In this article, you'll discover key facts you should know about the abaloparatide injection drug to treat osteoporosis.

What Is Abaloparatide?

Abaloparatide is a medicine used to treat severe osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. It is a manmade hormone used to mimic the parathyroid hormone that is naturally found in the body. Abaloparatide is an osteoanabolic, meaning it promotes bone regeneration. Another form of medicine used for this same purpose is teriparatide. Teriparatide has been used to help men and women with low bone density.

How Abaloparatide Injections Treat Osteoporosis

People with osteoporosis lose bone density, leading to fractures. The most severe of these typically occur along the vertebra of the spine. Abaloparatide reduces the risk of spinal fracture by 86% in postmenopausal women compared to those taking placebo. It has been shown to increase bone mineral density at the neck, hip, and lumbar spine. The most significant difference occurred at the hip over the previous medication teriparatide.  

This medication is only used for those with severe risk of fracture due to osteoporosis. Patients prescribed abaloparatide, perform at-home injections of the medication. The pen applicator includes 30 days of doses. 

Side Effects

It is not recommended to take abaloparatide longer than two years. Women in the above-mentioned study only took the drug for up to 18 months. After two years, the drug loses its effectiveness and its relative benefit over the side effects. It is also not recommended for those with a history of renal stones or a risk of osteosarcoma. Abaloparatide has shown a risk of increasing calcium in urine, which exacerbates renal stones problems. While rare, both abaloparatide and teriparatide have a risk of osteosarcoma, which is a type of bone cancer. 

Here is a list of common side effects of abaloparatide:

• Dizziness or spinning sensation upon standing
• Feeling tired
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Headache

Contact your physician immediately if you experience any of the following after injection:

• Bone pain
• Unusual body aches
• Unusual lumps at the injection site
• Feeling faint or as if you might pass out after injection
• Painful or bloody urination
• Fast or irregular heartbeat
• Weight loss

Smoking can increase your risk of fracture due to low bone mineral density. It is recommended that you abstain from or stop smoking while taking medication for osteoporosis. You should avoid abaloparatide if you have a history of hypertension, high levels of calcium in the blood, or bone diseases not due to osteoporosis. 

Only your physician can prescribe an abaloparatide injection to treat osteoporosis. A doctor or nurse will show you how to perform the injections. Talk to them about your risk factors for fractures and if this medication is right for you.