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FDA approved Healthy Aging

Teriparatide

Also called Forteo; PTH(1-34)

An FDA-approved prescription medicine that builds bone in people with osteoporosis at high fracture risk. Unlike most compounds in this library, it has randomized trials that measured fractures.

Overview

What it is

The active 34-amino-acid portion of human parathyroid hormone. "Anabolic" here means bone-building, not a steroid.

How it works

Intermittent exposure to parathyroid hormone signaling stimulates new bone formation, while many other osteoporosis drugs mainly slow bone breakdown.

What the research shows

In 1,637 postmenopausal women with prior spine fractures, new spine fractures occurred in 5% on teriparatide versus 14% on placebo. In the VERO trial of 1,360 women with severe osteoporosis, new spine fractures were 5.4% versus 12.0% with risedronate, though the non-spine fracture difference was not statistically significant.

Studied for

  • Osteoporosis in postmenopausal womenapproved
  • Osteoporosis in menapproved
  • Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosisapproved

Safety and regulatory status

Safety and side effects

Possible side effects include nausea, pain, dizziness, leg cramps and lightheadedness when standing. The label warns about osteosarcoma risk factors, high calcium, skin calcification and digoxin interactions. Rat studies found bone cancer; human observational studies have not shown an increase, but long-term data are limited. Tell your clinician about kidney stones, calcium disorders, bone cancer, prior radiation, pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Regulatory status

FDA approved by prescription (Forteo and others) for specific osteoporosis indications.

Mixing and dosing reference

Reference information only. Read before using this section.
Reference information only. Not instructions. These mixing and dosing figures summarize published studies and third-party protocols so you can understand the research. They are not medical advice, not a recommendation that anyone use any substance, and not a treatment plan. They do not apply to Research Products, which are for laboratory research only and must never be used in humans or animals. Never self-administer any compound. Only a licensed healthcare professional who has evaluated you can decide whether a medication is appropriate and how it should be used.

Teriparatide (750 mcg Vial) Dosage Protocol

Vial
0.75 mg Teriparatide
Add diluent
3 mL
Concentration
0.25 mg/mL
1 unit (U-100)
2.5 mcg in 0.01 mL
Route
Subcutaneous

One-Vial Calculation Using the Published 20 mcg Daily Amount

Research PeriodAmount per AdministrationU-100 Units (mL)
37 daily administrations (one-vial arithmetic)20 mcg8 units (0.08 mL)

How to mix

  1. Clean the vial stopper and diluent stopper with alcohol; allow both to dry.
  2. Draw exactly 3.0 mL of bacteriostatic water with a new sterile syringe, then inject it slowly down the inside wall of the vial.
  3. Gently swirl or roll until dissolved. Do not shake.
  4. Label the vial with the compound, concentration, and reconstitution date. Refrigerate at 2–8 °C (36–46 °F) and protect from light.

Protocol source: PeptideDosages.com

Common questions

Is teriparatide a hormone?

It is a manufactured version of the active part of parathyroid hormone.

Is it the same as abaloparatide?

No. Both build bone, but they are distinct medicines.

Does a better bone scan mean I can stop?

Discuss next steps with your prescriber; follow-up treatment is often needed to keep the gains.

Related in Healthy Aging

AbaloparatideFDA approved BronchogenLab / animal only CardiogenLab / animal only ChonlutenEarly human data Epithalon (Epitalon)Early human data FOXO4-DRILab / animal only
Sources and further reading (6)
  1. DailyMed. Forteo prescribing information, rev. Aug 2026.
  2. Neer RM, et al. PTH(1-34) on fractures and BMD in postmenopausal women. NEJM, 2001.
  3. Kendler DL, et al. Teriparatide vs risedronate in severe osteoporosis (VERO). Lancet, 2018.
  4. Endocrine Society. Pharmacological management of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.
  5. MedlinePlus. Teriparatide injection patient information.
  6. Source summary: PeptideDosages.com research overview (rewritten for NVO).
Educational information only. This content summarizes published research for general education. It is not medical advice, not a recommendation to use any substance, and not an instruction for human or animal use. It does not describe any Research Product sold on this site.