Key takeaways

  • Yorvipath treats hypoparathyroidism in adults by replacing parathyroid hormone, which helps restore calcium levels to a normal range when the parathyroid glands produce insufficient amounts.
  • The medication is administered once daily through a subcutaneous injection using a prefilled pen. Dosages typically start at 18 micrograms (mcg) and are adjusted as needed up to a maximum of 30 mcg.
  • Common side effects include headache, injection site reactions, nausea, diarrhea, and fatigue. Serious complications such as dangerously high calcium levels can occur if too much medication is used.

Yorvipath is a brand-name medication used in adults to treat hypoparathyroidism (underactive parathyroid glands). Yorvipath contains the active ingredient palopegteriparatide. A generic version of the drug isn’t currently available.

This article gives an overview of Yorvipath, including its uses, side effects, and how to use it safely.

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 your blood calcium levels back into the typical range.

Like most drugs, Yorvipath can cause a range of side effects. The most common include:

These mild side effects typically go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. If they last longer or stop you from functioning normally, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Serious side effects of Yorvipath

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. 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:

  • Severely high or low blood calcium levels: Dangerously low calcium can happen if you stop taking Yorvipath suddenly. Unsafe changes in your calcium levels can also happen if you use more than one injection a day to get your daily dose.
  • Drop in blood pressure: A sudden drop in blood pressure when standing up quickly (orthostatic hypotension) can occur. It can cause dizziness, a fast heartbeat, or fainting.
  • Osteosarcoma: Yorvipath can increase the risk of this rare bone cancer.
  • Digoxin toxicity: If you take a heart medication called digoxin, Yorvipath can increase your blood calcium, which might cause digoxin to build up to dangerous levels in your body

Experiencing side effects? 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 this drug and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

Yorvipath comes as a liquid solution in a prefilled pen that you inject under your skin. The pens come in three different sizes, and each pen can be dialed to deliver three specific daily doses.

The volume of medication in each pen is measured in micrograms per milliliter of solution (mcg/mL).

  • Blue push-button pen: (168 mcg/0.56 mL) can deliver doses of 6, 9, or 12 mcg
  • Orange push-button pen: (294 mcg/0.98 mL) can deliver doses of 15, 18, or 21 mcg
  • Burgundy push-button pen: (420 mcg/1.4 mL) can deliver doses of 24, 27, or 30 mcg

Recommended dosage

For adults with hypoparathyroidism, the recommended starting dose of Yorvipath is 18 mcg once per day. Your doctor may adjust your dose up or down in 3 mcg steps, but the maximum recommended dose is 30 mcg per day.

Important Warning: You must use only one injection to get your full daily dose. Never use two separate injections to make up your dose (for example, taking two 15 mcg injections to get a 30 mcg dose). Using more than one injection a day increases the chance that you get the wrong amount of medicine, which can cause dangerous spikes or drops in your blood calcium levels.

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 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 Yorvipath dose 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.

What to do about a missed dose of Yorvipath

If you miss a dose of Yorvipath, inject it as soon as possible if less than 12 hours have passed. 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 your treatment is interrupted for 3 days or more, you may need to take additional calcium and vitamin D supplements temporarily. However, you should resume taking Yorvipath at your previously prescribed dose as soon as possible and see your doctor to have your calcium levels checked within 7 to 10 days.

What to do if you use too much Yorvipath

If you use too much Yorvipath, your blood calcium levels may increase too much. High blood calcium levels can be dangerous and require hospitalization.

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. If you have severe symptoms, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately or go to the nearest emergency room.

Below is important information to 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.

Before starting Yorvipath treatment, tell your doctor about all prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, herbs, and supplements you take. This information can help you avoid potential interactions.

The following is a list of some, but not all, medications that can interact with Yorvipath:

  • 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 can be affected by alcohol. Because of this, your doctor may recommend that you avoid alcohol.

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 1-844-442-7236.

Warnings

Yorvipath can sometimes be harmful in people with certain conditions. This is known as a drug-condition interaction.

Tell your doctor if any of the following factors apply to you:

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 your treatment plan and the pharmacy you use.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about the best way to pay for your prescription. You may qualify for a program called Ascendis Signature Access Program, which can help reduce costs.

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.

Yorvipath starts working after your first dose. But it may take several weeks to fully regulate your blood calcium levels. If you have questions about what to expect from Yorvipath treatment, talk with your doctor.

Other drugs are available that can treat hypoparathyroidism (underactive parathyroid glands). Examples include parathyroid hormone (Natpara) and calcitriol (Rocaltrol).

Yorvipath is an injectable medication to treat hypoparathyroidism in adults. It comes as a liquid solution in a prefilled pen.

Always follow your prescribed dose of Yorvipath, as using too much or too little can affect calcium levels in the blood, which can be harmful.

Disclaimer: While Healthline strives for factual, comprehensive, and current information, this article is not a substitute for a licensed healthcare professional’s expertise. Always consult a doctor before taking or discontinuing any medication. Drug information is subject to change and may not cover all uses, directions, precautions, warnings, interactions, reactions, or adverse effects. The lack of a warning does not guarantee a drug’s safety, effectiveness, or appropriateness for all patients or specific uses. Learn more about our approach to content integrity.