Forsteo (Forss-tee-oh) is a medicine which is used in treating osteoporosis. Forsteo contains teriparatide. It is supplied by Eli Lilly and Company Limited.

The information in this Medicine Guide for Forsteo varies according to the condition being treated and the particular preparation used.

We have information for a single preparation used in the treatment of osteoporosis. The preparation name is shown in red below.

Forsteo 20micrograms/80microlitres solution for injection 3ml pre-filled disposable devices

Form: Injection

Regulated Information Patient Information Leaflet Patient Information Leaflet Summary of Product Characteristics

 

To get the most benefit from your medicine, take it exactly as prescribed. You should also take care to look after your medicine.

Forsteo is used in post-menopausal women who have osteoporosis.

In osteoporosis the strength of the bones is reduced and this can increase the chances of getting bone fractures. Forsteo can make bones stronger in people with osteoporosis which can reduce the chances of getting bone fractures.

Other information about Forsteo:

Forsteo needs to be injected. Your prescriber will show you how to inject this medicine yourself.

There should also be instructions on how to inject this medicine in the Patient Information Leaflet that comes with this medicine or on the pharmacy label.

The pharmacy label on your medicine tells you how much medicine you should have. It also tells you how often you should have your medicine. This is the dose that you and your prescriber have agreed you should have. You should not change the dose of your medicine unless you are told to do so by your prescriber.

Do not share your medicine with other people. It may not be suitable for them and may harm them.

If you feel that the medicine is making you unwell or you do not think it is working, then talk to your prescriber.

Some medicines work best if they are taken at a specific time of day. If someone is giving you this injection, the person with responsibility for giving you your medicine will make sure that you have your medicine at the prescribed times.

If you are injecting this medicine yourself, make sure that you find out from your prescriber the best time to have Forsteo.

This medicine needs to be injected. Your medical team will train you how to inject the medicine yourself. For more information see the Patient Information Leaflet or contact one of your medical team.

In the case of Forsteo:

If you are having problems taking this medicine, you should talk to your prescriber or pharmacist. They may be able to give you advice on other ways to take your medicine or other medicines that are easier for you to take.

Taking extra doses of some medicines can be harmful. In some cases even one extra dose can cause you problems. If you inject extra doses of your medicine, you must get medical advice immediately. This is because the effects of taking too much medicine are very complex and it is therefore essential that you seek medical advice.

Contact your prescriber, pharmacist, specialist clinic or NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 for advice.

Make sure you take all of your medicine containers with you if you are advised to go to hospital.

If you are having any problems taking your medicine you must speak to your prescriber. If you are not having any problems taking this medicine then do not stop taking it, even if you feel better, unless advised to do so by your prescriber.

If you are in any doubt, contact your prescriber, pharmacist, specialist clinic or NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

The instructions on how you should keep your medicine are on the pharmacy label. It is a good idea to keep your medicine in the original container. This will help to keep your medicine in the best condition and also allow you to check the instructions.

Do not use the medicine if the packaging appears to have been tampered with or if the medicine shows any signs of damage. Specific information about how to look after Forsteo can be found in the Patient Information Leaflet that comes with this medicine. Make sure that the medicine is out of the sight and reach of children.

In the case of Forsteo:

Do not use the medicine after the expiry date shown on the packaging. If you have any unused medicine, return it to your pharmacist who will dispose of it safely.

Your prescriber will not give you this medicine if they know of any reasons why you must not take it. Sometimes it is necessary to prescribe this medicine with extra caution. For more information see the ‘Whether this medicine is suitable for you’ section.

If you have been prescribed this medicine you need to be aware of the side-effects that you could develop while taking this medicine. For more information see the 'Side-effects' section.

Forsteo is not suitable for everyone and some people should never use it. Other people should only use it with special care. It is important that the person prescribing this medicine knows your full medical history.

Your prescriber may only prescribe this medicine with special care or may not prescribe it at all if you:

Furthermore the prescriber may only prescribe this medicine with special care or may not prescribe it at all for children or for young adults who are still growing.

Over time it is possible that Forsteo can become unsuitable for some people, or they may become unsuitable for it. If at any time it appears that Forsteo has become unsuitable, it is important that the prescriber is contacted immediately.

A medicine is only made available to the public if the clinical trials have shown that the benefits of taking the medicine outweigh the risks.

Once a medicine has been licensed, information on the medicine's effects, both intended and unintended, is continuously recorded and updated.

Some side-effects may be serious while others may only be a mild inconvenience.

Everyone's reaction to a medicine is different. It is difficult to predict which side-effects you will have from taking a particular medicine, or whether you will have any side-effects at all. The important thing is to tell your prescriber or pharmacist if you are having problems with your medicine.

Very common: More than 1 in 10 people who have Forsteo

• pain in the arms or legs

Common: More than 1 in 100 people who have Forsteo

• abnormal laboratory test results
• blood problems
• depression
• feeling dizzy
• gastro-oesophageal reflux
• headaches
• hernia
• high levels of cholesterol in the blood
• lowered blood pressure
• muscle cramps
• nausea
• palpitations
• production of antibodies to Forsteo
• sciatica
• sweating
• tiredness
• vertigo
• vomiting
• weakness

Uncommon: More than 1 in 1000 people who have Forsteo

• faster heart rate
• haemorrhoids
• heart problems
• joint pain
• lung problems
• metabolic problems
• muscle pain or tenderness
• passing much more urine than usual
• urinary incontinence
• urinary urgency
• weight gain

Rare: More than 1 in 10,000 people who have Forsteo

• allergic reactions
• oedema of the extremities
• oedema of the face
• urticaria

The following side effects have also been reported in people who have Forsteo. The reported frequency of these side-effects varies so the frequency is not included here.

• breathing difficulties
• chest pain
• injection site problems including pain, swelling, erythema, bruising, itching or bleeding

The frequency of these side-effects is unknown

• a drop in blood pressure on standing or sitting up
• cramps or pain of the back felt after minutes of injection
• kidney problems
• kidney stones - Forsteo may make these worse in people who currently have problems or have recently had problems with kidney stones

If you feel unwell or if you have concerns about a side-effect, you will need to seek advice. If you feel very ill, get medical help straight away. Contact your prescriber, pharmacist, nurse or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

If you have been prescribed this medicine you and your prescriber may need to think about whether you need to change any of your everyday activities. You must also discuss with your prescriber any other medicines and any complementary preparations you are taking.

If you are taking more than one medicine they may interact with each other. At times your prescriber may decide to use medicines that interact, in other cases this may not be appropriate.

The decision to use medicines that interact depends on your specific circumstances. Your prescriber may decide to use medicines that interact, if it is believed that the benefits of taking the medicines together outweigh the risks. In such cases, it may be necessary to alter your dose or monitor you more closely.

Tell your prescriber the names of all the medicines that you are taking so that they can consider all possible interactions. This includes all the medicines which have been prescribed by your GP, hospital doctor, dentist, nurse, health visitor, midwife or pharmacist. You must also tell your prescriber about medicines which you have bought over the counter without prescriptions.

The following medicines may interact with Forsteo:

If you are taking Forsteo and any of the above medicines, make sure your prescriber knows about it.

Medicines can interact with complementary preparations and vitamins. In general, there is not much information available about interactions between medicines and complementary preparations or vitamins.

If you are planning to take or are already taking any complementary preparations and vitamins you should ask your prescriber whether there are any known interactions with Forsteo.

Your prescriber can advise whether it is appropriate for you to take combinations that are known to interact. They can also discuss with you the possible effect that the complementary preparations and vitamins may have on your condition.

If you experience any unusual effects while taking this medicine in combination with complementary preparations and vitamins, you should tell your prescriber.

When taking any medicine you should be aware that it might interfere with your ability to drive or operate machinery safely.

In the case of Forsteo:

You should see how this medicine affects you before you judge whether you are safe to drive or operate machinery. If you are in any doubt about whether you should drive or operate machinery, talk to your prescriber.

Medicines can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your prescriber may advise you to avoid certain foods.

In the case of Forsteo:

For more advice speak to your prescriber, nutritionist or pharmacist.

Alcohol can interact with certain medicines.

In the case of Forsteo:

Taking this medicine could have an impact on your decisions relating to family planning, pregnancy and breast-feeding.

Most medicines, in some way, can affect the development of a baby in the womb. The effect on the baby differs between medicines and also depends on the stage of pregnancy that you have reached when you take the medicine.

In the case of Forsteo:

You should discuss your personal circumstances with your doctor if you are pregnant or want to become pregnant. This is so that together you can make a decision about what treatment you may need during your pregnancy.

You should discuss whether there are any other medicines which you could take during pregnancy which would treat your condition.

Certain medicines can pass into breast milk and may reach your baby through breast-feeding.

In the case of Forsteo:

Before you have your baby you should discuss breast-feeding with your doctor or midwife. If you wish to breast-feed you should discuss with your prescriber whether there are any other medicines you could take which would also allow you to breast-feed. You should not stop this medicine without taking advice from your doctor.

Medicines contain active ingredients. They may also contain other, additional ingredients that help ensure the stability, safety and effectiveness of the medicine. Some may be used to prolong the life of the medicine.

Forsteo contains:

If you are not able to take any of the ingredients in your medicine, talk to your prescriber or pharmacist to see if they can suggest an alternative medicine. If you have reacted badly to Forsteo before, do not take Forsteo. Talk to your prescriber, pharmacist or nurse as soon as possible.