Forsteo Injection

How does it work?

• Forsteo causes more bone to be formed and more calcium to be used to form it.

When and how do I take it?

• Forsteo is injected under the skin using the pen device (See user manual for directions).
• You should take your Forsteo injection shortly after you take the pen out of the refrigerator as described in the user manual. Put the pen back into the refrigerator immediately after you have used it.
• Use a new injection needle for each injection and dispose of it after each use. Never store your pen with the needle attached. Injection needles are not included with the pen. You can use Becton Dickinson and Company’s insulin pen injection needles.
• Foesteo can be injected at meal times.

What’s the dose?

• The recommended dose of FORSTEO is 20 micrograms given once daily by injection under the skin (subcutaneous injection) in the thigh or abdomen. To help you remember to take FORSTEO, inject it at about the same time each day.
• Inject FORSTEO each day for as long as your doctor prescribes it for you. The total duration of treatment with FORSTEO should not exceed 24 months. You should not receive more than one
• treatment course of 24 months over your lifetime.

Could it interact with other tablets?

• Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription, because occasionally they may interact (e.g. digoxin/digitalis, a medicine used to treat heart disease).

What are the possible risks or side-effects?

Like all medicines, Forsteo can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

The most common side effects (affects more than 1 user in 10) are:

• feeling sick
• headache
• dizziness 
• pain in limb

Common side effects (1 to 10 users in 100) are:

• increase in blood cholesterol levels
• depression
• neuralgic pain in the leg
• feeling faint
• irregular heart beats
• breathlessness
• increased sweating
• muscle cramps
• loss of energy
• tiredness
• chest pain

Can I drink alcohol while taking it?

• There are no known interactions between alcohol and Forsteo
• Always ask your pharmacist/doctor however as other tablets you are taking may have a bearing on whether you can drink alcohol or not.

What if I’m pregnant/breastfeeding?

Do not use FORSTEO if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. Women of child-bearing potential should use effective methods of contraception during use of FORSTEO. If pregnancy occurs, FORSTEO should be discontinued. Ask your doctor or Intervene pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine.

If you have any more questions please ask your Pharmacist.

Remember to keep all medicines out of reach of children
Please Note: We have made every effort to ensure that the content of this information sheet is correct at time of publish, but remember that information about drugs may change. This sheet does not list all the uses and side-effects associated with this drug. For full details please see the drug information leaflet which comes with your medicine. Your doctor will assess your medical circumstances and draw your attention to any information or side-effects which may be relevant in your particular case.

References:

http://www.forteo.com/

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/20416

http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document_library/EPAR_-_Product_Information/human/000425/WC500027994.pdf

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/a8516/forsteo-teriparatide/