Hi, everyone. I just wanted to share with you all the results I've had with Forteo. A little bit of background: I'm 28, was diagnosed with severe osteoporosis in July. It is most likely pregnancy-related osteoporosis, or postpartum osteoporosis, as I've had just about every work-up in the book to rule out another cause. I started having severe back pain three months after my daughter (my second child) was born in January of 2008. An MRI showed fractures in T7, T8, T9, and T12. Then a DEXA scan showed BMD of -4.3 in my spine, and -2.1 in my hip and femur. I started Forteo on August 2, 2008 (my rheumatologist thought I should avoid bisphosphonates as I'm hoping to have more children in the future), and my second DEXA, done on March 5 of this year showed BMD of -3.0 in my spine and -2.0 in my hip and femur. I wasn't too excited at first, but my rheumatologist told me he's never seen such drastic improvement in bone density in such a short amount of time. I still have osteoporosis, but he was amazed at the change. So I'm pretty happy. The plan now is to continue Forteo for the full two years, and to have another DEXA in March of 2010.
Just wanted to share my success with all of you, and wish you all the best.
--Alisa
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Forteo works!
- By AlisaB
- Posted April 6, 2009 at 8:14 pm · 26 replies
- In Osteoporosis medications
- Shared with the public
Explore topics in this discussion:
Exercise Cancer Back pain Pregnancy Osteopenia Menopause Prozac Osteoporosis Evista Dizziness Heart disease Osteosarcoma Boniva Forteo Fractures Psoriasis Fosamax Reclast Actonel Pain Bone cancer Depression
26 replies
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- Newest first
- By PikaB
- Posted April 6, 2009 at 9:51 pm
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That's fantastic, almost too good to be true. Hope the improvement continues at that rate.
- By Oakside
- Posted April 7, 2009 at 1:17 pm
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Thank you. That is very encouraging. All I've read or heard of Forsteo up till now has seemed bad - I've just finished the first 2 months (minus two weeks when I was too ill to have any non-essential medication). What Calcium and Vit D are you taking? (My Consultant said I have to take Calcium and Vit D as well as the Forsteo.)
- By really
- Posted April 7, 2009 at 2:40 pm
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Are you not concerned about the long term effects on this med?
- By PikaB
- Posted April 7, 2009 at 2:57 pm
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"Are you not concerned about the long term effects on this med?"
Not particularly. (I assume you are referring to the increased osteosarcoma in rats, who were given a much higher dose.) One thing to keep in mind is that there is a difference between rat PTH and human PTH. The rats were injected with Forteo, which is synthetic human PTH. Injecting large amounts of rat PTH would probably not be healthy for humans. But people who are using Forteo are using synthetic PTH of our own species.
- By windblown
- Posted April 7, 2009 at 6:09 pm
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Hi AlisaB: That's fantastic news--congrats!! I to did really well on Forteo with no side effects, and finished my 2 years last June. My lowest score was -3.6 spine; now -0.9 (normal) hip is now -1.9 (osteopenia). I much older than you, but I've had osteo since my early 30's. I'm now on Evista, and thinking about Denosumab *if* it gets FDA approval. I originally had a QCT not a DXA, so I didn't have a hip score when I started the Forteo.
We'll see next month if the Evista is holding my scores at that level.
Good luck...
- By windblown
- Posted April 7, 2009 at 6:12 pm
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Hi PikaB: It's DB from HB... I hope you understand my abreviations :) Did you ever finish the bandelero of Forteo pens? We also used to talk at SciMed osteo NG too, a long time ago. What are you taking now that the Forteo is over? I hope you are doing well I haven't talked to you in a long time :(
Take Care
- By aida
- Posted April 8, 2009 at 3:41 am
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Hi Pika,
I too am on Forteo (10 months now)and pleased with results.. Age 60. BD -4.9 hip and -4.2 Femoral - since at least 5 yr ago. Fractured t7 one year ago. Score now is 4.1 hip and spine gone from 57 to 62. Am over the moon.. - another 8 months to go - only allowed 18 mths treatment in Australia. Not worried about the "black box" similar reasons to you. Rats also only live 2-3 years AND never stop growing. I wonder if my density was as bad when I was your age - No BD scans in 60s 70s. Only found out 1 year ago that I have scheuermanns disease which contributed to my low BD as a teenager and menopause took away the rest apparently.Im very positive about this treatment - for me - as no alternative out there. Aida
- By Norm
- Posted April 8, 2009 at 11:11 am
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I've been on forteo for 5 months. I had a my yearly Dexa scan last week & there was no change.
- By Tom-WI
- Posted April 8, 2009 at 1:22 pm
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Hi Norm,
Boy, that's disappointing, but it's only 5 months into the program. I suppose it's also good news that your score didn't get lower. I don't recall, what supplements are you taking? Any exercise program?
I feel kinda slouchy on exercises, but will be retiring in 3 weeks. Then I will have no excuse for not going at it every day!
Tom
- By KathyS
- Posted April 11, 2009 at 10:56 am
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Congrats Alisa! Great news for you.
I made the decision to go with Forteo to avoid suffering fractures. I think with each case you have to come to that decision based on what's right for you. The key is eyes wide open.
I am doing the Forteo injections also. They didn't do a dexa until I had taken it for a year. I went from a -3.8 to a -3.2 so I too had improvement and will have another dexa in Nov. She then wants me to try Reclast. If the scores are getting worse and there are improvements then it's working. I think you have to give it more then 5 mo's.
- By Zuniper
- Posted April 13, 2009 at 9:00 pm
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Hi All,
I'm so relieved to have found this board. I'm 28 and am totally overwhelmed by my diagnosis of osteoporosis. My spine is osteoporatic (-2.7) and my hip shows osteopenia. All of my blood work is normal--a few new tests pending--so doctors are a bit stumped. I was just discussing Forteo with one of them today.
How are the side effects?
- By PikaB
- Posted April 14, 2009 at 6:50 pm
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Here's a recent interesting news article on Forteo:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090414102534.htm
- By mjamja
- Posted April 14, 2009 at 9:41 pm
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am interested in the comment about "Denosumab *if* it gets FDA"
has this been talked about?
where can i learn more about it?
marcia
- By Ladydy
- Posted April 20, 2009 at 11:32 am
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Has anyone on Forteo had any experience with its impact on depression? Has your depression worsened or perhaps even improved?
- By PikaB
- Posted April 20, 2009 at 12:28 pm
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I hadn't noticed any impact on depression with Forteo. But of course, SSRI antidepressants make bone density worse, so I got better results from Forteo after I stopped using Prozac.
- By zeta
- Posted April 20, 2009 at 10:35 pm
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PikaB and others,
Well, giving rats higher doses to investigate the health risks of a substance for humans is common practice. However, some drugs fare better than others, ie, FDA usually doesn't require the drug company to use the Black Box Warning , as it did in the case of Forteo.
I often hear folks rant against strontium citrate because it's not FDA certified (oblivious to the fact that FDA doesn't certify supplements) but then when it comes to FDA classification on the Black Box Warning, they conjure up reasons to discount it, when it happens to suit their purposes.
Unfortunately, it can't be both ways.
- By wagmore
- Posted May 21, 2009 at 9:23 am
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I am 75 with severe osteoporosis and two compression fractures of the vertebrae. Forteo has been recommended and, like "zeta" am quite concerned about the bone cancer in the test rats. My doctor, when pushed, said that ALL (100%) of the rats had developed bone cancer by the end of two years. I, too, question the "massive dosage/rats bones are different" justification. Does legitimate research begin with subjects & variables that are known to invalidate the research. Any info would be helpful in my decision to proceed with Forteo treatment.
- By RocknRoll
- Posted May 21, 2009 at 6:05 pm
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I just wonder about the improved DEXA scores. Does it mean you've hardened your bones some and there is no real regrowth of the bones? Making them brittle and easier to fracture? Increased bone flexibility is better to have than bone density.
- By Norm
- Posted May 22, 2009 at 7:59 am
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I've had no improvement in 6 months of use.
- By built_to_last
- Posted June 14, 2009 at 7:29 pm
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hi
I was very hopeful to hear about your success . I have been wanting to take more agressive action against my bone loss but doctors won't prescribe me bi-phosphonates because I'm pre-menopausal---31 years old.
How did you manage to convince your doctor?
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