What is the purpose of Parathyroid hormone (Forteo)?

• A. It is a daily supplement to increase calcium absorption
• B. It is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug for pain
• C. It is an antibiotic for osteoporosis-related infections
• D. It is an injection to stimulate bone production, limited to two years of treatment

Answer: (D)

Forteo (teriparatide) is an anabolic therapy for osteoporosis. It works by stimulating osteoblast activity to form new bone, unlike drugs that merely slow bone loss. It’s given as a daily subcutaneous injection, and treatment is limited to about two years due to safety concerns, including a potential risk of osteosarcoma seen in animal studies and limited human data. So the correct concept is an injection that promotes bone production, with a finite treatment duration. It is not a calcium supplement, a pain-relief NSAID, or an antibiotic, which is why those options don’t fit.