Medically reviewed by Bandela Mgoqi (B.Pharm, M.Pharm, MPS). Last updated on September 17, 2026.
FORTEO contains the active substance teriparatide that is used to make the bones stronger, and to reduce the risk of fractures by stimulating bone formation.
FORTEO is used to treat osteoporosis in adults. Osteoporosis is a disease that causes your bones to become thin and fragile. This disease is especially common in women after menopause, but it can also occur in men. Osteoporosis is also common in patients receiving corticosteroids.
Do not use FORTEO
FORTEO may cause an increase in the amount of calcium in your blood or urine.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before or while using FORTEO:
Some patients get dizzy or get a fast heartbeat after the first few doses. For the first doses, inject FORTEO where you can sit or lie down right away if you get dizzy.
The recommended treatment time of 24 months should not be exceeded.
FORTEO should not be used in children and adolescents (less than 18 years).
Always tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicine. (This includes all complementary or traditional medicines.)
Tell your healthcare provider if you are taking digoxin/digitalis, a medicine used to treat heart disease.
Do not use FORTEO if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. If you are a woman of child-bearing potential, you should use effective methods of contraception during use of FORTEO. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, FORTEO should be discontinued. Please consult your doctor, pharmacist or other health care provider for advice before taking this medicine.
Do not share medicines prescribed for you with any other person.
Always use this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you to. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
The recommended dose is 20 micrograms given once daily by injection under the skin (subcutaneous injection) in the thigh or abdomen. To help you remember to take your medicine, inject it at about the same time each day.
Inject FORTEO each day for as long as your doctor prescribes it for you. The total duration of treatment with FORTEO should not exceed 24 months. You should not receive more than one treatment course of 24 months over your lifetime.
FORTEO can be injected at mealtimes.
Read the user manual booklet, which is included in the carton for instructions on how to use the FORTEO pen.
You should take your FORTEO 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. Never share your FORTEO pen with others even if the needle is changed.
Your doctor may advise you to take FORTEO with calcium and vitamin D. Your doctor will tell you how much you should take each day.
If you use more FORTEO than you should
If, by mistake, you have used more FORTEO than you should, contact your doctor or pharmacist. The effects of overdose that might be expected include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and headache.
If you forget or cannot take FORTEO at your usual time, take it as soon as possible on that day. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose. Do not take more than one injection in the same day. Do not try to make up for a missed dose.
If you stop taking FORTEO
If you are considering stopping FORTEO treatment, please discuss this with your doctor. Your doctor will advise you and decide how long you should be treated with FORTEO.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
The most common side effects are pain in limb (frequency is very common, may affect more than 1 in 10 people) and feeling sick, headache and dizziness (frequency is common). If you become dizzy (light-headed) after your injection, you should sit or lie down until you feel better. If you do not feel better, you should call a doctor before you continue treatment. Cases of fainting have been reported in association with FORTEO use.
If you experience discomfort such as redness of the skin, pain, swelling, itching, bruising or minor bleeding around the area of the injection (frequency is common), this should clear up in a few days or weeks. Otherwise tell your doctor as soon as possible.
Some patients may have experienced allergic reactions soon after injection, consisting of breathlessness, swelling of the face, rash and chest pain (frequency is rare). In rare cases, serious and potentially life-threatening allergic reactions including anaphylaxis can occur.
Other side effects include:
If you get side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist or nurse. You can also report side effects to SAHPRA via the “6.04 Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Form”, found online under SAHPRA’s publications: https://www.sahpra.org.za/Publications/Index/8. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of FORTEO. Alternatively, report suspected adverse reactions to the company at [email protected].
Store in a refrigerator between 2°C and 8 °C. Do not freeze. Do not use FORTEO if it has been frozen.
The FORTEO prefilled delivery device should be discarded 28 days after the first injection from the device, even if there is solution left in the pen. FORTEO contains a clear and colourless solution. Do not use FORTEO if solid particles appear or if the solution is cloudy or coloured.
Store all medicines out of reach of children.
Do not store in a bathroom.
Do not use after the expiry date stated on the label. Return all unused medicine to your pharmacist.
Do not dispose of unused medicine in drains or sewerage systems (e.g. toilets).
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