What Is Teriparatide Used For? (Cont.)

How Does Teriparatide Work?

Teriparatide is a manufactured version of parathyroid hormone (PTH), a naturally occurring hormone that regulates calcium and phosphate in the body. PTH can have beneficial or harmful effects on bone, depending on the pattern of exposure. Having high PTH all the time (known medically as hyperparathyroidism) can lead to bone loss. However, when PTH is given once a day (such as with teriparatide), it seems to have the opposite effect, helping to build new bone.
 

Teriparatide Uses in Children

Teriparatide is not approved for use in children. Talk to your healthcare provider about the benefits and risks of using the drug in children. Teriparatide seems to increase the risk of bone cancer in rats, and it is thought that children may be at higher risk for developing bone cancer due to teriparatide, since their bones are still growing.
 

Is Teriparatide Used for Off-Label Reasons?

On occasion, your healthcare provider may recommend teriparatide for something other than the uses discussed in this article. Off-label teriparatide uses include treatment for the following conditions:
 
  • Low levels of parathyroid hormone (hypoparathyroidism)
  • Osteoporosis due to the use of steroids, such as prednisone
  • Osteoporosis in premenopausal women.
     

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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;