No matter how you feel, remember that you are not alone in having acromegaly. There are thousands of people having experiences similar to yours.

Here are the stories of three patients with acromegaly*-Dave, Mark, and Karen-and why their healthcare professionals chose Somatuline^® Depot (lanreotide) Injection.

Dave is newly diagnosed with acromegaly

Dave is 36. He is a financial advisor, travels a bit, and plays golf. For two years, joint pain, headache, and fatigue interfered with Dave's work and lifestyle.

Diagnosis
Dave was diagnosed with acromegaly in May 2007 after being referred to a neurologist for severe migraines. The neurologist suspected acromegaly after hearing that Dave also had joint pain and fatigue. His insulin-like growth factor level was 750 ng/mL, well above the normal range. When Dave took an oral glucose tolerance test, it failed to push his growth hormone levels below 1.0 ng/mL. An MRI confirmed the diagnosis of acromegaly.

Treatment history
On the MRI, Dave's pituitary tumor was large (>10 mm). He had surgery in August 2007. That reduced the size of the tumor, but did not normalize levels of growth hormone and growth factors. Dave's endocrinologist recommended medical therapy with a somatostatin analog.

Considering Dave's active lifestyle, he may be a candidate for Somatuline Depot treatment.

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Mark wants a more convenient treatment option

Mark is 52 years old, and lives with his wife and two teenage daughters. He is a structural engineer, and enjoys spending time with his family.

Diagnosis and treatment history
Mark was diagnosed with acromegaly six years ago, after he experienced severe vision loss. Mark had surgery to reduce the tumor, and then started taking Sandostatin^® short-acting injection (a medication that works like Somatuline Depot but for a shorter time). After two weeks of three-a-day injections, Mark switched to 28-day Sandostatin LAR^® Depot (a medication that works like Somatuline Depot for about the same length of time).

Mark at the moment
Although his symptoms are controlled, Mark is not completely satisfied. Balancing work, family, and monthly appointments for injections is a hassle, especially if the Sandostatin LAR^® Depot is not mixed properly. When that happens, Mark has to pick up a new prescription, make another appointment, and fill out extra paperwork to get reimbursed.

Mark wants to try something more convenient and Somatuline Depot offers the ease of a pre-mixed solution in a single, pre-filled syringe.

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Karen is looking for a "friendlier" injection

Karen is a 43-year-old stay-at-home mom. She was diagnosed with acromegaly two years ago when her primary care physician noticed changes in her facial features. She also had excessive sweating and carpal tunnel syndrome. When her healthcare professional tested Karen's insulin-like growth factor level, it was 600 ng/mL, above the normal age-adjusted range. An endocrinologist confirmed the diagnosis of acromegaly with an oral glucose tolerance test and an MRI of her pituitary gland.

Karen's history
The MRI revealed Karen's pituitary tumor to be small (<10 mm) and surgery to remove it was recommended, but Karen did not want surgery. Her endocrinologist started Karen on Sandostatin LAR^® Depot (a medication that works like Somatuline Depot for about the same length of time), administered once every 28 days to help reduce her growth hormone and growth factor levels, and help her body control her condition.

Karen currently
Although Karen has been taking injections of Sandostatin LAR^® Depot for two years, she cannot get used to intramuscular injections. She experiences injection-site pain and a mass under the skin from the large volume of the injection. Her favorite nurse describes Karen as "needle-phobic" and periodically talks to Karen's endocrinologist about alternatives.

Karen is looking for an easier way to take medication for acromegaly, and Somatuline Depot offers a short, 20-mm needle and a 0.3 to 0.5 mL injection.

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* Dave, Mark, and Karen are not actual patients. Their profiles are based on published data from clinical studies and review articles.