Octreotide is a drug used to treat acromegaly, diarrhea, and complaints of sudden reddening of the face and neck due to several types of tumors, such as carcinoid tumors and vasoactive intestinal peptide tumor (VIP tumor). Octreotide is available as an injection.
Octreotide works by inhibiting the release of growth hormone, glucagon, and insulin, and reducing blood flow to the digestive tract. This drug will also inhibit the release of digestive hormones, such as serotonin, gastrin, intestinal vasoactive peptide, secretin, motilin, and pancreatic polypeptide.
In addition, octreotide is also used to prevent the release of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), treat varicose veins, and reduce gallbladder contractions and bile secretion.
Octreotide trademark: Sandostatin Lar, Sandostatin, and Octide.
What's that Octreotide?
| group | Octapeptide |
| Category | Prescription drugs |
| Benefit | Reduce the amount of growth hormone in patients with acromegaly, control diarrhea, and reddening of the face and neck due to carcinoid tumors and VIP tumors. |
| Used by | Mature. |
| Octreotide for pregnant and lactating women | Category B: Studies in animal experiments have not shown any risk to the fetus, but there have been no controlled studies in pregnant women. It is not known whether this drug is absorbed in breast milk or not. If you are breastfeeding, do not take octreotide without consulting your doctor first. |
| Drug form | Injection. |
Precautions Before Using Octreotide
- Tell your doctor if you have an allergy to octreotide.
- Tell your doctor if you have high blood pressure, heart, kidney or liver disease, digestive tract disorders, and diabetes.
- This medicine causes dizziness. So don't operate machinery, drive a car, or do any activity that requires alertness.
- Use birth control to prevent pregnancy while on treatment with octreotide.
- Long-term treatment with octreotide can lower vitamin B12 levels in the body.
- Tell your doctor if you are taking diuretics, calcium antagonists, beta blockers, and oral hypoglycemic drugs before taking octreotide.
- In case of an allergic reaction to the drug or an overdose, see a doctor immediately.
Dosage and Instructions for Use of Octreotide
Medicines should only be given by a doctor or medical personnel under the supervision of a doctor. The dose is adjusted according to the patient's condition and response to the drug. The following is a breakdown of octreotide dosages for adult patients based on their treatment goals:
Treating acromegaly
- Octreotide subcutaneous / SC (injection under the skin)The initial dose is 50 mcg, 3 times a day. The dose is then increased to 100-200 mcg, 3 times daily. The maximum dose is 500 mcg, 3 times a day.
- Octreotideintramuscular/IM (injection through the muscle)Continue subcutaneous octreotide treatment. The starting dose of IM octreitide is 20 mg, every 4 weeks. The dose will be adjusted after 3 months to 10-30 mg, every 4 weeks. The maximum dose is 40 mg, every 4 weeks.
Prevent complications after pancreatic surgery
The dose of octreotide injected subcutaneously is 100 mcg, 3 times a day, for 7 consecutive days. The injection is given at least 1 hour before surgery.
Treating carcinoid tumors or VIP tumor
The initial dose of octreotide injected subcutaneously is 50 mcg, 1-2 times a day. The dose is increased periodically to 600 mcg per day in 2-4 divided doses, depending on the patient's response. Further treatment is not recommended if the patient's condition does not improve within a week of therapy to treat the tumor.
How to Use Octreotide Correctly
The doctor or nurse will inject a quick-release octreotide under the skin (subcutaneously) or into a vein (intravenous). Long-acting octreotide will be injected into the muscle or buttocks.
Fast-release octreotide is injected 2-4 times a day, while slow-release octreotide is injected every 4 weeks.
Quick-release octreotide injections sometimes need to be self-injected at home. The doctor or nurse will tell you how to inject it. Follow the directions your doctor has taught you and don't use octreotide if the liquid inside looks cloudy.
If you store octreotide at home, store it in the refrigerator with the box or store it at room temperature for up to 14 days.
Octreotide injections can treat your symptoms, but they don't treat the underlying condition. Do not stop treatment even if your condition improves, because symptoms may return.
Interaction Octreotidewith other drugs
If used together with other drugs, octreotide can cause drug interactions, namely:
- Increases the effectiveness of bromocriptine.
- Decreases the level and effectiveness of ciclosporin.
- Lowering the insulin dose.
Octreotide Side Effects and Dangers
Octreotide can cause different side effects in each person. Some of the side effects that can occur are:
- Diarrhea or constipation.
- Nausea and stomach ache.
- Heartburn (heartburn).
- Dizziness or headache.
- The body feels tired.
- Pain in the back, muscles, or joints.
- Nosebleed.
- Hair loss.
- Pain at the injection site.
Octreotide can also make blood sugar unstable. Symptoms that can appear when blood sugar levels are too low (hypoglycemia) are shaking and restlessness, while symptoms that appear when blood sugar levels are too high (hyperglycemia) are frequent thirst or urination constantly. If you experience these complaints, immediately consult a doctor.
You should also contact your doctor immediately if you experience an allergic drug reaction or serious side effects, such as:
- The eyes or skin turn yellow.
- Slow or irregular heartbeat.
- Sensitive to cold.
- Dry or pale skin.
- Nails or hair break easily.
- Swollen face.
- Depression.
- Throat feels suffocated.
