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February 10, 2012
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Medications and Drugs

Brand Names: Forteo

Generic Name: teriparatide (Pronunciation: ter i PAR a tide)

What is teriparatide (Forteo)?

Teriparatide is a man-made form of a hormone called parathyroid that exists naturally in the body. Teriparatide increases bone density and increases bone strength to help prevent fractures.

Teriparatide is used to treat osteoporosis in men and women who have a high risk of bone fracture.

Teriparatide may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What are the possible side effects of teriparatide (Forteo)?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using teriparatide and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

  • feeling light-headed or fainting every time you inject this medicine;
  • fast or pounding heartbeats every time you inject this medicine; or
  • nausea, vomiting, constipation, and muscle weakness.

Less serious side effects may include:

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What is the most important information I should know about teriparatide (Forteo)?

This medication has been found to cause an increased risk of bone cancer in animal studies. It is not known if this risk is also increased in humans treated with teriparatide. Talk with your doctor about your individual risk.

Teriparatide can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.

Avoid smoking cigarettes, or try to quit smoking altogether. Smoking can reduce your bone mineral density, making fractures more likely.

Avoid drinking alcohol, which also may affect your bone mineral density.


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Brand Names:
Forteo
[+]

Generic Name:
teriparatide
[+]

Paget's Disease Overview

Paget's disease of the bone is the second most common bone disorder in elderly patients. (Osteoporosis is the most common.) Paget's disease is a disorder that affects the normal remodeling process of bone. In normal bone, the bone constantly remodels. In the remodeling process, old bone is removed and new bone is formed. In patients with Paget's disease, this process is altered. These patients have an excessive amount of bone resorption (removal) followed by an even more excessive amount of new bone formation. Unfortunately, this increased rate of bone remodeling leads to new bone that is not as strong as normal bone. This abnormal bone is weaker, has more blood vessels, and is larger in size than normal bone. While most cases do not cause symptoms, some patients may develop pain, fractures, or even malignant transformation into Read the Paget Disease article »


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