Forteo: New Drug for Osteoporosis

If it makes you sick every time, you take it, how's it supposed to do you any good?

FRANTIC FOR FORTEO
Hi everyone. I'm new here, so bear with me. I just want to find someone with a similar situation to myself. I have disease (lupus) and drug (prednisone & Epilim) induced Osteoporosis. My bone producing cells have ceased to function and my last chance to stop fractures is FORTEO. However, I'm in Australia and it's not on the market here yet.
Can anyone tell me more about it from a US perspective?
Looking forward to hearing from you.

Annie Kay.

annika.64- Welcome to Able2Know. Forteo's generic name is teriparitide:

Link to Forteo


It is possible that the drug is available in Australia under another name. Check with your doctor. Also, if you read an earlier post of mine, you will see that my mom had developed osteoporosis, due to long term use of prednisone also. She takes Miacalcin spray. Over the years, she had developed some small fractures, but we don't know if they happened before or after she started taking the Miacalcin, as she had taken the prednisone for a number of years BEFORE I found out about the Miacalcin.

Thanks for your reply, Phoenix32890.

We are aware of the details of Forteo; it has the same name. I have actually personally spoken to the medical directors of Eli Lilly in US and OZ and am just waiting for the drug company and the government to get themselves into gear about $$.
My doctor is fabulous - one of the best! As soon as it is on the market I will the one to get it, my situation is so serious.
This makes me say that for anyone with any health problem, please find a doctor/specialist with whom you feel really comfy & that you know has his finger on the pulse of technology etc.
I feel for your mother. How is she? Tell her that I am feeling for her with my ribs and metatarsals, will you?
I have been watching US news etc and found that people are taking Forteo already. If anyone has started it, could you please let me know, so that when I get it, I'll know what I'm in for.

annika.64- So far, le drug de jour 'round these parts appears to be Fosamax. The docs seem to be prescribing it to everyone that I talk to about these issues. If I hear anything about "Forteo", I will let you know!

Phoenix
Fosomax, does not build new bone mass. It is usually taken in conjunction with estrogen and Vitamin D in the slowing down of bone mass loss.

My wifes perscription was as follows:


Fosomax (10mg) [Tab 1 QD] 1 Tab in the morning
Vitamin D (50,000 iu) [Tab 1 3Xweek] 1 Tab 3 times a week
Estradol (1mg) [Tab 1 am 1 hs] 1 tab morning and night


There is no wonder drug available to cure Osteoprosis. All that can be done, is to slow down the process.

I would recommend, that post menopausal women consult with their doctor, and ask about "Bone Density Tests." The "Dexa scan" seems to be one of the more difinitive ones, today. The results can be plotted, yearly, to calculated the percentge of bone density loss.

Most important, in all of this, is to consult with your doctor.

I am glad that Fosamax is doing it's job for some. Unfortunately it wasn't useful for me, so we stopped treatment. It made no difference to any variables. My bone density is fine. That's why I need to hang of for the 'drug de jour' as Phoenix32890 calls it.

I really appreciate the chance to chat with you all, I can't say it enough. I actually went to lunch and shopping with hubby today - I held onto the trolley. I found a pair of supportive shoes that I wore when I first started fracturing, and with my walking stick, off we went. No wheel chair today. Cheer for me.
I've even been cleaning out cupboards and now hubby asked if I wanted the living room reorganised. And it's not even Spring. It's so good when you feel good, isn't it! It makes 'tomorrow' easier to look forward to.

Until then,
Be Good!

Another source of info:

http://www.centerwatch.com/patient/drugs/dru812.html

Fosamax is taken with Calcium supplements. Vitamin D is usually not required, if the patient is on a balanced diet.

Neither estrogen nor HRT is used with Fosamax.


Blood levels of Ca must be determined prior to Rx with Fosamax.

Ferrous:

Bone density scans are not given on an annual basis for the average, postmenapausal women. Some MDs give the scan 1X and others give it 2X over the life span of the woman.

For the patient, with severe osteoporosis, scans might be performed more often.. Managed care is the ruler of the decision, usually.


By the way, why is your wife on estrogen. I thought this was a not Rxed anymore because of higher incidence of breast cancer on women on HRT.

Ferrous:

I just noticed your wife's formulary. The usual dose of fosamax is one, 70 mg tab/week. Your wife is taking the 10 mg tab , 7 times/week.

Is there a reason for this?

Does she have trouble swallowing the 70 mg tab?


Also...why the vitamin D supplement? You can get Vitamin D from cheese, milk, yougurt etc.

Estrogen
My wife was recently taken off of Estrogen (Estinyl 0.02mg) because of associated problems, and it has been replaced with Estradol (1mg).

Estrogen is critical, in the uptake of Calcium. Without it, you can take handfulls of Calcium pills and most of it will wash right through you. Or worse, stick to where it not intended to (Liver, blood vessels, ect...). Also , my wife is a pseudohermaphrodite (MGD -Mixed Gonadal Dysgenesis) and it helps maintain an equal balance both in her mind and body.

"Vitamin D - helps the calcium being used to slow bone loss. (Some forms may also help the body absorb more calcium from food. e.g. calcitriol)"

As for the dosage of Fosomax, she suffers from short bowel syndrome (having had a large portion of her large intestine, removed in the mid-sixties -14 operations), malnutrition, and severe bone density loss. She is bed ridden. I understand, that the Fosomax causes severe stomach distress, and I would imagine that the doctor wants to maintain a steady level in her system. As I stated, Jackie is no longer on Fosomax. She was put on it, about three years ago, when it was one of the newer drugs on the market in the fight of Osteoporosis.

I will ask her doctor about her dosage, when she is about to go back on it. I also understand, that there is a sub-dermal inplant that last for an entire year.

The bone density scans, are critical if severe bone loss is prevalent. How else, is a doctor and patient going to know, if the present treatment is being effective, in the slowing down of Osteoporosis?

Each postmenopausal women, will have one bone density scan to determine her base line. Some women have this scan as early as in their 40s. Another is usually scheduled in about 5 years. This is in most women. Unless there is something very unusal about the course of bone loss, most women will never have more than 2 scans.

However, in sever cases of pathogenesis, additional scans may be performed.

What is your wife now taking in place of Fosamax?

Where is the link to the presence of an implant for fosamax.


Yes..Fosamax can cause a variety of unpleasant side effects.

Bone Density Scans
Yes, most women should have at least one scan done after reaching Menopause, to set up a base line.

My wife (55 years old) suffers from "Established Osteoporosis." With the severe bone loss in such a relative short time, additional tests were needed to determine if the present treatment was being effective.

We believe that a major condition of malnutrition accompanied with the onset of Peripheral Neuropathy, and extremely low Electrolyte and Potassium levels, contributed to the massive loss of bone density in such a quick period of time. Her weight plummeted from 117 lbs to 83 lbs in a matter of a few months.

She is not, at this time on Vitamin D or Fosamax. Another bout with weight loss and stomach discomfort, has deemed it necessary to go off of the drug, until she is feeling better and her weight improves. She is at 97 lbs and slowly gaining weight. She recently had another density test, and it shows positive results of stabilizing. Her doctor plans on continuing the treatment of Fosamax, when her general health, improves.

I will ask about the 75mg once a week treatment, at that time.

I have learned that nutrition, exercise, and preventative medicine can go a long way in slowing down and preventing this crippling disease.


Types of Osteoporosis:

Normal, Osteopenia, Osteoporosis, and Established osteoporosis.

http://imaginis.com/osteoporosis/osteo_diagnose.asp

I've been using Forteo for 9 months. I knew of the bone cancer possiblity but I was 66 and figured risk/benefit ratio was worth it.
Last week I had DEXA and my density has improved. Because I went to the doctor about a particularly painful and potentially serious disk problem and because the news about that was not good, I didn't ask questions about my osteoporosis.

With hindsight I wonder if Forteo could be responsible for the disk problems getting worse. Worse that is in how I feel. I hadn't had prior xrays so there was no basis for comparison. I'll question the doc next week and post the results of that conversation.

Osteoporosis and Genetics
I have to agree that genetics play a critical role in the development of disease, particularly osteoporosis. Both my mother and my older sister have it, and I was diagnosed two years ago when I insisted on a bone scan. I have had a very healthy lifestyle for the past 25 years. I eat lots of fruits and vegetables, take supplements, and exercise daily, both weight-bearing and resistance training. Further, I have taken estrogen supplements ever since I had an ooferectomy at the age of 30. But my dexascan shows that I am at a critical risk for spinal fracture. I cannot tolerate Fosamax or Actonel, so my doctor wants me to try Forteo. Last night I had my first injection, and experienced nausea and extreme muscle and joint aches. (I do not react well to ANY medication, but I had high hopes that this might be different.)I am quite concerned that I won't be able to tolerate this, either, and it really frightens me. I am a very active person, as well as a teacher who plans to work for several more years, (I am not yet 60) and I need to be able to function on a high level.
I would be interested in hearing from anyone who might have experienced the same side effects, which hopefully, will diminish with time. (I am very familiar with the studies done with this drug, and although I definitely have reservations, I feel that at this point, I have no choice but to try it!)

fosamax
For those of you having difficulty using the pill without getting sick, please note that you MUST drink at least 8 ounces of water first thing in the morning before you eat or drink. After swallowing do not lay down for at least 30 minutes. You can't do it any other way.

forteo and osteoporosis
I'm still using Forteo (think August is my last month) and have experienced no stomach upset or muscle aches. I'm sorry for your trouble.

I have developed Osteoprosis because of prednisone use for rheumatoid arthritis. I went on to have every joint replaced. yea, you read it right. knees, hips, elbows, shoulders, C1-C2 & C4-C5 fusion. I was doing great only to be taken down by Osteoprosis. I exercised, good diet and for the arthritis I am taking a drug called Enbrel. Excellent Drug!! A couple a months ago a simple twist of the elbow and my elbow was broken. As you can see I am desperate to stop the progression of this Osteoprosis and start new bone growth.I am looking at FORTEO. Any suggestions out there???
I have always been a fighter but Osteoprosis
has landed a awful blow to my life. I am down but not out.

Re: Osteoporosis and Genetics
I know thatt your message was from some timee ago. I too, had trouble tolerating forteo. I had bad headaches and neckaches along with varing degrees of nausea. I also felt a bit out of it. Please tell me how you are doing. I have stopped taking it in the short term.
Cathy 5259