Somatuline Depot (lanreotide) is a man-made protein that is similar to a hormone in the body called somatostatin. Lanreotide lowers many substances in the body such as insulin and glucagon (involved in regulating blood sugar), growth hormone, and chemicals that affect digestion.
Somatuline Depot is used to treat acromegaly in people who cannot be treated with surgery or radiation.
Somatuline Depot is also used to treat a certain type of tumor that starts in the pancreas or digestive tract and may spread to other parts of the body.
Somatuline Depot is sometimes given when surgery or radiation have been tried without success.
Important information
Follow all directions on your medicine label and package. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all your medical conditions, allergies, and all medicines you use.
Before taking this medicine
You should not use Somatuline Depot if you are allergic to lanreotide.
To make sure Somatuline Depot is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:
It is not known whether Somatuline Depot will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
It is not known whether lanreotide passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while using Somatuline Depot.
How should I use Somatuline Depot?
Somatuline Depot is usually given once every 4 weeks. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results. Do not use Somatuline Depot in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.
Somatuline Depot is injected under the skin. You may be shown how to use injections at home. Do not self-inject this medicine if you do not understand how to give the injection and properly dispose of used needles and syringes.
Your care provider will show you the best places on your body to inject Somatuline Depot. Do not inject into the same place two times in a row.
Each single-use prefilled syringe is for one use only. Throw away after one use, even if there is still some medicine left in it after injecting your dose. Follow any state or local laws about throwing away used needles and syringes. Use a puncture-proof "sharps" disposal container (ask your pharmacist where to get one and how to throw it away). Keep this container out of the reach of children and pets.
Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve, or if they get worse while using Somatuline Depot.
Your blood sugar may need to be checked often, and you may need other blood tests at your doctor"s office.
Store each prefilled syringe in its original sealed pouch in the refrigerator. Protect from light. Take the pouch out of the refrigerator and allow it to reach room temperature 30 minutes before preparing your dose. Keep the pouch sealed until you are ready to use the syringe.
Somatuline Depot dosing information
Usual Adult Dose for Acromegaly:
Initial dose: 90 mg, by deep subcutaneous injection, every 4 weeks for 3 months
Comments:
-The goal of treatment is to reduce growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) levels to normal.
-Adjust dose after initial 3 months.
-No dose adjustment is required for elderly patients.
Use: Long-term treatment of acromegalic patients who have had an inadequate response to surgery and/or radiotherapy, or for whom surgery and/or radiotherapy is not an option.
Usual Adult Dose for Neuroendocrine Carcinoma:
120 mg, by deep subcutaneous (SC) injection, every 4 weeks
Comments: No dose adjustment is required for elderly patients.
Use: Treatment of patients with unresectable, well or moderately-differentiated, locally advanced, or metastatic gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) to improve progression-free survival.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Somatuline Depot is usually given every 4 weeks for 3 months at a time. Contact your doctor for instructions if you miss an appointment for your Somatuline Depot injection.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
What should I avoid while using Somatuline Depot?
Somatuline Depot can make it harder for your body to absorb other medicines you take by mouth. Ask your doctor about the best schedule for taking all of your needed medicines.
Somatuline Depot side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to Somatuline Depot: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
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slow heart rate;
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dangerously high blood pressure--severe headache, blurred vision, pounding in your neck or ears, nosebleed, anxiety;
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low blood sugar--headache, hunger, weakness, sweating, confusion, irritability, dizziness, fast heart rate, or feeling jittery;
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high blood sugar--increased thirst, increased urination, hunger, dry mouth, fruity breath odor, drowsiness, dry skin, blurred vision, weight loss; or
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signs of a gallbladder problem--sudden severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back or shoulder (may occur after meals or at night), pain when breathing, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, fever, chills, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
Common Somatuline Depot side effects may include:
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nausea, vomiting, stomach pain;
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diarrhea, gas; or
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pain, itching, or a hard lump where the medicine was injected.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
See also: Side effects (in more detail)
What other drugs will affect Somatuline Depot?
Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using, especially:
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bromocriptine (Cycloset, Parlodel);
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cyclosporine; or
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beta-blocker heart or blood pressure medcine (such as atenolol, carvedilol, metoprolol, propranolol, sotalol, and others).
This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with lanreotide, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.
