Yorvipath (palopegteriparatide) is a prescription drug that’s used to treat underactive parathyroid glands. Yorvipath comes as a liquid solution that you inject under your skin.
Yorvipath is used in adults to treat hypoparathyroidism (underactive parathyroid glands). To learn more, see the “What is Yorvipath used for?” section.
Yorvipath basics
Yorvipath contains the active ingredient palopegteriparatide.
Yorvipath is a brand-name medication. A generic version of the drug isn’t currently available.
Whether you have health insurance or not, cost may be a factor when you’re considering Yorvipath. What you’ll pay for Yorvipath may depend on several things, such as your treatment plan and the pharmacy you use.
If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. A program called Ascendis Signature Access Program may also be available.
Yorvipath is used to treat hypoparathyroidism (underactive parathyroid glands) in adults.
Your parathyroid glands are located in your neck. They release parathyroid hormone (PTH), which helps regulate calcium levels in your body.
When your parathyroid glands don’t make enough PTH, your calcium levels may fall below the typical range. This could lead to symptoms such as muscle cramps, dry skin, and brittle nails.
Yorvipath works by increasing your PTH levels, which helps raise calcium levels in your blood to within the typical range.
Like most drugs, Yorvipath may cause mild to serious side effects. The lists below contain some of the more common side effects Yorvipath may cause, but they don’t include all possible side effects.
Keep in mind that side effects of a drug can depend on:
- your age
- other health conditions you have
- other medications you take
Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of Yorvipath. They can also suggest ways to help reduce side effects.
Mild side effects
Here’s a list of some of the mild side effects that Yorvipath can cause. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist or read Yorvipath’s prescribing information.
Mild side effects of Yorvipath that have been reported include:
- injection site reactions, such as bruising or skin rash
- back pain
- diarrhea
- headache
- mouth and throat pain
Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Serious side effects
Serious side effects from Yorvipath can occur, but they aren’t common. If you have serious side effects from Yorvipath, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, you should call 911 or your local emergency number.
Serious side effects of Yorvipath that have been reported include:
- a sudden drop in blood pressure when standing up quickly
- severely high or low blood calcium levels
- increased risk of osteosarcoma (a type of bone cancer)
ALLERGIC REACTIONFor some people, Yorvipath can cause an allergic reaction. But this side effect wasn’t reported in the drug’s studies.
In general, symptoms of allergic reaction can be mild or serious.
What might help
If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms and can determine whether you should continue using Yorvipath.
If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.
If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Yorvipath, they may have you switch to a different treatment.
Your doctor will recommend the dosage of Yorvipath that’s right for you. Below are commonly used dosages, but always use the dosage your doctor prescribes.
Form and strengths
Yorvipath comes as a liquid solution that you’ll inject under your skin. It’s available in three strengths:
- 168 micrograms in 0.56 milliliters of solution (mcg/mL)
- 294 mcg/0.98 mL
- 420 mcg/1.4 mL
Recommended dosage
The Yorvipath dosage for adults with hypoparathyroidism is one injection of Yorvipath per day.
How to use
Your doctor will explain how to inject Yorvipath. They’ll also explain how much to use and how often. Be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions.
You’ll inject Yorvipath under the skin of your abdomen or the front of your thigh. Your doctor or another healthcare professional will show you or a caregiver how to give these injections at home.
You should inject your dose of Yorvipath around the same time each day. This keeps a consistent level of the drug in your body, which helps it work effectively.
To learn more about using Yorvipath, talk with your doctor. You can also visit the drug manufacturer’s website.
Questions about using Yorvipath
Below are some common questions about using Yorvipath.
- What if I miss a dose of Yorvipath? If you miss a dose of Yorvipath, inject it as soon as possible. However, if more than 12 hours have passed since the dose was due, skip the missed dose and inject your next dose at the usual time. If more than 3 days have passed since your last dose, talk with your doctor. They can recommend how to safely restart treatment.
- Will I need to use Yorvipath long term? Yorvipath is typically used as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that it’s safe and effective for your condition, you’ll likely use it long term.
- How long does Yorvipath take to work? Yorvipath starts working after your first dose. But it may take several weeks to fully help regulate your blood calcium levels. If you have questions about what to expect from Yorvipath treatment, talk with your doctor.
Overdose
Do not use more Yorvipath than your doctor prescribes, as this can lead to harmful effects.
Symptoms of overdose
Symptoms caused by an overdose can include severely high blood calcium levels.
What to do in case you use too much Yorvipath
Call your doctor if you think you’ve used too much Yorvipath. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach America’s Poison Centers or use its online resource. But if you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency room.
Below is important information you should consider before using Yorvipath.
Interactions
Taking a drug with certain medications, vaccines, foods, and other things can affect how the drug works. These effects are called interactions.
Yorvipath can interact with several other medications. But the drug isn’t known to interact with any supplements or foods.
Before starting Yorvipath treatment, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also, tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you take. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.
If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Drug interactions
The following is a list of medications that can interact with Yorvipath. This list does not contain all drugs that may interact with Yorvipath. If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
| Drug group or drug name | Drug examples |
|---|---|
| other drugs that affect blood calcium levels | • bisphosphonates, such as risedronate (Actonel) or alendronate (Fosamax) • cinacalcet • calcitonin • etelcalcetide (Parsabiv) |
| digoxin (Lanoxin) | — |
Yorvipath and alcohol
Alcohol is not known to interact with Yorvipath. But hypoparathyroidism, the condition Yorvipath is used to treat, can be affected by alcohol. Because of this, your doctor may recommend that you avoid alcohol.
If you have questions about this, talk with your doctor about whether it’s safe for you to consume alcohol with your condition and treatment plan.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
It’s not known whether Yorvipath is safe to use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. If you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant or to breastfeed, talk with your doctor before starting Yorvipath treatment.
If your doctor prescribes Yorvipath during pregnancy, they may advise you to join the drug’s pregnancy safety study. This study collects information on how Yorvipath may affect pregnancy. To learn more, call 844-442-7236.
Warnings
Yorvipath can sometimes cause harmful effects in people who have certain conditions. This is known as a drug-condition interaction. Other factors may also affect whether Yorvipath is a good treatment option for you.
Talk with your doctor about your health history before you start treatment with Yorvipath. Be sure to tell them if any of the following factors apply to you:
- factors that increase your risk of osteosarcoma (a type of bone cancer)
- previous allergic reaction to Yorvipath
- pregnancy
- breastfeeding
Other drugs are available that can treat hypoparathyroidism (underactive parathyroid glands). If you’d like to explore an alternative to Yorvipath, talk with your doctor. They can tell you about other medications that might work well for you.
Examples of alternatives to Yorvipath include parathyroid hormone (Natpara) and calcitriol (Rocaltrol).
Disclaimer: Healthline 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.