Had to stop using Forteo

By Connie Ivey Thursday, February 14, 2008

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Hello, Wanted to give a up-date about my side effects. Took Forteo for 2-weeks, did o.k. Then I had severe pain in my spine after taking the injection, call my Dr., His reply was the Forteo had nothing to do with the pain, next time go the the emergency room. Is what I was instructed to do , also to continue the injection. Next injection of Forteo was'nt as severe, started having pain in spine and some cramping after about 10-min after taking injection but pain was manageable.Following 2 injections stay the same. Then on Sunday Feb. 10th after taking injections for 2-1/2 weeks pain returned, started 6-8 mins after injection, started in spine then wrapped around my thigh until it enter my right knee. Pain was unbearable to the point of nearly passing out. After having 17 different surgeries within the last 3-years I have developed A high pain tolerence, but this pain was incompacitating. Call Dr. said not to take injection on Monday and to see him on Tuesday. After seeing Dr. We determine not to take Forteo anymore. Dr. said he hasn't had any patients show these kind of symptoms before. I am 46 years old, had many surgeries due to a accident that I had 32 years ago that has came back to cause many problems, I broke 5-ribs in Dec 2007 for no apparent reason then found out the severly of my osteoporosis that I didn't know I had. At this time I don't know what to do. It is Feb. 14th and still having pain in my spine and right knee. Had to use a wheel chair for the first time in my life, other than in a hospital. Dr. said pain should go away. Can anyone give me any advice? Thanks, Connie

Comments (10) | Add comment

Maria Gifford, Editor

2/15/08 2:27am

Connie,

Thanks for writing. I'm sorry to hear you're having so much trouble and ongoing pain. As far as Forteo goes, you're not alone. See:

Forteo side effects (by Linda)

Questions about Forteo side effects (by Mufasa)

Forteo side effects (by Summers)

Forteo: Do the Benefits Outweigh the Risks? (by Dr. Neil Gonter)

(Be sure to scroll down to read all of the Comments from other members as well.)

Let me know if I can help you find more information. Keep us posted on how you're doing.

Best,

Maria

Lila de Tantillo, Health Guide

2/18/08 12:09am

Thanks so much for sharing your challenging experience -- what a terrible thing to go through. The way you continue to remain proactive about your bone health despite what happened is truly inspiring. I hope you and your doctor are able to find the right course of treatment for your osteoporosis and help you avoid future painful fractures as well as debilitating side effects.

Connie Ivey

2/19/08 2:04pm

Just wanted to say thanks for the all the replys, the information has been helpful. Still having severe pain in both knees, spline and hips . Started having hot flashes off and on daily now, it has been 9-days since last injection of Forteo. Can anyone tell me how long before the side effects will stop, having a difficult time with the pain , but still trusting my Lord. Thanks Connie

Joanne

3/ 2/09 12:04pm

My doctor is considering putting me on Forteo. I have been on Fosamax+D and Evista (at the same time). I was having trouble with Evista and it was discontinued last year. I am still on Fosamax however my most recent bone density scan is not good. I had a kidney transplant in 2000 and unfortunatley have a active parathyroid gland in my chest (yes my chest) leaning on the sack of my heart. I can not take any kind of calcium supplements due to my conditions. I'm not excited about having Forteo injections since I've heard absolutely nothing good about it.

How are you doing....would love to hear an update.

Joanne

Anonymous

3/ 5/08 4:27pm

I was in the medical study for forteo that was stopped due to bone cancer in rats. We knew who was in the med group and placebo group by the 'growing' pains we got. But nothing like what you describe. I wonder if you should get a new bone scan or something to see what's going on inside?

LInda Hall

3/ 6/08 5:13pm

Hi Connie,

I too had this happen to me but I had taken the forteo pen injection for almost a year and when I started to take it one morning I started to get a bad pain in my lower spine. I too called the dr. and he also said skip a day then continue the next day to see what happen's. Well I did it and the pain was bad so I got scared and made an app. to see my dr. and told him it happened again so then he told me not to use it anymore. But too he had never heard of that kind of symptom. But don't worry you are not alone here I had that some kind of symptoms. I wish you well and hope you can find something else that will help you. good luck, Linda

Linda

3/ 7/08 7:13pm

Hi Connie:

I don't know if you saw my previous post, but I also had to stop forteo after about 3 months. My pain levels got increasingly severe until I could hardly stand for any length of time. Fortunately, the pain starting abating as soon as I stopped the injections. I have been off for about three months now, and am back to normal. I hope you have the same outcome.

Marion Wagner

3/16/08 10:28pm

I don't know that much about reclast but my family doctor said I should get it after seeing the results of my bone marrow test. I wish I knew more about it. I am also concerned about taking a large amount of calcium. My doctor wants me too take 1800 mg of calcium. Is that too much?

Anonymous

7/27/08 1:58pm

Hang in there Connie. I was on Forteo for a month and could not tolerate it at all. I had severe leg cramps at night which I couldn't sleep. I don't understand some of these doctor you tell them the side effect you are having and they claim it's not the forteo. Finally I was taken off and am on Evista. Gives me heartburn at times but what can we do. We are the mercy of these doctors and I think sometimes they don't seem to understand. Keep intouch, josie

Anonymous

8/ 4/08 12:29am

Hi,

I tried Fosa Max for 2 months and couldn't tolerate it and I'm so glad I couldn't. I surfed the i-net periodically looking for something that wouldn't give me Fossy Bone (they are all bad from what I can find). I have always taken high quality calcium but still ended up with osteoporosis (age related). Just before my anual DEXA Scan was due I found a post of someone who had reversed bone loss using Ezorb Calcium so I went to Ezorb.com and checked it out...WOW!!!!!!!!!!!! What a site...check it out immediately and pass out the good news. I took the Ezorb Calcium for 6 weeks before my DEXA and the osteoporosis reversed and I went back to normal (not even osteopenia) and my T-Score went from -0.9 to -0.4 in L1-4 and from

-1.0 to 0.1 in my Dual Femur. I only found out about the Ezorb

3 months ago and I want to tell everyone suffering with this disease

that there is hope without drugs. I have always tried to use the natural approach first. Ezorb is also good for arthritis, fibromyalgia, bone spurs and some other things related to bones. I found that it had gotten rid of the severe arthritis in my spine when I had the DEXA and 2 weeks ago I had x-rays on my right foot and the calsification had disappeared. This is a very informative site, check it out. Read the testimonies too; I did and I'm really glad I did, I thought I had nothing to loose and everything to gain since I didn't want to get "dead jaw" or "fossy bone" or have brittle dense bones filled with dead or almost dead bone. Please pass this info out...my doctor was so excited she was squeeling about the results of my DEXA Scan, she said it wasn't even in osteopenia it was in the normal range. I'm going to keep taking the Ezorb at the rate they say to for osteoporosis for a year because I'm post menopausal.

Best wishes,

Orly

Had to stop using Forteo

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