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 Nita
- Posted July 16, 2009 at 2:21 pm
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Congratulations, Alisa! We all know how wonderful any good news is about our bones. Just wanted to say that I was on Forteo for the last two years and made minor improvement the first year. I went from osteoporosis to almost normal the 2nd year. (Spine -2.0 to -0.7 and hip -1.1 to -0.3)
I originally started with spine -3.4 and hip-1.9 and was on Fosamax until the last two years. I'm a good specimen for demonstrating that these drugs can work.
- By Mrader
- Posted July 16, 2009 at 2:17 pm
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I am very grateful for this site. I have just started to take Forteo- Just 2 weeks and I am hopeful for similar results of improvement. I have had no side affects but do take it at night before bed. So maybe I sleep through the effects. I am also looking into going to a nutritionist for
a diet that will help with the Osteo as well as high blood pressure and heart disease. Has any on done that? Gone to a nutritionist?
- By Jane_stlouis
- Posted July 15, 2009 at 10:22 am
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I was put on Forteo after having trauma to the spine which caused compression fractures. I think that the drug speeded up my recovery. However, I was not diagnosed with osteoporosis prior. I have been on it for almost a year. So....now I am wondering why I need to continue it given that it is high risk (in my opinion) and the fractures are healed. I also get some dizziness occasionally which I relate to this also. Any comments would be helpful. Thanks!
- By Raven1
- Posted July 12, 2009 at 12:14 pm
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Hi
Do you think that denosumab is going to be approved soon or not? The company that makes it seems to think it will be approved soon. I filled out their survey. My endo has so far recommended Actonel for when I finish Forteo in November. She mentioned denosumab, almost in passing, so I don't know what she really thinks about it. My rheumatologist agrees with her about Actonel. What have others heard from docs? I had a blood clot, so anything that induces blood clots is out for me and strontium appears to. By the way, many thanks for posting strontium papers and articles.
- By DebRN
- Posted July 11, 2009 at 10:10 am
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I am just finishing my 7th month on Forteo and while I don't have any actual "real" proof of success yet, I FEEL so much stronger. Had sustained a few vertebral fractures prior to starting Forteo (far too many steroids in my day related to sinus and Psoriasis issues), and was shocked when my T-Score came back at minus 3.6. I am not unduly concerned with the Black Box warning because when I weighed everything on the proverbial scale, I wanted my life back - a life without fear, a life where I have continued my career, a life without pain (unless I am tired), a life with laughter. A ton of research and a wonderful Endo led me to Forteo as the best way for me to try to reverse the Osteo process. Having worked with many Cancer patients I know that imagery is a positive therapeutic intervention and I use imagery to picture the Forteo rebuilding my spine, making it strong again. Osteoporosis no longer defines me.
- By cm81256
- Posted July 10, 2009 at 7:12 pm
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hi all,
I am totally new to this site. I am almost 53 and have had osteo for about at least 6 yrs now. I found out when I went into early menopause about 6 yrs ago accidently I might add. I have been on Evista, Actonel and now for 2 yrs on Boniva. I just keep getting a little worse every year. I take Calcium and Vit D and for 2 and a half years exercising with weights and my last Dexa was 3.1 spine (worse that last year 2.9) and femur was 2.7 (last year was 2.6). This really sucks. I am going to see an endocronologist the end of August that was the soonest I could get an appt. I went to an endo doc about 3 yrs ago she ran tons of blood work test and urine tests and found nothing. So she did nothing and then moved somewhere else. This endo is new I am hoping he will find something that will work for me I am really scared of fracturing something or walking stouped over in a couple years.
- 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?
- 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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
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