Causes of Acromegaly
Acromegaly is usually caused by a benign (noncancerous) tumor in the pituitary gland.3
Once GH is released by the pituitary gland, it circulates in the bloodstream, traveling throughout the body. GH can affect growth and development, and also triggers the production of a hormone called insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1).1 IGF-1 and GH work together to control the growth of skin, cartilage, bone, organs, and nearly every other type of tissue in the body.4
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.
