Forteo experts.....some questions for you - Osteoporosis Message Board

Mina221 · 11-05-2007, 01:54 PM

Hi All,
My mom will be starting her Forteo treatment tomorrow. She will be going to the hospital with my dad and sis to get trained on how to give the injectin. Just a brief history. My mom who is 78 was taking Fosamax the past 5 years.. In turn she had a spinal fracture last February and another one now in Septembe. Well at that point she needed to see a specialist. He suggested which I knew he would was the Forteo.
She only has the osteo in her lower spine. Hips and other bone parts have some osteopenia so they are not too bad.
Questions I have: How easy is it to give yourself the injections?
Any side affects afterwards like dizziness?
Do you think this will work after unsuccessfull treatment with Fosomax? What is the max amount of time you can be on this medication? Can you get off it after 6-12 months if bones look good?
Any help will be appreciated
Thanks...Mina221

Jone · 11-05-2007, 05:53 PM

After five years on Fosamax, I had just held my bone density- no increase or decrease. After 18 months on Forteo I had significant improvement.

I believe Forteo is still only allowed for two years but have heard the possibility of extending it.

The shots are a "snap" once you get used to it. The needle is very fine and most days I did not even feel it.

I never experienced any side effects such as dizziness.

DesertBloom · 11-06-2007, 10:00 AM

Hi Mina: Sorry your mom is having such a hard time, but the Forteo should help a lot. They are now using Forteo to speed the healing of fractures and joint replacements because it grows new bone so fast. Of course everyone respond differently to it, but I have had great improvements in bmd since I started it 17 months ago.

I don't have any side effects and never had the dizziness. If your mom has this problem she could take the shot before going to bed at night, if it causes any problem. I haven't had any trouble giving the shot, it is really easy and I rarely feel it. Forteo is a sub qutaneous injection (just below the skin) so the needle is really small, it's not like the type they use for B12 or other injections. If they give her a choice on the needle size it comes in 3/16th of an inch or 5/16th of an inch in length. I used both and can't really decide which I like better.

I took Actonel and it didn't work and the Forteo worked great so hopefully your mom will have the same reaction. Usually you don't take it more than the 2 years, but there are some here that are going past that time limit with their insurance/drs approval. I wouldn't want to stop taking the Forteo before the 2 years are up, but if she needs to for some reason she can; just remember that she has to follow with another bone med to retain any gains she made in bone density.

Good luck to you all...

Mina221 · 11-06-2007, 11:46 AM

thank you all for your replies!
She went for the training today with my sister, and my sister told me she feels she will not be able to handle it. I read the brochure on how to administer the injection and I believe once you do it a couple of times it will be no big deal. Unfortunateley both my sister and myself do not live next door to mom and work, so it is not possible for either of us to give ther the injection during the week. Is there any shortcuts to take or the directinsmust be followed step by step. i think the priming gets her confused. I don't know.
When should she go back to check her bones - 3 months?
Do any of you take other supplements - calcium vitamin D?

I was happy that she did not have any adverse side affects so that was a good thing.

osteoblast · 11-06-2007, 12:11 PM

Mina- You are going in the right direction with your thoughts about calcium and vit d. If your mother has not had her vit d level checked - absolutely get it done now. Forteo really uses up your vit d, this is stated in the package insert. So, get your mom tested and if needed get her supplemented to a good level not just marginally acceptable. As we are going into the winter, her vit d stores will be depleted too no doubt.Get the info from her doc about supplementing both calcium and vit d. When I started forteo my vit d was ok but it turns out not adequate for winter and the demands of forteo and the vit d went way low. Don't let this happen to your mom. Also it might be best to test the vit d each 3 months or so to see how it goes. And , again don't settle for the marginal level of 30 on vit d . Check out the vitamin d council for what researchers are saying about proper level. Yesterday on Oprah, Dr Oz could not stop with the vit d. I am going to start a thread on this. Does your mom have a friend or neighbor, church friend or someone that could help her with the shot?? Good luck.