Proper Use

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine. It is given as a shot under your skin, usually in the stomach or thigh.

This medicine comes with a Medication Guide and the User Manual. Read and follow the instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

Teriparatide may sometimes be given at home to patients who do not need to be in a hospital or clinic. If you are using this medicine at home, your doctor or nurse will teach you how to prepare and inject the medicine. Be sure that you understand how to use the medicine.

You should receive the first several injections of this medicine while sitting or lying down if needed, until you know how this medicine affects you.

If you use teriparatide at home, you will be shown the body areas where this shot can be given. Use a different body area each time you give yourself a shot. Keep track of where you give each shot to make sure you rotate body areas. This will help prevent skin problems.

Use a new needle each time you inject your medicine. Do not store the prefilled pen with the needle attached.

Check the liquid in the pen. It should be clear and colorless. Do not use if you see particles in it, or if it is cloudy or colored.

You may take calcium and vitamin D supplements while you are using this medicine if needed. Follow your doctor's instructions about how to take these supplements.

Use of this medicine and parathyroid hormone analogs for more than 2 years during your lifetime is not recommended. Talk with your doctor if you have any concerns about this.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

  • For injection dosage form (prefilled pen):
    • For osteoporosis:
      • Adults—20 micrograms (mcg) injected under the skin once a day.
      • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Store in the refrigerator. Do not freeze.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

You might not use all of the medicine in each prefilled pen. Throw away any unused medicine after 28 days, even if there is still medicine in it.

Throw away used needles in a hard, closed container that the needles cannot poke through. Keep this container away from children and pets.

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Portions of this document last updated: Feb. 01, 2024

Copyright: © Merative US L.P. 1973, 2024. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.