From the Guidelines
Teriparatide is administered as a daily subcutaneous injection for up to 2 years, as indicated by the most recent and highest quality study available 1. The standard administration protocol involves injecting the medication daily, typically in the thigh or abdominal wall.
- The medication comes in a prefilled pen device that delivers a fixed dose.
- It must be refrigerated until first use, after which it can be stored at room temperature for up to 28 days.
- Patients need to be trained on proper injection technique, including rotating injection sites to prevent skin reactions.
- Treatment duration is limited due to safety concerns regarding osteosarcoma risk observed in animal studies. Teriparatide works as an anabolic agent by stimulating new bone formation through its action as a parathyroid hormone analog, making it particularly effective for severe osteoporosis, as supported by studies such as 1 and 1.
- Patients should supplement with calcium and vitamin D while using teriparatide to ensure adequate minerals are available for the new bone formation process. Although more recent studies such as 1 discuss the management of osteoporosis, they do not provide updated information on the administration of teriparatide, making 1 the most relevant study for this specific question.
From the FDA Drug Label
2.1 Recommended Dosage The recommended dosage is 20 mcg given subcutaneously once a day. 2.2 Administration Instructions Administer teriparatide injection as a subcutaneous injection into the thigh or abdominal region.
Teriparatide is administered subcutaneously once a day, with a recommended dosage of 20 mcg. The injection should be given into the thigh or abdominal region 2. Patients and/or caregivers should receive training and instruction on the proper use of the teriparatide injection delivery device from a qualified health professional 2.
From the Research
Administration of Teriparatide
- Teriparatide is administered via subcutaneous injection, typically once daily 3, 4.
- The treatment duration for teriparatide is limited to 2 years 3.
- Teriparatide is an osteoanabolic therapy, which means it helps to build bone and reduce fracture risk 3, 4.
- The administration of teriparatide is typically done in a clinical setting, under the guidance of a healthcare professional 4.
Key Considerations
- Teriparatide is usually prescribed for patients with severe osteoporosis or those who have not responded to other treatments 3.
- The treatment regimen for teriparatide may involve sequential therapy, where patients are switched to a different medication after completing a course of teriparatide 3.
- It is essential to monitor patients receiving teriparatide for potential side effects and to adjust the treatment plan as needed 4.
Note: There is limited information available on the administration of teriparatide in the provided studies. However, based on the available data, it can be concluded that teriparatide is administered via subcutaneous injection and is typically used for a limited duration of 2 years.