk reduction; 9.3% absolute risk reduction).ǂ
Reduced the risk of new fractures in other bones by half (53% relative risk reduction; 2.9% absolute risk reduction).ǂ These other bones included the ankle/foot, hip, upper arm, pelvis, ribs, wrist, and others.
ǂIn a clinical study of FORTEO involving 1,637 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis (of whom 90% had a spine fracture), 541 women took a daily 20-mcg dose of FORTEO and 544 took a placebo for a median time of 19 months and a maximum of 24 months. All women took calcium and vitamin D daily.
Here is some important safety information you should know about FORTEO:
Before you use FORTEO, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
- have a certain bone disease called Paget’s disease or other bone disease, have bone cancer or have had a history of bone cancer
- are a young adult whose bones are still growing
- have had radiation therapy
- are affected with a condition that runs in your family that can increase your chance of getting cancer in your bones
- have or have had too much calcium in your blood (hypercalcemia)
- have or have had a skin condition with painful sores or wounds caused by too much calcium
- have or have had kidney stones
- take medicines that contain digoxin
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if FORTEO will harm your unborn baby, are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if FORTEO passes into your breastmilk. You should not breastfeed while taking FORTEO.