Details

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Octreotide depot 20mg per 5ml prefilled syringe is one of the synthetic analogs of Somatostatin (growth hormone–inhibiting hormone)  with a longer half life belonging to the hormone drug section.

Somatostatin is a small polypeptide hormone, found in neurons in the whole body as well as in the intestine, stomach, and pancreas.It inhibits the action of growth hormone, insulin, glucagon and gastrin in the body.

It is widely used in growth hormone secreting tumors after surgery and prior to radiation therapy.

Mechanism of action: It acts the same as somatostatin hormone but it has longer life than and it is around 45 times more potent on growth hormone than somatostatin. But it”s effect on insulin is very low so there is no hyperglycemia complication.

It is available as Sandostatin LAR  in both International and Indian markets.

Uses

• Octreotide depot 20mg per 5ml prefilled syringe is used in treating acromegaly caused by growth hormone secreting adenoma.
• It is prescribed in carcinoid syndrome and advanced Neuroendocrine Tumours of the midgut or unknown primary tumour location.
• Octreotide depot 20mg per 5ml prefilled syringe is also prescribed in Gastro-entero-pancreatic endocrine tumours like gastrinoma/Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, glucagonoma, insulinoma, VIPoma,GRFomas   and ACTH-secreting tumor.
• Other indications of Sandostatin LAR are severe diarrhea caused due to carcinoid tumor and bleeding esophageal varices.

 

Dosage

• Sandostatin LAR comes as a 30mg powder and solvent for suspension for the injection.
• Octreotide depot 20mg per 5ml prefilled syringe is given intramuscularly as a deep intragluteal injection and administered by healthcare professionals only.
• It must be mixed just before the administration carefully according to the instruction manual as mixing the components carefully is very important.
• Final dosages are determined by the doctor on the basis of factors such as medical condition, age , renal and hepatic impairment.
• It is stored in the refrigerator and must be kept at room temperature for 30 minutes of administration.
• General dose of 10–40 mg of Sandostatin LAR is Injected into alternate gluteal muscles after every 4-week intervals.

 

Side effects

• Bradycardia
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain
• Flatulence
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Steatorrhea
• Symptomatic and asymptomatic cholesterol gallstones
• Delayed gallbladder emptying
• Vitamin B12 deficiency
• Pain at the injection site
• Decreased absorption of fat

 

Precautions

• Regular ultrasound examination of the gallbladder after every 6-month interval must be done throughout treatment.
• GH-secreting pituitary tumours and thyroid functions must be monitored carefully to avoid any complications.

Glucose tolerance and antidiabetic treatment must be monitored to avoid both hyperglycemic and hypoglycemic episodes.