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Octreotide (Injection, Intramuscular, Subcutaneous)

Generic name: octreotide [ ok-TREE-oh-tide ]
Brand names: Bynfezia Pen, SandoSTATIN, SandoSTATIN LAR Depot
Drug class: Somatostatin and somatostatin analogs

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jan 4, 2024.

Uses for octreotide

Octreotide injection is used to treat severe diarrhea and other symptoms that occur with certain intestinal tumors (eg, vasoactive intestinal peptide tumors or VIPomas) or metastatic carcinoid tumors (tumors that has already spread in the body). It does not cure the tumor but it helps the patient feel more comfortable.

Octreotide injection is also used to treat a condition called acromegaly, which is caused by too much growth hormone in the body. Too much growth hormone produced in adults causes the hands, feet, and parts of the face to become large, thick, and bulky. Other problems, such as arthritis, can also develop. Octreotide works by reducing the amount of growth hormone that is produced by the body.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Before using octreotide

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of the short-acting form of octreotide injection or the long-acting form of octreotide injection in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been demonstrated.

Geriatric

Although appropriate studies on the relationship of age to the effects of octreotide injection have not been performed in the geriatric population, geriatric-specific problems are not expected to limit the usefulness of octreotide injection in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related kidney, liver, or heart problems, which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving octreotide injection.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

Proper use of octreotide

A nurse or other trained health professional may give you this medicine. It is given as a shot under your skin or muscle, or as a needle placed into one of your veins. This medicine may also be given at home to patients who do not need to be in a medical facility. If you are using this medicine at home, your doctor or nurse will teach you how to prepare and inject the medicine. Be sure that you understand how to use the medicine.

If you use this medicine at home, you will be shown the body areas where this shot can be given. Use a different body area each time you give yourself a shot. Keep track of where you give each shot to make sure you rotate body areas. This will help prevent skin problems from the injections.

This medicine usually comes with patient information or directions. Read them carefully and make sure you understand them before using this medicine. If you have any questions, ask your doctor.

You might not use all of the medicine in each ampul or vial (glass container) or prefilled pen. Do not save an opened ampul or vial or prefilled pen. If the medicine in the ampul or vial or prefilled pen has changed color, or if you see particles in it, do not use it.

Some patients may feel pain, stinging, tingling, or burning sensations at the place where they inject the medicine. Injecting the medicine after it has been warmed to room temperature rather than cold from the refrigerator may reduce the discomfort. However, do not use heat to warm it faster because heat can destroy the medicine.

Put used needles and syringes in a puncture-resistant disposable container or dispose of them as directed by your doctor. Do not reuse needles and syringes.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

If you miss a dose of the long-acting form of this medicine, contact your doctor.

Storage

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Store in the refrigerator. Do not freeze.

You may also keep the vials at room temperature, away from heat and direct light, for up to 14 days. Throw away any unused medicine after 14 days.

After first use of the prefilled pen, you can keep it at room temperature, away from heat and direct light, for up to 28 days. Throw away any unused medicine after 28 days.

Throw away used needles in a hard, closed container that the needles cannot poke through. Keep this container away from children and pets.

Detailed Octreotide dosage information

octreotide, bromocriptine, lanreotide, Sandostatin, Somatuline Depot, Sandostatin LAR Depot, Bynfezia Pen

Precautions while using octreotide

It is very important that your doctor check your progress closely while you are receiving this medicine to make sure that this medicine is working properly. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. You must use an effective form of birth control to keep from getting pregnant. Talk to your doctor about effective birth control.

This medicine may increase your risk of having gallstones, which may lead to swelling of the gallbladder (cholecystitis), bile ducts (cholangitis), or pancreas (pancreatitis). Check with your doctor right away if you have severe stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, indigestion, fever, chills, pains in the stomach, side, or abdomen, possibly radiating to the back, fast heartbeat, dark urine, bloating, or yellow eyes or skin.

This medicine may cause your blood sugar levels to rise or fall. This medicine may cover up signs of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), including a change in your pulse rate. If you notice a change in the results of your blood sugar test or urine sugar test, check with your doctor.

This medicine may increase your risk for heart and blood vessel problems, including hypertension and a slow heartbeat. This may cause chest pain or discomfort, headaches, dizziness, or blurred vision. You might need to measure your blood pressure at home. If you think your blood pressure is too high or if your heartbeat is too slow, call your doctor right away.

Check with your doctor right away if you have chest pain or discomfort, lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting, slow or irregular heartbeat, trouble breathing, or unusual tiredness. These may be symptoms of heart rhythm problems.

Make sure any doctor who treats you knows that you are receiving this medicine. This medicine may affect the results of certain medical tests.

This medicine may improve fertility in women and may cause unwanted pregnancies. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns.

You should not receive the long-acting form of octreotide injection for at least 4 weeks before receiving lutetium Lu 177 dotatate injection (Lutathera®).

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Side Effects of octreotide

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

Less common

Rare

Incidence not known

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:

Symptoms of overdose

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

Less common

Rare

Incidence not known

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Octreotide side effects (more detail)

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

Available Dosage Forms:

Therapeutic Class: Endocrine-Metabolic Agent

Pharmacologic Class: Somatostatin (class)

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

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