Sandostatin
Sandostatin is a medicine that acts like a natural hormone, helping your body control the production of certain other hormones, like growth hormone.
Form
injektio-/infuusioneste, liuos
Strength
50 mikrog/ml
Active Ingredient
Octreotide
Manufacturer
Novartis Finland Oy
How to Use
Dosage
The dose depends on your condition and how you respond, usually 0.05–0.2 mg given as an injection under the skin 1–3 times daily.
Method
The medicine is given as an injection under the skin (subcutaneously) or directly into a vein as an infusion.
Important
For treating acromegaly, the maximum daily dose is 1.5 mg. For other conditions, your doctor will determine the maximum dose.
Possible Side Effects
COMMON
- •Gallstones causing sudden back pain
- •High blood sugar levels
- •Diarrhea
- •Stomach pain
- •Nausea
- •Constipation
- •Flatulence (gas)
- •Headache
- •Local pain at the injection site
- •Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) causing changes in heart rate, appetite, weight, tiredness, feeling cold, or swelling in the neck.
- •Changes in thyroid function tests
- •Gallbladder inflammation (cholecystitis), with symptoms like pain in the upper right abdomen, fever, nausea, yellow skin and eyes (jaundice).
- •Low blood sugar levels
- •Impaired glucose tolerance
- •Slow heart rate
- •Indigestion after meals
- •Vomiting
- •Feeling of fullness in the stomach
- •Fatty stools
- •Loose stools
- •Changes in stool color
- •Dizziness
- •Loss of appetite
- •Changes in liver function tests
- •Hair loss
- •Shortness of breath
- •Weakness
RARE
- •Thirst, low urine output, dark urine, dry and red skin
- •Fast heart rate
- •Hypersensitivity reactions (allergic reactions), including skin rash.
- •Severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) with difficulty swallowing or breathing, swelling, tingling, dizziness, loss of consciousness, and low blood pressure.
- •Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) with symptoms like sudden upper abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
- •Hepatitis (liver inflammation) with symptoms like yellow skin and eyes (jaundice), nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, general feeling of illness, itching, and light-colored urine.
- •Irregular heartbeats.
- •Low platelet count in blood, which can increase bleeding or bruising.
Important Warnings
- Do not use if you are allergic to octreotide or any other ingredient in this medicine.
- Tell your doctor if you have or have had gallstones, or if you experience fever, chills, stomach pain, or yellow skin and eyes.
- If you have problems with your blood sugar (diabetes or low blood sugar), your doctor may need to monitor it closely.
- If you have had a vitamin B12 deficiency in the past, your doctor may check your B12 levels regularly.
- Sandostatin can slow your heart rate, and very high doses can cause abnormal heart rhythms. Your doctor will monitor your heart rate.