Sandostatin
Sandostatin is a medicine that acts like a natural body hormone to help control the release of too many hormones, like growth hormone.
Form
injektio-/infuusioneste, liuos
Strength
100 mikrog/ml
Active Ingredient
Octreotide
Manufacturer
Novartis Finland Oy
How to Use
Dosage
Your doctor will prescribe the correct dose depending on your condition, usually 0.05 mg (50 micrograms) or 0.1 mg (100 micrograms) injected 1 to 3 times a day.
Method
The medicine is given as an injection under the skin (into the upper arm, thigh, or stomach area) or as an infusion into a vein. If you inject yourself, choose a new injection site each time and let the medicine warm up to room temperature before use; avoid eating around the time of your injection.
Important
Do not use more than 1.5 mg per day (1500 micrograms per day), unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
Possible Side Effects
COMMON
- •Gallstones causing sudden back pain
- •High blood sugar levels
- •Diarrhea
- •Stomach pain
- •Nausea
- •Constipation
- •Flatulence (gas)
- •Headache
- •Pain at the injection site
RARE
- •Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) causing changes in heart rate, appetite, weight, tiredness, feeling cold, or neck swelling
- •Changes in thyroid function tests
- •Gallbladder inflammation (cholecystitis) with symptoms like upper right abdominal pain, 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
- •Thirst, low urine output, dark urine, dry skin, and redness
- •Fast heart rate
- •Hypersensitivity reactions (allergic reactions), including skin rash
- •Severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) causing difficulty swallowing or breathing, swelling, tingling, dizziness, or loss of consciousness, possibly with low blood pressure
- •Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) with symptoms like sudden upper abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
- •Liver inflammation (hepatitis) with symptoms like yellow skin and eyes (jaundice), nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, general feeling of illness, itching, and light-colored urine
- •Irregular heart rhythm
- •Low blood platelet count, which can increase bleeding or bruising
Important Warnings
- Do not use this medicine if you are allergic to octreotide or any other ingredient in it.
- Tell your doctor if you have or have had gallstones, or if you get symptoms like fever, chills, stomach pain, or yellow skin/eyes, as long-term use can cause gallstones.
- Your blood sugar levels must be monitored carefully, especially if Sandostatin is used for bleeding from blood vessels in the stomach or esophagus.
- If you have previously had a vitamin B12 deficiency, your doctor may want to check your vitamin B12 levels regularly.
- Octreotide can lower heart rate and, in very high doses, cause irregular heartbeats. Your doctor may monitor your heart rate during treatment.
Show 4 more warnings
- If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten one.
- Do not stop using Sandostatin without talking to your doctor, as your symptoms may return.
- Women who can become pregnant should use effective contraception during treatment.
- Do not breastfeed during Sandostatin treatment.