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After Forteo?

heid
0 Recommendations

I will be finishing my second year of Forteo at the end of November. I'd like to hear what others in my situation are taking post-Forteo. I know that to do nothing is not an option. I am female, almost 62, in good health otherwise, walk daily, eat healthy, etc. My endocrinologist said that we will discuss going back on Actonel, Fosomax, etc. The generic Fosomax is what my insurance company is pushing. I was on Actonel for 6 years, continued to lose bone mass and ended up on Forteo. Going back on something like Actonel doesn't seem like a wise option; my endo. indicated that I could end up being put back on Forteo down the road; that would be when I'm on Medicare! What else is there?

Explore topics in this discussion:

Exercise Premarin Boniva Forteo Fractures Alendronate Fosamax Reclast Osteopenia Actonel Osteoporosis Deep vein thrombosis Evista

23 replies

millie123

I'm a little confused here. I thought the life-long limitation on Forteo was 18 to 24 months.

MG6748

I really think that doctors have no clue about post-Forteo. I'm on it (for 8 months). I think that in time you begin to lose whatever benefit you received no matter what drug you take next. No one seems to know the European results. It has been used there longer than it has been here. I would be interested in finding out what is happening there.

MyNana

Post Forteo, I had increased bone density in my hips and spine but decreased bone density in my forearms. My endo put me on annual Reclast (in June 2009) when I completed my 2-years with Forteo. Too soon to know if the results are positive, negative or status quo. I am 68 years old, physically and mentally active, take calcium, exercise daily (always have), fairly good nutrition (not perfect), don't drink or smoke. Good luck to you.

heid

Reclast is one med that my endocrinologist suggested but then I found out that it is nothing more than a liquid injectable form of Boniva! My insurance will probably pay if my doctor requests it. I would certainly rather go once a year for an injection than taking that darned pill weekly or monthly where you have to sit up for 30 to 60 minutes before eating. I'm just nervous about going back on something that didn't work for me in the first place. By the time I started Forteo (after 6 years on weekly Actonel), I had already lost 1 3/4" in height. (And I was already short-waisted!) I have a dexa scan at the end of Nov., then see the doctor early in Dec. for the results, and a decision on further treatment will be made at that time. I will keep this list informed as to what my doctor decides is best for me.

rtsmiles

Good morning everyone,
Yes, it would interest me to know what we are planning to take after our stint with Forteo. I do think it has made my bones stronger but am concerned about what to do after the 2 years. Thanks in advance for any help with this.

rtsmiles

Good morning everyone,
Yes, it would interest me to know what we are planning to take after our stint with Forteo. I do think it has made my bones stronger but am concerned about what to do after the 2 years. Thanks in advance for any help with this.

Jim777

I think you're right that doing nothing post-Forteo is not an option. I understand that your gains on Forteo will be quickly lost if you do nothing afterwards. I started taking Fosamax when it came out in 1995. Then I suspended it for two years while I took Forteo. Now I'm back on alendronate, one of the generics. I had a 12% gain in bone density in my lumbar spine on Forteo. A year post-Forteo on alendronate, my DEXA scan showed a slight but statistically insignificant loss. I am about your age, 62. Best wishes!

jmodwyer

I'm a 50 year old male, going on 18 months of Forteo for severe osteoporosis. Good results so far. From what I can discern Strontium Citrate (I'm in the US) seems the best option for me after 2 years -- and continued Vitamin D and calcium. The bisphosphonates are nasty drugs and, while generally seeming to work as advertised, they have a broad spectrum of side effects. Strontium (Ranelate-type) has been well-tested in Europe, with results equal to or better than bisphosphonates with minimal side effects. I have not seen any studies though, that provide definitive guidance or clinical results on options, post-Forteo.

heid

Thanks for the input. I will ask my endocrinologist about Strontium when I see him in early December. His office is north of Seattle, WA. I don't know if this drug is still considered experimental in the US or not. I did not have too many noticeable side-effects while on Actonel for six years but I continued to lose a lot of bone mass during that time. This is why I hesitate to go back on it; my insurance company is pushing me to take a generic version of Fosomax. I just don't want to end up hunched over in a wheelchair like my 83 year old mother.

heid

Surprise Surprise: I was told last night by my pharmacist that my insurance is not approving my 'last' Forteo pen because it would be my 25th pen and they will only pay for 24 pens. A pen lasts for 28 does while most months have either 30 or 31 days. I was given my first pen free by the person who taught me how to use it. So actually I've had 25 pens which is almost exactly two full years of Forteo. So now I've had to call my endocrinologist to get a dexa scan a month sooner than expected and move my appointment up too see him a month sooner. This is the appointment where we will discuss the dexa results and to decide what medicine I will use post Forteo; it is supposed to be started right after you finish your last Forteo pen. Just a warning that some of you may be facing this surprise too.

heid

Are Strotium Citrate and Strotium (Renalate-type) experimental? I didn't find them listed on the Mayo Clinic web site. My insurance probably won't pay for experimental drugs.

jmodwyer

Strontium Ranelate is available in Europe as a prescription drug. In the US, Strontium Citrate (which many people evaluate as equivalent to SR) is a supplement available by mail order, or possibly at a local nutrition specialty store. The following website has good information and references regarding strontium and osteoporosis. Hope you find this useful.

http://strontiumforbones.blogspot.com/

MG6748

Thank you to everyone who is discussing Forteo and post-Forteo!

Susie_NC

Heid:

Thank you for your recent post. I have a guestion? I got a call from my endo yesterday telling me that my insurance company excludes coverage on Forteo of which I was to start this morning. My coverage is BC/BS. Any advice? Did you have a problem with coverage?

heid

What is BC/BS? Is it a U.S. company? My endocrinologist had to prove to my insurance company that 6 years of previous osteoporosis drugs did not stop my bone loss. Forteo runs about $900 for 28 days. Your endocrinologist will know how to fight this for you. I wish you luck. No one would willingly want to inject themselves daily for two years unless it was truly necessary!

millie123

Question: Will your insurance company pay for services done in Canada? If you're in Seattle, you may be close enough to try the Strontium. Just a suggestion.

yarbdoc

Forteo is two years usually, you could go on Boniva , I have the same problem 3.0 and I am 62 and just starting Forteo. You could also do reclast? Maybe

yarbdoc

Just thought of another thing, what about calcitronin with salmon? It is injectable or a nasal spray.

jersey57

Hi, I will be finishing up my forteo at the end of November also. I was diagnosed about 5 years ago.
Did Actonel for 2 years, with no improvement. So I took the risk on Forteo and am also facing what to do next. (At least the forteo did improve my osteo). None of the options are particularly thrilling.
I was leaning toward the strontium citrate, although I am reading that it may have connections to deep vein thrombosis (like Evista I believe). Also I just read that if you take it after forteo it is as beneficial as calcium + D, which is also very disappointing.
http://www.raysahelian.com/strontium.html

There is a clinical trial being started in California.
http://strontiumforbones.blogspot.com/2009/03/strontium-citrate-clinical-tr ial.html

My nurse practitioner told me that the forteo may keep working for a few months(after you stop) so I am planning a slight breather before I commit to the next
thing. Wish everyone luck.

heid

My dexa results from 10/28/09 are: AP Spine L1-L3 region, -2.7 score and -1.1 Z score, BMD 0.845 g/cm2; and Dual Femur Total Mean -1.7 T score and -0.5 z Score, BMD 0.799 g/cm2. Previous tests showed -3.3 spine and -2/1 femur. I'm not exactly sure what these numbers mean other than these number show an improvement in bone density from previous scores. I see my new doctor to continue treatment later this month for an explanation and follow-up treatment as soon as my records are transferred to him. Will keep you posted! Michele

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