Forteo (teriparatide)
How this therapy is used at Arthritis Care of Texas in Corpus Christi, TX — what it treats, how it is given, and how often.
- Treats
- Osteoporosis
- How given
- Self-injection under the skin at home
- How often
- Once daily
Teriparatide is a damage-reversing treatment: it stimulates your bone-forming cells to build new bone, raising density and reducing fracture risk over the treatment course. It is silent in daily life — the proof is on your DEXA scan and in fractures avoided. It does not relieve pain directly; persistent pain deserves its own conversation with us.
What it is: The original bone-building medicine for osteoporosis, used in people at high risk of fracture — including women after menopause, men, and people whose bone loss is caused by long-term steroid treatment. It is a copy of part of the body's own parathyroid hormone. Given in a small daily pulse, it stimulates the bone-forming cells to build new bone — the opposite of what the hormone does when present all the time. The original brand name is Forteo, and generic versions are also available.
Before starting: We check blood calcium, vitamin D, and related labs before starting. This matters because teriparatide can raise blood calcium for a few hours after each dose; starting from a normal level, with vitamin D corrected, keeps that rise in the safe range and gives the bone-building process the materials it needs. We also review your history for conditions that already raise calcium, bone diseases other than osteoporosis, or previous radiation involving the bones, because teriparatide is not used in those settings. Tell us about all medicines, including calcium supplements and water pills (diuretics).
How it's taken: A once-daily injection under the skin at home, using a pre-filled pen — into the thigh or the belly, rotating spots. Our team will show you how to use the pen and where to inject before you start; the needle is very small and most patients are comfortable within days. Each pen lasts 28 days; store it in the refrigerator and never freeze it. Inject at the same time each day, and give the first few doses somewhere you can sit or lie down, in case of brief dizziness.
What to expect: Bone building is silent — you will not feel it. Progress is measured by your DEXA scan, where density typically rises steadily over the course, and by the absence of new fractures. Treatment length is individualised; your provider will discuss how long to continue and what follow-on medicine will protect the new bone afterwards, because gains fade if nothing follows. The most common side effects are nausea, leg cramps, dizziness in the first doses (from a brief blood-pressure dip), headache, and brief redness at the injection site. Blood calcium is sometimes mildly raised on tests a few hours after a dose — this is expected and monitored. Report persistent nausea, constipation, thirst, or confusion, which can be signs calcium is running high.
Everyday guidance: Anchor the injection to a daily routine so it is rarely missed; if you do miss a dose, take it when you remember that day, otherwise skip it — never take two. Keep pens refrigerated (a small cooler works for travel) and check the expiry date as each pen is finished. Take calcium and vitamin D only as directed, since your levels are being followed. Combine the medicine with weight-bearing exercise, not smoking, and fall prevention at home. Keep DEXA appointments — with bone-building treatment, the scan is how we prove it is working. Questions: call (361) 400-7700.
Bone density testing: Treatment is guided by bone-density results. Our in-house DEXA scan — a quick, painless scan done right here in our Corpus Christi office — measures bone density to diagnose osteoporosis and track your bone health over time.
Used for Osteoporosis
Common worries
A daily injection for my bones — really?
Yes — the daily pulse is the trick. Parathyroid hormone present briefly each day builds bone; present constantly, it would do the opposite. The pen needle is tiny, and most patients tell us the routine takes less than a minute once learned.
Why do my legs cramp / I feel dizzy at first?
Leg cramps and brief dizziness after the first doses are recognised, usually mild effects. Give the first doses sitting down, and mention persistent symptoms at your follow-up so we can check your calcium.
What happens when I finish the course?
A follow-on, bone-protecting medicine is planned to hold the new bone — without it, gains gradually fade. Finishing teriparatide is a handover, not an ending.
Ready to be seen? New patients are seen within 2–4 weeks.