In clinical studies on Forteo and pregnancy, the medicine increased the risk of bone problems and slowed growth rate in offspring when it was given to pregnant mice and rats. However, animals and humans do not always respond to drugs in the same way. Therefore, if you are taking Forteo and pregnancy occurs, your healthcare provider will consider the benefits and risks in your particular situation.
Forteo and Pregnancy: An Overview
Forteo™ (
teriparatide) is a prescription
osteoporosis medication. It is approved only for use in men and postmenopausal women. Forteo may not be safe for use during pregnancy, although the full risks are not currently known. Studies in pregnant animals have suggested that the drug may cause problems when used during pregnancy.
Forteo and Pregnancy Category C
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) uses a category system to classify the possible risks to a fetus when a specific medicine is taken during pregnancy. Pregnancy Category C is given to medicines that have not been studied in pregnant humans but that do appear to cause harm to the fetus in animal studies. Also, medicines that have not been studied in any pregnant women or animals are automatically given a pregnancy Category C rating.
When given to pregnant mice, Forteo increased the risk of bone problems (such as extra ribs or vertebrae) in the offspring. When given to pregnant rats, the drug caused slow growth in the newborn rats. However, it is important to note that animals do not always respond to medicines the same way that humans do. Therefore, a pregnancy Category C medicine may be given to a pregnant woman if the healthcare provider believes that the benefits to the woman outweigh any possible risks to the unborn child.
It is important to note that Forteo is not approved for women who are premenopausal (including pregnant women).
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