How to Take Somatuline® Depot
(lanreotide) Injection
Once you and your healthcare professional decide that Somatuline® Depot (lanreotide) Injection is right for you, your healthcare professional will determine when to begin injections and who will administer the injection.
Injecting Somatuline® Depot (lanreotide) Injection:
A simple, easy process
Step One: Remove the plunger protector and needle cap from the syringe.
Step Two: Inject the full contents of the Somatuline® Depot (lanreotide) Injection syringe subcutaneously (below the skin) in the top, outside quadrant of the buttock. To avoid reactions at the injection site, alternate sides each month.
Once you get started
After you've been taking Somatuline® Depot (lanreotide) Injection for 3 months, your healthcare professional will assess your progress to see if the dosage should be adjusted. Depending on the levels of growth hormone and growth factor in your system and/or changes in your symptoms, your healthcare professional may decrease or increase your dose.
Remember to always report any symptoms of acromegaly or side effects of Somatuline Depot as accurately as possible, so your doctor will know the best dosage for you.
Acromegaly can affect your long-term health without treatment. Fortunately, acromegaly can be treated successfully to protect your health and quality of life. To get the full benefits of therapy, you should receive treatment as soon as possible. Don't forget that it is important to maintain a regular schedule of injections as prescribed.
Indication and Important Safety Information
Somatuline® Depot (lanreotide) Injection is a somatostatin analog indicated for the long-term treatment of patients with acromegaly who have had an inadequate response to or cannot be treated with surgery and/or radiotherapy.
Lanreotide may reduce gallbladder motility and lead to gallstone formation. Periodic monitoring may be needed. Patients treated with Somatuline Depot may experience hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia. Glucose level monitoring is recommended and antidiabetic treatment adjusted accordingly. Lanreotide may lead to a decrease in heart rate. Use with caution in at-risk patients.
Patients with moderate and severe renal impairment or moderate and severe hepatic impairment should begin treatment with Somatuline Depot 60 mg.
There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Because animal reproduction studies are not always predictive of human responses, Somatuline Depot should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies risk to the fetus.
A decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or discontinue the drug taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother.
Somatuline Depot may decrease the bioavailability of cyclosporine. Cyclosporine dose may need to be adjusted to maintain levels.
Patients receiving beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, or other drugs that affect heart rate may need dose adjustments. Somatuline Depot may reduce the intestinal absorption of coadministered drugs. Caution should be used.
The most common adverse reactions (incidence >5%) are diarrhea (37%), cholelithiasis (20%), abdominal pain (19%), nausea (11%), injection-site reaction (9%), flatulence (7%), arthralgia (7%), and loose stools (6%).
For Full Prescribing Information, click here.
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