Teriparatide (Injection)

Teriparatide (ter-i-PAR-a-tide)

Treats osteoporosis (weak or brittle bones) in men, and women who have gone through menopause.

Brand Name(s):

Forteo
There may be other brand names for this medicine.

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:

You should not use this medicine if you have had an allergic reaction to teriparatide.

How to Use This Medicine:

Injectable

• Your doctor will prescribe your exact dose and tell you how often it should be given. This medicine is given as a shot under your skin.
• This medicine comes with patient instructions. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.
• You may be taught how to give your medicine at home. Make sure you understand all instructions before giving yourself an injection. Do not use more medicine or use it more often than your doctor tells you to.
• You will be shown the body areas where this shot can be given. Use a different body area each time you give yourself a shot. Keep track of where you give each shot to make sure you rotate body areas.
• This medicine comes in a special pre-filled pen. Be sure to put the cap back on the pen after giving yourself an injection.

If a dose is missed:

• If you miss a dose or forget to use your medicine, use it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to use the medicine and skip the missed dose.
• Do not use extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine:

• Store the medicine in the refrigerator. Take the pen out of the refrigerator only long enough to give yourself an injection. Then put it back in the refrigerator right away. Do not freeze. Do not use this medicine if it has been frozen.
• Ask your pharmacist, doctor, or health caregiver about the best way to dispose of any leftover medicine and the used pen. You will also need to throw away old medicine 28 days after the first time you use the pen or after the expiration date has passed.
• Keep all medicine away from children and never share your medicine with anyone.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid:

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are also using digoxin (Lanoxin®).

Warnings While Using This Medicine:

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have kidney disease, hypercalcemia (too much calcium in your blood), kidney stones, or problems with your parathyroid gland, or if you are on dialysis.
• When this medicine was tested in rats, some of the rats developed bone cancer. It is not known if the same thing could happen in people. Some things that may increase your risk are if you are still growing, if you have Paget's disease, or if you have ever had bone cancer, another bone disease, or radiation therapy on your bones.
• This medicine may make you dizzy. Avoid driving, using machines, or doing anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert.
• You are more likely to get dizzy or have a pounding heartbeat when you first start using this medicine. Sit or lie down if this happens. Call your doctor if your dizziness or pounding heartbeat does not go away or if it gets worse.
• Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using this medicine. This medicine may affect the results of certain medical tests.
• This medicine is only part of a complete plan for treating osteoporosis. Ask your doctor about other things you can do to help yourself. This may include taking vitamin or mineral supplements, getting regular exercise, and stopping smoking.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine:

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Ongoing nausea, vomiting, constipation, unusual tiredness or weakness

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Leg cramps

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor.