Tymlos (abaloparatide) is a brand-name injection that’s prescribed for osteoporosis in certain adults. As with other drugs, Tymlos can cause side effects. These include dizziness and headache.

Tymlos can cause certain side effects, some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

These are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took Tymlos in clinical trials:

Mild side effects can occur with Tymlos use. This list doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Tymlos’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects that have been reported with Tymlos include:

These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. If you develop a side effect while taking Tymlos and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch.

* An allergic reaction is possible after injecting Tymlos. However, this side effect wasn’t reported in clinical trials. To learn more, see the “Side effect specifics” section below.

Tymlos may cause serious side effects. The list below may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Tymlos’s prescribing information.

If you develop serious side effects during treatment with Tymlos, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects that have been reported and their symptoms include:

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.
† An allergic reaction is possible after injecting Tymlos. However, this side effect wasn’t reported in clinical trials. To learn more, see the “Side effect specifics” section below.

Tymlos may cause several side effects. Here are some frequently asked questions about the drug’s side effects and their answers.

Is hair loss a side effect of Tymlos?

No, hair loss is not an expected side effect of Tymlos. Hair loss wasn’t reported in the drug’s clinical trials.

However, hair loss has been reported with certain other osteoporosis treatments. For example, hair loss has been associated with bisphosphonate drugs, such as Fosamax (alendronate.

In addition, hair loss can be a symptom of menopause. (Tymlos is prescribed to treat postmenopausal osteoporosis in certain adults.)

If you experience hair loss during treatment with Tymlos, talk with your doctor. They can help you determine the possible cause and ways to manage it.

How long do side effects of Tymlos typically last?

It depends. Most mild side effects of Tymlos usually get better within a few hours of injecting a dose. Additionally, these side effects typically go away within the first few weeks of treatment.

Certain serious side effects, such as high calcium levels in your blood or urine, also typically improve with time.

If you experience Tymlos side effects that are severe, bothersome, or persistent, talk with your doctor.

Learn more about some of the side effects that Tymlos may cause. To find out how often side effects occurred in clinical trials, see the prescribing information for Tymlos.

Orthostatic hypotension

In some cases, Tymlos may cause orthostatic hypotension. This is a temporary drop in blood pressure when you stand up. In clinical trials, orthostatic hypotension wasn’t common.

With orthostatic hypotension, you may feel dizzy, faint, or lightheaded when standing up from sitting or lying down. You may also experience nausea, heart palpitations, or an increased heart rate.

This side effect is most likely to occur within 4 hours of injecting Tymlos. It usually improves over time as your body gets used to the medication.

What you can do

If you feel dizzy, faint, or lightheaded after injecting Tymlos, sit or lie down until you feel better. Then, get up slowly. Before giving your dose of Tymlos, make sure you’re in a place where you can sit or lie down if necessary. It may be helpful to do this until you know how the drug affects you.

To help prevent orthostatic hypotension, move slowly when changing positions, especially when standing up.

This side effect typically improves as your body gets used to the medication. However, if you experience severe, bothersome, or persistent symptoms of orthostatic hypotension, talk with your doctor. They can recommend other ways to manage this side effect.

Possible risk of osteosarcoma

Tymlos may cause a type of bone cancer called osteosarcoma. This type of cancer was reported in animal studies of the drug. However, animal studies don’t always predict what may happen in people. For this reason, it’s not known whether Tymlos may increase the risk of osteosarcoma in humans.

Possible symptoms of osteosarcoma can include bone pain or persistent pain in any part of the body. This type of cancer may also cause new or unusual, tender lumps under the skin.

What you can do

Before starting treatment with Tymlos, tell your doctor if you have:

These factors can increase your risk of developing osteosarcoma. For this reason, your doctor will likely not prescribe Tymlos if you have any of these risk factors.

To reduce the risk of osteosarcoma, your doctor will likely not prescribe Tymlos for more than 2 years total over your lifetime. The safety of using Tymlos for more than 2 years in total hasn’t been studied.

If you develop possible symptoms of osteosarcoma during treatment with Tymlos, tell your doctor right away. They can order certain tests to determine the cause of your symptoms.

If you have any concerns about the possible risk of osteosarcoma with Tymlos, talk with your doctor.

Allergic reaction

As with most drugs, Tymlos can cause an allergic reaction in some people. This side effect wasn’t reported in clinical trials. However, it has been reported since the drug was approved for use.

Symptoms can be mild or serious and can include:

  • skin rash
  • itching
  • flushing
  • swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
  • swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe

What you can do

For mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, call your doctor right away. They may recommend ways to ease your symptoms and determine whether you should keep taking Tymlos. However, if your symptoms are serious and you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Tymlos. This drug may not be the right treatment for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. These are considered drug-condition or drug-factor interactions. The conditions and factors to consider include:

Hypercalcemia. Tymlos can cause hypercalcemia (high levels of calcium in the blood). Before starting treatment with this drug, tell your doctor if you have hypercalcemia or certain risk factors for it. For example, risk factors can include hyperparathyroidism (high levels of parathyroid hormone). If you have hypercalcemia or a higher risk of developing it, your doctor will likely not prescribe Tymlos. However, they can recommend other treatment options for your condition.

Kidney or bladder stones. Tymlos may increase the level of calcium in your urine. In turn, this may increase your risk of developing kidney stones or bladder stones. If you’ve had kidney or bladder stones in the past, you may have a higher risk of developing them while using Tymlos. Talk with your doctor about whether Tymlos is right for you.

Risk of bone cancer. Tymlos may increase your risk of developing a type of bone cancer called osteosarcoma. Certain other factors can also increase your risk of osteosarcoma, including having other bone diseases. If you already have a higher risk of this condition, your doctor will likely not prescribe Tymlos. For more information about this risk, see the “Side effect specifics” section above.

Pregnancy or breastfeeding. If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding your child, Tymlos may not be safe for you to take. In females,* the drug is only approved for postmenopausal osteoporosis. Once you’ve gone through menopause, you can’t become pregnant. If you’re pregnant or can become pregnant, please talk with your doctor before they prescribe Tymlos.

Alcohol consumption. If you drink alcohol, Tymlos is likely safe for you to take. However, alcohol and Tymlos can cause similar side effects, including headache and dizziness. Drinking alcohol during treatment with Tymlos may increase your risk of these side effects. If you have questions about drinking alcohol while using Tymlos, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Tymlos or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Tymlos. Ask your doctor what other medications may be better options for you.

* Sex and gender exist on spectrums. Use of the term “female” in this article refers to sex assigned at birth.

Most people who use Tymlos don’t have side effects. The medication can cause mild side effects in some people, but these are usually easily managed. It may also cause some serious side effects, but these are rare.

If you’d like to learn more about Tymlos, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help answer any questions you have about side effects from taking the drug.

Besides talking with your doctor, you can do some research on your own. These articles might help:

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.