What is the most important information I should know about abaloparatide?
Abaloparatide has caused bone cancer (osteosarcoma) in animals but it is not known whether this would occur in people using this medicine. Talk with your doctor about your own risk.
Call your doctor at once if you have bone pain, unusual body aches, or a lump or swelling under your skin.
Avoid smoking cigarettes or drinking alcohol. Smoking or heavy drinking can reduce your bone mineral density, making fractures more likely.
What is abaloparatide?
Abaloparatide is a man-made form of parathyroid hormone that exists naturally in the body. Abaloparatide increases bone mineral density and bone strength, which may prevent fractures.
Abaloparatide is used to treat osteoporosis in postmenopausal women who have a high risk of bone fracture.
Abaloparatide may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using abaloparatide?
You should not use abaloparatide if you are allergic to it.
Abaloparatide is not for use in children or young adults whose bones are still growing.
To make sure abaloparatide is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:
- Paget's disease or a bone disease other than osteoporosis;
- high blood levels of calcium or alkaline phosphatase;
- overactive parathyroid glands;
- bone cancer or radiation treatment involving your bones; or
- a kidney stone.
Abaloparatide has caused bone cancer (osteosarcoma) in animals but it is not known whether this would occur in people using this medicine. Talk with your doctor about your own risk.
Abaloparatide is for use only in women who can no longer get pregnant. It is not known whether abaloparatide will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you think you may be pregnant.
It is not known whether abaloparatide passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby.
How should I use abaloparatide?
Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not use this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.
Abaloparatide is injected under the skin. You may be shown how to use injections at home. Do not give yourself this medicine if you do not understand how to use the injection and properly dispose of used needles and syringes.
Abaloparatide is usually given once per day. Use the medicine at the same time each day.
Your care provider will show you the best places on your body to inject abaloparatide. Use a different place each time you give an injection. Do not inject into the same place two times in a row.
Use only the injection pen provided with abaloparatide. Do not transfer the medicine to a syringe or other injection device or you could get an overdose.
Abaloparatide can cause you to feel dizzy or light-headed. Always give your injection at a time and place where you can sit or lie down for a short time afterward.
Abaloparatide should be clear and colorless. Do not use the medicine if it has changed colors, looks cloudy, or has particles in it. Call your pharmacist for new medicine.
Use a disposable needle only once. Follow any state or local laws about throwing away used needles. Use a puncture-proof "sharps" disposal container (ask your pharmacist where to get one and how to throw it away). Keep this container out of the reach of children and pets.
Read all patient information, medication guides, and instruction sheets provided to you. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.
Abaloparatide may be only part of a complete program of treatment that also includes diet changes, exercise, taking vitamin or mineral supplements, and changing certain behaviors. Follow your doctor's instructions very closely.
Store unopened injection pens in the refrigerator, do not freeze.
Once you start using the injection pen, store it at room temperature away from moisture and heat. After each use, remove the needle and cover the pen with the outer needle cap. Do not store the pen with a needle attached.
Each prefilled injection pen contains enough abaloparatide for 30 separate injections. Throw the pen away after 30 injections, even if there is still medicine left inside.
Your doctor will determine how long to treat you with this medicine. Abaloparatide is often given for only 2 years.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Use the missed dose on the same day you remember it. Use your next dose at the regular time and stay on your once-daily schedule. Do not use 2 doses in one day.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
Overdose symptoms may include headache, dizziness, vomiting, rapid heartbeats, feeling light-headed, or fainting.
What should I avoid while using abaloparatide?
Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly and steady yourself to prevent a fall.
Avoid smoking, or try to quit. Smoking can reduce your bone mineral density, making fractures more likely.
Avoid drinking large amounts of alcohol. Heavy drinking can also cause bone loss.
What are the possible side effects of abaloparatide?
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
- a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out (may occur within 4 hours after injection);
- bone pain;
- unusual body aches;
- a new or worsening lump or swelling under your skin;
- pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest;
-
high levels of calcium in your blood --nausea, vomiting, constipation, weakness, tired feeling; or
-
symptoms of a kidney stone --severe pain in your side or lower back, blood in your urine, painful urination.
Common side effects may include:
- dizziness, spinning sensation;
- headache;
- fast heart rate;
- nausea, upper stomach pain; or
- feeling very tired.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other drugs will affect abaloparatide?
Other drugs may interact with abaloparatide, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.
Where can I get more information?
Your pharmacist can provide more information about abaloparatide.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Copyright 1996-2018 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 2.02. Revision date: 12/4/2017.
