Teriparatide injection

What is teriparatide injection?

TERIPARATIDE (Forteo™, Forteo™ Pen) controls the amount of calcium in your body and helps to maintain or increase bone strength. Teriparatide helps to prevent bone loss and fractures (broken bones) and it increases healthy bone production in people with osteoporosis. Generic teriparatide injection is not yet available.

What should my health care professional know before I receive teriparatide?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

• bone disease other than osteoporosis

• cancer or cancer treatments (radiation therapy)

• Paget's disease

• parathyroid disease

• an unusual or allergic reaction to teriparatide, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives

• pregnant or trying to get pregnant

• breast-feeding

How should I use this medicine?

Teriparatide comes in a special injection pen device. This pen injects the medicine under your skin. Your health care professional will teach you how to use the injection device. You will also be given an instruction booklet. It is important that you read and understand the instructions before you use this medicine. If you do not follow the instructions appropriately, you may get the wrong amount of medicine. Use your medicine exactly as directed. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Do not exceed the prescribed dose, and do not use more or less often than prescribed.

Contact your pediatrician or health care professional regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.

What if I miss a dose?

Give the missed dose only if you remember within 6 hours. Otherwise, skip the missed dose and resume your regular schedule with the next daily dose. Do not use extra or double doses.

What drug(s) may interact with teriparatide?

• alendronate

• digoxin

• etidronate

• ibandronate

• pamidronate

• risedronate

• tiludronate

• zoledronic acid

Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including non-prescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.

What should I watch for while taking teriparatide?

Visit your prescriber or health care professional for regular checks on your progress. Teriparatide can increase your blood calcium level; your prescriber may have your blood calcium levels tested if this is of possible concern, but routine monitoring is not needed.

You may also need to take supplements of calcium and vitamin D while you are receiving teriparatide, unless you are being treated for high calcium levels. Ask your prescriber or health care professional about calcium in your diet. Discuss whether calcium and vitamin D supplements are right for you with your prescriber or health care provider.

What side effects may I notice from receiving teriparatide?

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):

• bone pain

• confusion

• constipation

• dizziness or feeling lightheaded

• fatigue

• headache

• heartburn

• leg cramps

• nausea, vomiting

• pain, redness, irritation or swelling at the injection site

Where can I keep my medicine?

Keep out of the reach of children.

Store the Forteo™ Pen injector device in a refrigerator between 2—8 degrees C (36—46 degrees F) at all times; do not freeze. Recap the pen injector when not in use to protect it from light and damage. The time the device is out of the refrigerator should be minimized during use. Throw away any unused medicine 28 days after the first injection from the device or after the expiration date, whichever is earlier.

Store needles and syringes out of the reach of children. Make sure you receive a puncture-resistant container to dispose of the needles and syringes once you have finished with them. Do not reuse these items. Return the container to your prescriber or health care professional for proper disposal.