What are the disadvantages of teriparatide (Forteo) therapy?
1. Injection. Since it is an injection (under the skin), some patients do not want to take it. This is easy to learn, and there are monthly classes in Tulsa as well as a support group. 2. Cost. This is an expensive medication, but is covered by insurance in most instances. If it isn’t covered by your insurance, the manufacturer has an assistance program that will often pay for the drug for people with lower income. 3. This drug caused certain types of bone cancer in animal models, so it has a black box warning. As such, we do not prescribe in patients with multiple myeloma, osteosarcoma, bone metastasis or other forms of bone cancer. This is likely erroneous (like the saccharine study)—so far in follow up, no link has been seen in human patients.
