Octreotide Acetate, Injection

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: growth hormone inhibitor; antidiarrheal

Generic and brand names: octreotide acetate, injection; Sandostatin

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is given by injection (shots) to treat acromegaly. This condition occurs when the body produces too much growth hormone, causing the head, face, hands, or feet to grow too large.

This medicine may also be given to treat certain tumors that cause severe, watery diarrhea. It may be used to treat other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• diabetes
• gall bladder problems
• heart problems such as heart failure
• kidney or liver disease
• thyroid disease.

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I use it?

Carefully read and follow the directions that come in the package of medicine for preparing the shots. Wash your hands before using this medicine. Ask your healthcare provider about anything you do not understand. Follow these steps to give yourself the shots:

Sandostatin injections are given several times daily:

The shots are given just under the skin (subcutaneous). Your healthcare provider will determine the exact dosage. If your healthcare provider is giving you the shots, keep all your appointments.

Sometimes you can give yourself these shots or have someone at home give them to you. Be sure you know how and when to have shots and how much medicine to use. Use sterile, disposable syringes and needles. Use each syringe and needle only once and dispose of them safely, following your healthcare provider's instructions.

Warm the medicine before you use it. You may do this by letting it stand at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes, or by holding it in your hand for 1 to 2 minutes. Do not heat or shake the medicine.

Carefully read and follow the directions that come in the package of medicine for preparing the shots. Wash your hands before using this medicine. Follow these steps to give yourself the shots:

1. Your healthcare provider will tell you where you can give yourself the shots (abdomen, thigh, upper arm, or other sites). If you are giving the shot in your abdomen, choose a site around the belly button but not in the belly button. Each day, choose a different spot for the shot to lessen irritation.
2. Use an alcohol swab to clean the skin where you will give yourself the shot.
3. Gently pinch up the skin and insert the needle into the skin at a 45° angle. After you insert the needle completely, release your grasp of the skin.
4. Inject all of the solution by gently and steadily pushing down the plunger.
5. After you have given yourself the shot, withdraw the needle and syringe and press an alcohol swab on the spot where the shot was given.
6. Discard the syringe, needle, and drug vial. Use the syringes and needles ONLY ONCE. Throw them away after use. Put used needles in rigid puncture-resistant containers with lids or caps, such as heavy plastic bleach bottles with screw caps. DO NOT throw needles directly into garbage cans or dumpsters.

If you are using an ampul and there is enough medicine in the ampul for another dose to be used later in the day, you may fill a new syringe and keep it in the refrigerator. Discard any unused medicine after 24 hours. If you are not sure of how to give yourself the shots, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for help.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.

What should I watch out for?

You may need regular lab tests to show how you are responding to the medicine and to check for side effects such as a decrease in thyroid function. Keep all appointments for these tests.

This medicine may affect the way your body absorbs dietary fat and vitamin B12. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

Diabetics: This medicine may affect your blood sugar level and change the amount of insulin or other diabetes medicines you may need. Talk to your healthcare provider about this.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider): Severe diarrhea that continues, chest pain, irregular or slow heart beat, high blood pressure, swelling in arms or legs, blurred vision or eye pain, high or low blood sugar.

Other: Constipation, stomach discomfort, nausea, bloating, headache, dizziness, tiredness, weakness, pain at the spot of the injection.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• antiarrhythmics (medicines to treat irregular heartbeat) such as amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone) and quinidine
• beta blockers such as atenolol (Tenormin), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol), carvedilol (Coreg), and bisoprolol (Zebeta)
• bromocriptine (Parlodel)
• calcium channel blockers such as verapamil (Calan), diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac), nifedipine (Procardia), and felodipine (Plendil)
• cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral, Gengraf)
• diuretics such as furosemide (Lasix), bumetanide (Bumex), hydrochlorothiazide, and spironolactone (Aldactone)
• insulin and oral diabetes medicines such as metformin (Glucophage), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase, Micronase), rosiglitazone (Avandia), pioglitazone (Actos), repaglinide (Prandin), acarbose (Precose), and glipizide (Glucotrol)
• natural remedies such as alfalfa, aloe, bilberry, burdock, celery, fenugreek, garcinia, garlic, ginger, ginseng, gymnema, and stinging nettle
• potassium, magnesium, or phosphate supplements such as K-Dur, Kaochlor, Kaon, Kaon-Cl, Kay Ciel, Klor-Con, Klorvess, K-Lyte, K-Lor, Micro-K, Slow-K, Mag-Ox, Slow-Mag, Neutra-Phos, and Neuta-Phos-K.

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine in the refrigerator. If protected from light, the medicine may be kept at room temperature for 14 days. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light. After you open the multi-dose vials, they may be kept at room temperature for 14 days. Open the single-use ampuls just before you use them. Discard the unused medicine after 24 hours.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicines in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.