{"id":55246,"date":"2022-11-14T15:34:53","date_gmt":"2022-11-14T20:34:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=55246"},"modified":"2026-03-17T16:30:01","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T20:30:01","slug":"forteo-alternatives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/forteo-alternatives\/","title":{"rendered":"Forteo alternatives: What can I take instead of Forteo?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Forteo<\/span><\/a> (teriparatide) is a man-made form of parathyroid hormone, a naturally occurring hormone in your body. Historically, scientists viewed parathyroid hormone (PTH) as a catabolic agent, or an agent that helped to break down substances in the body. This holds true at high concentrations. However, several years ago, it was discovered that at intermittent, low doses, <\/span>PTH <\/span><\/a>actually serves anabolic functions, specifically with your bones.<\/span><\/p>\n

Osteoporosis is a <\/span>disease<\/span><\/a> where bone quality decreases and you are at a high risk of fracture and bone damage. This could be because of a combination of a decrease in bone mineral density, osteopenia (low bone density), bone mass decreases, or bone structure changes. Unfortunately, you may not even know you have osteoporosis until your bones begin to break. Osteoporosis typically affects postmenopausal women and older men. It can also occur secondary to steroid use and gonadal failure. The fractures that occur are most common in the hips, vertebral spine, and wrists. Older adults are at an increased risk of falls which also makes these bone breaks more likely and even more dangerous.<\/span><\/p>\n

Osteoporosis affects a significant number of adults in the United States. More than half of postmenopausal white women will have a <\/span>fracture related to postmenopausal osteoporosis<\/span><\/a>, and only about a third of those will be able to return to independent living. Obviously, there is a need for effective treatment for this disease. There have been effective long-term use agents on the market for several years now in other classes to reduce the risk of fractures. Forteo, however, is the only anabolic agent approved for <\/span>osteoporosis treatment<\/span><\/a> in the United States.<\/span><\/p>\n

Forteo is a man-made copy of the first 34 amino acids of naturally occurring PTH. PTH is the primary regulator of calcium metabolism in the bone. Forteo increases serum calcium concentration like natural PTH does and stimulates bone formation by helping the body convert calcium into new bone. Given as a once-daily injection provides a transient increase in Forteo serum concentration and limits the negative effect of bone resorption you can see with longer exposure.<\/span><\/p>\n

Forteo can cause hypercalcemia or high serum calcium concentrations. This can be very dangerous and is more likely to happen in those with a history of higher calcium levels. It has also rarely been linked to cases of osteosarcoma (cancer of the bone). It should be avoided in patients already at an increased risk of bone cancer, like those with Paget\u2019s disease. High blood calcium levels, which might result in kidney stones, are another concern associated with Forteo. Instances of joint pain may also occur as a result of taking Forteo. There are other side effects like orthostatic hypotension (low blood pressure when rising or standing) that can occur. For this reason, it is best administered while the patient is sitting or lying down.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fortunately, there are other treatment options for osteoporosis if Forteo isn\u2019t right for you. Keep reading to find out more.<\/span><\/p>\n

What can I take in place of Forteo?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Forteo<\/span><\/a> may not be the right choice to treat osteoporosis in every patient. Fortunately, there are other treatment options. Forteo is the only parathyroid hormone product available in the U.S. The other treatment options for osteoporosis come from other drug classes. First and foremost, the over-the-counter supplements calcium and <\/a><\/span>vitamin D<\/span> are commonly suggested to help prevent osteoporosis or in patients who already suffer from osteoporosis.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Bisphosphonates such as <\/span>Fosamax<\/span><\/a> (alendronate) and <\/span>Actonel<\/span><\/a> (risedronate) are highly effective oral treatment options for osteoporosis. In fact, recent guidelines published by <\/span>The Journal of Endrinology and Metabolism<\/span><\/a> lists bisphosphonates as first-line treatment in post-menopausal women. These drugs work by slowing down bone loss and preserving bone strength.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Prolia<\/span><\/a> (denosumab) is another subcutaneous injection that is a highly specific, human monoclonal antibody against receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-beta ligand (RANKL). Prolia works by inhibiting osteoclast activation and decreasing bone resorption or bone breakdown. It only has to be given once every 6 months. Unfortunately, Prolia is not always covered by insurance plans, and it can be cost-prohibitive without coverage.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Estrogen<\/span><\/a> is an effective treatment to prevent fractures in post-menopausal women. Unfortunately, many women have contraindications to estrogen therapy. These include women with a personal or close family history of breast cancer, myocardial infarction (heart attack), and stroke. <\/span>Evista<\/span><\/a> (raloxifene) is a selective estrogen receptor modulator (<\/span>SERM<\/span><\/a>) that produces estrogen-like effects on bones and on lipid metabolism. However, it antagonizes the effects of estrogen on mammary tissue and does not stimulate the uterine tissue making it a safer alternative to estrogen. Evista is an oral, once-daily prescription drug treatment and is available generically as raloxifene.<\/span><\/p>\n

This is not intended to serve as medical advice. You should speak to your specialist before stopping Forteo and consider all alternatives.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Compare Forteo alternatives<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

Drug name<\/span><\/td>\nUses<\/span><\/td>\nDosage<\/span><\/td>\nSavings options<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Forteo (teriparatide)<\/span><\/td>\nOsteoporosis<\/span><\/td>\n20 mcg subcutaneously once daily<\/span><\/td>\nForteo coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Fosamax (alendronate)<\/span><\/td>\nOsteoporosis, osteoporosis prophylaxis, Paget\u2019s disease<\/span><\/td>\n70 mg by mouth once weekly<\/span><\/td>\nFosamax coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Boniva (ibandronate)<\/span><\/td>\nOsteoporosis, osteoporosis prophylaxis<\/span><\/td>\n150 mg by mouth once monthly or 3 mg intravenously every 3 months<\/span><\/td>\nBoniva coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Actonel (risedronate)<\/span><\/td>\nOsteoporosis, osteoporosis prophylaxis, Paget\u2019s disease<\/span><\/td>\n5 mg by mouth once daily or 150 mg by mouth once monthly<\/span><\/td>\nActonel coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Reclast (zoledronic acid)<\/span><\/td>\nOsteoporosis, osteoporosis prophylaxis, Paget\u2019s disease<\/span><\/td>\n5 mg by intravenous infusion once a year<\/span><\/td>\nReclast coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Fosamax Plus D (alendronate\/cholecalciferol)<\/span><\/td>\nOsteoporosis<\/span><\/td>\nOne tablet (70 mg\/140 mcg) by mouth once weekly<\/span><\/td>\nFosamax Plus D coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Miacalcin (calcitonin)<\/span><\/td>\nHypercalcemia, Osteoporosis, Paget\u2019s disease<\/span><\/td>\n100 IU intramuscularly or subcutaneously once daily<\/span><\/td>\nMiacalcin coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Prolia (denosumab)<\/span><\/td>\nOsteoporosis, skeletal events related to multiple myeloma, osteoporosis prophylaxis, giant cell tumor of bone, hypercalcemia of malignancy<\/span><\/td>\n60 mg subcutaneously every 6 months<\/span><\/td>\nProlia coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Evista (raloxifene)<\/span><\/td>\nOsteoporosis, osteoporosis prophylaxis, invasive breast cancer prophylaxis in women with osteoporosis<\/span><\/td>\n60 mg by mouth once daily<\/span><\/td>\nEvista coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Evenity (romosozumab)<\/span><\/td>\nOsteoporosis<\/span><\/td>\n210 mg subcutaneously once monthly for 12 months<\/span><\/td>\nEvenity coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Other alternatives to Forteo<\/span><\/h3>\n