Glossary
Accelerated growth: rapid growth e.g. (resulting in excessive height)
Acromegaly: a condition due to the production of too much growth hormone by the pituitary gland after the end of adolescence8
Anesthesia: loss of the ability to feel pain, caused by administration of a drug or by other medical interventions7
Benign tumor: a tumor that is not cancerous7
Computed tomography (CT) scan: an imaging method in which a cross-sectional image of the structures in a body plane is reconstructed by a computer program from the x-ray absorption of beams projected through the body in the image plane7
Endocrinologist: a specialist in endocrinology, the study of hormones, the endocrine system, and their roles in the body.7
Gallbladder: a pear-shaped organ just below the liver that stores the bile secreted by the liver. During a fatty meal, the gallbladder contracts, delivering the bile through the bile ducts into the intestines to help with digestion8
Gallstones: "stones" that form in the gallbladder or bile ducts. The majority of gallstones do not cause symptoms8
Gigantism: excessive growth and height due to chronic overactivity of the pituitary gland (at the base of the brain). In pituitary gigantism, there is secretion of too much growth hormone before the end of adolescence. When too much growth hormone is secreted after adolescence, there cannot be an increase in height but a condition called acromegaly ensues.8
Growth factor: a hormone made by the body that functions to regulate cell division and cell survival7
Growth hormone: a hormone made in the pituitary gland that stimulates the release of another hormone called somatomedin (IGF-1) by the liver, thereby causing growth8
Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1): (also known as Somatomedin C) a hormone similar in molecular structure to insulin. It plays an important role in childhood growth and continues to have anabolic effects in adults7
Intramuscular: given by needle into the muscle8
Magnetic resonance image (MRI): a medical imaging technique used in radiology to visualize detailed internal structures7
Neurosurgeon: a surgeon specialized in managing diseases of the brain, spine and peripheral nerves7
Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT): a test to determine the body’s ability to handle glucose. In the test, a person fasts overnight (at least 8 but not more than 16 hours). The person received 75 grams of glucose. Blood samples are taken up to four times to measure the blood glucose.5,8
Pituitary gland: The pituitary gland is sometimes referred to as the "master gland." As the most important of the endocrine glands (glands which release hormones directly into the bloodstream), it regulates and controls not only the activities of other endocrine glands but also many body processes.7
Radiologist: A medical doctor specially trained in radiology (x ray) interpretation and its use in the diagnosis of diseases and injuries.7
Somatostatin: a hormone produced in the hypothalamus (an area of the brain) that inhibits the release of growth hormone from the pituitary gland7
Somatostatin analog: a chemical compound with similar properties to somatostatin9
Subcutaneous: referring to the area beneath the skin7
Titrate: to analyze the best end point (for dose) for a medication7
Individual response to any acromegaly therapy will vary from patient to patient. Ask your endocrinologist if Somatuline® Depot therapy is right for you.
Important Information About Somatuline Depot
Your doctor is your primary source of information about treatment. For more information, please talk to your doctor and see the full Patient Information. Before each treatment, please read the Patient Information that comes with each package of Somatuline Depot (lanreotide) Injection, as there may be new information.
Who is Somatuline Depot for?
Somatuline Depot is a prescription medicine used for the long-term treatment of people with acromegaly when:
- surgery or radiotherapy have not worked well enough or
- they are not able to have surgery or radiotherapy
It is not known if Somatuline Depot is safe and effective in children.
Before taking Somatuline Depot, you should talk to your doctor about all of your medical conditions and medicines you are taking, including if you have:
- Gallbladder, thyroid, heart, kidney, and liver problems
- Diabetes
- Are allergic to latex or natural dry rubber
- Are taking cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune)
- Are receiving medicines that lower heart rate such as beta-blockers
- Are taking a medicine called bromocriptine (Parlodel)
- Are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, breast-feeding, or plan to breast-feed, it is not known if Somatuline Depot could harm your unborn baby or passes into your breast milk
What are possible side effects of Somatuline Depot?
Somatuline Depot may cause serious side effects, including:
- Gallstones. Tell your doctor if you have any of these symptoms including: sudden pain in your upper right stomach area (abdominal), right shoulder or between your shoulder blades, yellowing of your skin and whites of your eyes, fever with chills, and/or nausea
- Changes in your blood sugar. Your doctor may change your dose of diabetes medicine especially when you first start receiving Somatuline Depot or if your dose of Somatuline Depot changes.
- Slow heart rate
- High blood pressure
The most common side effects of Somatuline Depot include: diarrhea, stomach area (abdominal) pain, nausea, and pain, itching, or lump at the injection site.
Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. These are not all the possible side effects of Somatuline Depot. For more information ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
