 Using lanreotide acetate (Somatuline Depot)
Dear Patient,
Your health care provider has prescribed lanreotide, a growth hormone inhibitor, to help treat your acromegaly. This medication acts much like the growth hormone inhibitor made by your body, somatostatin, and blocks the effects of growth hormone on your body. The brand name of this medication is Somatuline Depot.
How you'll use Somatuline Depot
This medication must be injected by deep subcutaneous injection into the upper, outer area of the buttocks. It should be injected once every 4 weeks. Mark a calendar with the dates you should have this injection. After 3 months, your blood growth hormone levels will be checked and the dosage you receive may need to be changed.
What to do if you miss a dose
If you miss an injection, contact your health care provider as soon as possible to discuss changing your injection schedule.
What to do about side effects
Notify your health care provider if you experience side effects to this medication.
Common: constipation; diarrhea; gas; nausea; pain, itching, or lump at injection site; stomach pain.
Less common: changes in blood sugar levels, fatigue, headache, high blood pressure, joint pain, pain in the right upper area of your abdomen (from gall stones), slow heart rate, weight loss.
What you must know about other medications
Because of the effects this medication has on your GI tract, the absorption of any oral medications may be altered by this medication. Keep a complete list of all medications that you're taking and review it with your health care provider to make any dosage or timing changes that might be needed. If you're taking cyclosporine, the dosage of the cyclosporine may need to be increased because of the effects of this medication. Tell any health care provider who takes care of you that you are on this medication so that appropriate dosage adjustments can be made to ensure effectiveness and decrease adverse effects.
Special directions
- Mark a calendar for the dates you're scheduled to have a Somatuline injection.
- You and a significant other should learn the proper technique for giving a subcutaneous injection; make sure you dispose of the syringes and needles properly if injection is given at home.
- Rotate the injection site from side to side to help prevent injection site reactions.
- Store vials in the refrigerator; remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before you plan to use it. Each syringe should only be used once.
Keep in mind
- Make sure you have your blood tested after 3 months to evaluate the effects of this medication and to make any necessary dosage adjustments. Your health care provider will follow your serum GH levels, blood glucose, and thyroid function periodically while you're taking this medication.
- It isn't known if this medication could affect an unborn baby. If you wish to become pregnant or become pregnant, consult your health care provider.
- It isn't known how this medication could affect a breastfed baby. Because of the potential for serious adverse effects on an infant, you should use another method of feeding a baby while you're on this medication.
- Report severe right, upper abdominal pain along with nausea and vomiting (gall stones may develop); severe diarrhea, abdominal pain; marked weight loss; redness, swelling at injection site; very slow heart rate.
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