Teriparatide and Headaches: What Users Say

• Hop...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 20, 2019

Teriparatide for Osteoporosis "Been on Forteo for 12 months. I was in acute pain with 6 or 7 compression fractures in my spine causing disc to herniate. Took several months before my clinic found out that I had a severe case of osteoporosis. In unbearable pain for 5 months and finally I was given Forteo. I felt a difference in one week. And felt wonderful after a month. Each month it felt that my spinal fractures improved with Forteo, but now I am getting some side effects not so easy to ignore. A lot of joint pain, hands, fingers, knees, neck, hips...everywhere. Headaches I can tolerate it all. I will stay on Forteo as long as I can afford and am prescribed, but am concerned about 'What's next?' I think I am going on Reclast and am very worried about that drug. Hopefully, I will glide onto that with ease. I am in my 70's."

• Wea...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 27, 2016

Teriparatide for Osteoporosis "I have severe osteo and have tried other osteo meds but didn't tolerate. I am 61. My endo said I need to start Forteo since it's the only one that adds bones. I have been on it for a year and just had a bone scan. No improvement! In fact, my spine lost a little. I am so upset since I have been giving myself daily injections and have had a lot of side effects with the drug, including headache, dizziness, insomnia, tiredness, and hip pain."

• Hea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 7, 2020

Teriparatide for Osteoporosis "After 2 weeks on FORTEO, I am experiencing severe headaches and neck pain. I have rarely gotten headaches before. I didn’t inject yesterday, but I’m getting the neck pain this morning. Does anyone know how long it takes for Forteo side effects to go away after discontinuing the med? The rheumatologist told me it only stays in the body for 24 hours."

• osu...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 10, 2017

Teriparatide for Osteoporosis "37-year-old male, diagnosed with osteoporosis and osteopenia. Had a long spinal fusion 3 months ago, and have been taking Forteo for about 4-5 months now. For the last month and a half, I've just felt all around crappy. Mental fog, chest tightness, shortness of breath, dull headache almost constantly, throat feels like it's swelling shut, feels like a rock in my throat, speaking out loud is becoming labored... I am taking pain meds due to the surgery and wasn't sure if those were the cause of this. After reading the other reviews, it's pointing more towards the Forteo. Very interesting. I'll be seeing my doc next week, and I also sent a message to the bone doc that prescribed the Forteo. I'll update this post when this is resolved."

• Tho...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 6, 2022

Teriparatide for Osteoporosis "I began taking Forteo on August 25, 2022. After four doses, I began to experience painful side effects, including severe leg cramps while both awake and asleep, pain in my knees and ankles, headaches, and a stiff neck. I messaged my doctor, and she suggested injecting the Forteo every other day for a few days. So, I skipped August 30th and September 1st, but I did inject the Forteo on Wednesday, August 31st, and on Friday, September 2nd. Then, on the afternoon of Saturday, September 3rd, approximately 16 hours after my last injection, during a casual walk, I experienced a sudden pain in my right leg and knee so severe that I was unable to walk without a cane or walker. Since then, despite not having taken any additional Forteo, the extreme pain has persisted. I sincerely hope that it will start to abate soon. After taking only seven doses over the last thirteen days, and none for the last four days, I am still experiencing pain so severe that I have difficulty walking. No more for me."

• Spa...
• March 14, 2017

Teriparatide for Osteoporosis "I had a spinal fusion surgery of T9-S1 just 8 weeks ago. I am a 62-year-old female. Recovery was going well. 2 weeks ago, I was asked to start on Forteo. Within 8 days, I began to have knee pains, and it is getting worse by the day, making me feel rather unsteady when I walk. I am also having slight dizziness and a constant mild headache. I am going to speak to my surgeon regarding stopping this medication."

• Gar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 4, 2022

Teriparatide for Osteoporosis "I am a 50-year-old man with severe osteo and scoliosis, up to 6.5 in my left hip. Within days of starting Forteo, I began experiencing severe shortness of breath, even getting dressed. I have lung pain, and water now goes directly to my windpipe, and I cough up far more than went in, so pulmonary edema. My already severe insomnia got worse, barely 3 hours a night. My memory started declining, mood swings worsened, constant nausea but always hungry, flu-like symptoms, minor back spasms, tender skin, headaches, severe fatigue, lack of caring about daily chores, hoarse voice and can barely raise my voice, worsened hand arthritis, and minor palpitations. I'm afraid to tell my nephrologist because she already took me off of Fosamax after having no appetite. I need spinal surgery for scoliosis hardware to anchor onto, hence the 2 meds in phases. I am at 70 degrees and my lungs are literally being crushed."

• Jan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 26, 2019

For Osteoporosis "Started Forteo and thought great, no side effects I couldn’t handle. Slight nausea, slight headache. Then on the third day, felt completely exhausted, couldn’t put one foot in front of the other. Then the side effects started: terrible pains at night from knees to feet. Could not sleep at all, my ankles swelled, left worse than right. I got itchy, and a rash appeared round my back and under one boob. I felt terrible but tried to continue. I then felt burning in my veins, like I was on fire - that was it for me. I said to my husband I can’t do this. Very disappointed, as the first couple of days I thought I could handle it. I only did 8 days, but after a week off, still have pains in legs, feet, and hands. This is a strong drug, and I do not think it should be taken lightly. I do have allergic reactions to some drugs and have always been very careful, but was told this had a few side effects that would go, but these were severe. Good luck."

• war...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 28, 2023

Teriparatide for Osteoporosis "There are too many side effects. These include headaches and feeling sleepy within 10 minutes of the injection. It also leads to increased urination and worsened eczema."