Kidney stones after Forteo

3/ 6/08 5:08pm

Hello. Thanks for writing. Here's some related information I thought you'd find helpful:

Forteo SubQ: Precautions and Side Effects

http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoporosis/find-drug-64501-73.html

Young, Did Everything Right, Trouble with Treatment

http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoporosis/c/6168/12850/young-trouble/

Osteoporosis: Lifestyle Changes (here, increased risk for kidney stones is related to megadoses of calcium supplements)

http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoporosis/treatment-000018_7-145.html

Calcium Supplements: To Take or Not to Take?

http://www.healthcentral.com/osteoporosis/c/73/2496/calcium-to/

Let me know if I can help you find out more.

Best,

Maria

Lila de Tantillo, Health Guide

3/ 6/08 7:32pm

Thanks so much for sharing your experience -- how terrible to go through kidney stones. You ask an excellent question. I hadn't heard of kidney stones being a potential side effect from Forteo (and it doesn't mention anything about this on the overiew at www.forteo.com, although that isn't a complete listing of all possible side effects.) Yet those with preexisting kidney conditions are not considered ideal candidates for Forteo, so it's a tricky question. In any case best wishes on both conditions.

Schart

12/ 1/11 9:21pm

I had never had kidney stones until Forteo injections and now that I'm on Reclast I continue to develop stones. Do I think there is a connection? Absolutely!!

Yisroel

6/23/08 6:33pm

I have been on forteo for five months now and developed both a kidney stone and a cyst (probably calcium) on the kidney. My endocronologist says forteo couldn't have caused this, but I remain doubtful.

Texas Mom

8/30/08 10:02pm

I haven't had kidney stones but my mother has developed one since her Reclast infusion this spring. She has never had a kidney stone before in her life and drinks quite a bit of water each day, always has. Apparently her kidney stone is a rather large one from what her physician told her. I will conduct further investigation.

soos

1/22/09 7:35am

I developed a kidney stone (for the first time in my 57 years) after several months on forteo. Labs showed very elevated urinary calcium and very low urinary citrate, both of which resolved several months after stopping Forteo. Forteo appeared to be the cause of the oxalate-type stone.

joy

7/19/09 9:28pm

I have been on Forteo for 11 months and had to be rushed to hospital this week with severe pain from first kidney stone. Was told that I have five kidney stones total and only passed one. Urologist in emergency room said Forteo and calcium supplements were probably the cause. I never want to pass another kidney stone again--it was excruciatingly painful!

Schatzie

10/13/09 12:41pm

I started on Forteo around March of 2008. In November of 2008 I had an IVP test that revealed two large kidney stones in the left kidney. I had surgery to have it removed at that time. On September 24th I developed severe abdominal pain. My doctor ordered a CT scan and a KUB. The results showed I had developed more kidney stones in less than a year. I just had another Lithotropsy procedure to have the stones removed yesterday. It also show a cyst on the right kidney. I have never had any kidney stone problems prior to using Forteo. At this time, I have been on Forteo for about a year and a half. I reported the possible connection between using Forteo and the stones to my doctors. I was also told the FDA would contact me to follow up with a report. I would be interested in hearing from others who may have had similar experiences.

Mary

5/ 7/12 1:26pm

I had one kidney stone at age 18 and then at age 63 started forteo injections. At age 64 I was in the hospital with an unpassable stone from right kidney and sepsus because it was stuck. A year later stone in left kidney and went through it all again (sepsus also). I am unable to feel the pain because I have acute scoliosis and in back pain all the time. I only find out when I start running a high fever and nausea. Now a month later I find I have two stones iin left kidney and will undergo lithtripsy later this month. I definitely blame Forteo and don't buy the "once you have a stone, you will always have stones." I went for 45 years without one and now I have had two and still two more in kidney. Taking Prolia injections now but worry about more stones.

chris

4/ 2/10 12:42pm

Just this week I had an episode of hematuria (blood in urine)and thought I had a UTI but UA/UC is negative so had CT yesterday and nervously waiting for results. I was just on-line looking for confirmation of my suspiscion that maybe I passed a kidney stone. I am actually almost hoping it is something like that versus the other possibility... bladder cancer. It just makes sense that taking all that calcium, plus the Actonel for 2+ yrs and now the Forteo.

Thanks to you all for confirming my suspicion -it will keep me from going nuts over the weekend waiting and worrying.

good luck to you.

Lisa

8/ 7/10 10:44pm

I am a 51 yr old female and have been on forteo for 11 months.I complained for 8 months of severe one sided upper back pain 10 -15 minutes after my forteo injection every night. The pain lasted anywhere from 15-45 min. I passed the first kidney stone I have ever had 9 months into using forteo. i could finally say to my doctors, "Look, I WAS right, something WAS wrong, it wasn't all in my head!!" A urine test confirmed blood in my urine & a C.T. scan showed I had passed a small 1-2 mm stone.I felt fine for 2 months. Now the pain in my back has returned. I am going to talk to my Dr. about other treatments.

Pam Flores, Health Guide

8/ 8/10 7:40pm

Hi Lisa, welcome... In the manufacturers medication guide (Eli Lily) it doesn't mention kidney stones as a side effect, but it does say if you "have or have had kidney stones" notify your health care provider, with no further explanation. You should have your serum calcium levels checked on a regular basis while on Forteo, because Forteo can raise calcium in some patients. If you have elevated calcium, this can some times cause kidney stones. Check to see if you've had this test and watch for the symptoms of hypercalcemia/kidney stones, and ask for the test (total serum calcium test). If hypercalcemia is indentified during Forteo treatment, the manufacturer recommends reducing calcium intake by 50% while continuing on Forteo. Be sure to check this with your Dr. and have him/her read the prescribing info that comes with the med, or from the Physicians Desk Reference.

I can't say that Forteo directly causes this, but elevated calcium may, if you have that.

Good luck with this...

Sandi

9/11/11 5:00pm

I too have been on Forteo for 7 months now and have developed kidney stones in both kidneys. I had to have a lithotrispy to break the one in my right kidney up and have to have the stent removed soon. Both my primary care and urologist agree that they have been caused by the medication becasue I have never had any before and the one in my right kidney was very large for a person with no history of stones. I have stopped taking the Forteo and all calcium supplements. I believe that there will be a class action lawsuit someday as kidney stones are not listed as a possible side effect. Count me in. This is terrible.

Mamacatz

12/30/11 2:18pm

Count me in just got home from night of hell. 1st stone been on forte 18 months

Mamacatz

12/30/11 2:22pm

Count me in just got home from night of hell. 1st stone been on forte 18 months

Kidney stones after Forteo

Ask a Question