Teriparatide (750mcg)
Teriparatide is the active 34-amino-acid portion of human parathyroid hormone, PTH(1-34). Unlike medicines that slow bone loss, its intermittent administration stimulates the formation of new bone. Human trials and the approved labeling report 20 mcg subcutaneously once daily.
Reviewed by the AllPeptides.eu Editorial Team·Last reviewed: 2026-06-16
Educational information. Not medical advice, and no efficacy claim is implied. Regulatory approval is not a use recommendation by AllPeptides.eu.
⚠️ For informational/educational purposes only. Not medical advice. We do not sell any products. Self-treatment carries serious risks — consult a healthcare professional. Disclaimer
How It Works
Teriparatide is a parathyroid hormone receptor agonist (PTH1R). The critical point is how it is given: continuous exposure to parathyroid hormone drives bone resorption, whereas intermittent once-daily administration shifts the balance toward osteoblasts and the formation of new bone. This is why teriparatide is described as anabolic for bone — in the sense of building bone, not an anabolic steroid.
Quick Start
- Reconstitution: Add 3.0 mL bacteriostatic water → 0.25 mg/mL concentration.
- Range reported in research sources: 20 mcg once daily.
- Easy measurement: At 0.25 mg/mL, 20 mcg = 8 units (0.08 mL) on a U-100 syringe.
- Storage: Reconstituted: 2–8 °C, protected from light.
Ranges reported in research sources (3.0 mL = 0.25 mg/mL)
Route: Subcutaneous | Frequency: Once daily
| Week | Dose | Units (per injection) |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed dose | 20 mcg | 8 units (0.08 mL) |
Human trials and the approved labeling report subcutaneous administration of 20 mcg once daily, with no gradual increase. Teriparatide is not used in cycles like research peptides: in the trials, administration was continuous for 21 to 24 months.
Related compounds
Reconstitution Steps
- Clean the vial stopper and the diluent stopper with alcohol and let both dry.
- Draw 3.0 mL of bacteriostatic water with a new sterile syringe.
- Inject slowly down the inside wall of the vial; avoid foaming.
- Gently swirl until fully dissolved — do not shake.
- Label with the reconstitution date and refrigerate at 2–8 °C, protected from light.
Protocol Overview
- Studied objective: Fracture reduction in high-risk osteoporosis, through the formation of new bone.
- Schedule reported in research sources: 20 mcg subcutaneously, once daily.
- Doses per vial: 37 × 20 mcg (vial arithmetic, not a treatment duration).
Dosing Protocol
- Fixed dose: 20 mcg once daily.
- Duration in the trials: 21 months (fracture prevention trial) and 24 months (VERO).
- After treatment: the Endocrine Society describes a transition to antiresorptive treatment to preserve bone density.
- Administration beyond two years is considered only when fracture risk remains, or returns to, high.
- Break between cycles: A 2–4 week break is recommended before repeating the cycle.
Washout & Cycle Restart
When can I restart?
After completing the cycle, a 2–4 week break is recommended before starting a new cycle. This allows the body to restore normal function and prevents potential downregulation (tachyphylaxis).
Storage Instructions
- Reconstituted: 2–8 °C, protected from light; do not freeze.
- The commercial prefilled pen is discarded 28 days after opening, per MedlinePlus.
- For the 750 mcg research vial, no specific post-reconstitution stability period has been established.
Important Notes
- Teriparatide is an approved prescription medicine, not a research peptide. The calculations above concern a research vial and do not replace the approved device.
- The prescription prefilled pen is not interchangeable with the 750 mcg research vial.
- It is not the same as abaloparatide: they are two distinct bone-building medicines.
Potential Benefits & Side Effects
Potential Benefits:
- Vertebral fractures: In the fracture prevention trial (1,637 postmenopausal women with a prior vertebral fracture), new vertebral fractures occurred in 5% on 20 mcg versus 14% on placebo.
- Nonvertebral fractures: 3% versus 6% in the same trial.
- Comparison with an active drug (VERO): in 1,360 women with severe osteoporosis, new vertebral fractures were 5.4% with teriparatide versus 12.0% with risedronate at 24 months.
- Bone formation: stimulates osteoblasts, unlike antiresorptives that slow bone loss.
Potential Side Effects:
- Nausea, pain, dizziness and leg cramps.
- Lightheadedness on standing, mainly around the early doses.
- Hypercalcemia and raised calcium — the label notes potential digoxin toxicity.
- In VERO, the nonvertebral fracture result did not reach statistical significance.
- Rat studies found osteosarcoma; observational human studies have not shown an increased risk, but long-duration data remain limited.
⚠️ Serious Warnings & Long-Term Risks
The following warnings are based on published literature, FDA labels, and post-marketing surveillance. They do not constitute medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional.
Osteosarcoma — findings in rodents
Rat studies found osteosarcoma. Observational human studies have not shown an increased risk, but long-duration data remain limited. The Forteo® label lists osteosarcoma risk factors.
📄 FDA Label — Forteo® (DailyMed)Hypercalcemia and digoxin toxicity
Teriparatide raises serum calcium. The label lists hypercalcemia, serious skin calcification and potential digoxin toxicity related to increased calcium. Relevant cautions include kidney stones, calcium disorders, kidney disease and bone cancer.
📄 FDA Label — Forteo® (DailyMed)References
- NEJM (2001) — Neer RM, et al. Effect of parathyroid hormone (1-34) on fractures and bone mineral density in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.
View Source - Lancet (2018) — VERO — Kendler DL, et al. Effects of teriparatide and risedronate on new fractures in post-menopausal women with severe osteoporosis.
View Source - DailyMed — Forteo — Product labeling: 20 mcg subcutaneously once daily.
View Source - EMA — Forsteo — European public assessment report (EPAR).
View Source - ChEMBL — CHEMBL525610 — Teriparatide: 34-amino-acid protein, parathyroid hormone receptor agonist, ATC H05AA02.
View Source - MedlinePlus — Teriparatide — Instructions for use, storage and side effects.
View Source
External Sources & Regulatory Status
Regulatory Approvals
Forteo® · Οστεοπόρωση υψηλού κινδύνου κατάγματος (2002)
Forsteo® · Οστεοπόρωση υψηλού κινδύνου κατάγματος (2003)
Εγκεκριμένο FDA (2002) και EMA (2003)
Educational information. Not medical advice, and no efficacy claim is implied. Regulatory approval is not a use recommendation by AllPeptides.eu.
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