PTH therapy — what it is and why people use it
If your doctor mentioned PTH therapy, they mean using parathyroid hormone drugs to raise bone strength or replace missing hormone in hypoparathyroidism. These medicines—most commonly teriparatide (Forteo) and abaloparatide (Tymlos)—work differently than standard osteoporosis pills: they build new bone instead of just slowing loss.
How PTH drugs work and who should consider them
Teriparatide and abaloparatide are short synthetic versions of parathyroid hormone. Given as a daily subcutaneous injection, they stimulate bone formation and increase bone density in areas most likely to break. Doctors usually offer them to people with severe osteoporosis, multiple fractures, or when other treatments fail. For chronic hypoparathyroidism, a full-length PTH replacement (like PTH 1-84) can reduce dependence on calcium and calcitriol, but dosing and monitoring differ from osteoporosis care.
Typical use: teriparatide is often 20 mcg once daily for up to 24 months. Abaloparatide also uses a daily injection with treatment limits around two years. These limits exist because animal studies showed a rare bone tumor risk at very high lifetime exposures; humans on recommended regimens have no clear evidence of the same risk, but doctors follow safety rules closely.
Practical safety tips, monitoring, and buying advice
Before starting, expect baseline blood tests for calcium and vitamin D. During therapy, your clinician will check calcium levels, kidney function, and watch for side effects like dizziness, nausea, leg cramps, or mild hypercalcemia. If you have active bone cancers, Paget's disease, or open epiphyses, these drugs are usually avoided.
Storage and injections matter: keep pens refrigerated, rotate injection sites, and follow your training on self-injection. If you travel, use an insulated cooler and confirm the pharmacy ships with cold-pack protection.
Buying: PTH medicines require prescriptions. Use licensed pharmacies—local or reputable online stores with a pharmacist contact and clear licensing information. Avoid suppliers that sell without a prescription or offer suspiciously low prices. If cost is a barrier, ask your prescriber about manufacturer patient-assistance programs, coupons, or insurance prior authorization. Never buy from sites that won’t confirm a prescription; that’s risky for both safety and product quality.
Alternatives include anti-resorptive drugs (bisphosphonates, denosumab) that slow bone loss rather than build bone. Your doctor may sequence treatments: a PTH course followed by a bisphosphonate to lock in gains. For hypoparathyroidism, careful replacement of calcium and active vitamin D remains an option when PTH replacement isn’t suitable.
If you’re thinking about PTH therapy, ask specific questions: Why now? How long will I stay on it? What monitoring will we do? How will we manage costs and storage? Clear answers help you get benefits safely and avoid surprises.
