Lanreotide, Injection lan-REE-oh-tide

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: growth hormone inhibitor; somatostatin analogue

Generic and brand names: lanreotide, injection; Somatuline Depot

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.

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, or to latex
• diabetes
• gall bladder problems
• heart disease or an irregular heartbeat
• kidney or liver disease
• thyroid disease

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I use it?

Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. 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:

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

These shots are normally given in the buttocks. Your healthcare provider will determine the exact dosage of the medicine.

Carefully read and follow the directions that come in the package of medicine. Remove the shots from the refrigerator 30 minutes before your injection to let the medicine warm to room temperature.

Wash your hands before using this medicine. Follow these steps to give yourself the shots:

1. The shot will be given below the skin in the upper part of the buttock. Each month, switch sides 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° to 90° 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.

When you repeat the procedure, use a new pack. If you are not sure of how to give yourself the shots, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for help.

What if I miss a dose?

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 if I overdose?

Symptoms of an acute overdose have not been reported.

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.

If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are using this medicine.

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, pain or swelling in arms or legs, yellowing of the skin or eyes, increased thirst, increased urination, sweating, shakiness, severe back pain, unexplained bleeding or bruising.

Other: Constipation, diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, bloating, gas, headache, tiredness, weakness, pain or swelling at the spot of the injection, loss of appetite.

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 acebutolol (Sectral), atenolol (Tenormin), carvedilol (Coreg), labetalol (Trandate), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), nadolol (Corgard), pindolol, propranolol (Inderal LA), and sotalol (Betapace)
• bromocriptine (Parlodel)
• calcium channel blockers such as diltiazem (Cardizem, felodipine, isradipine (DynaCirc CR), nicardipine (Cardene), nifedipine (Adalat CC, Procardia), and verapamil (Calan, Covera-HS, Isoptin SR, Verelan, Tiazac)
• cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral, Gengraf)
• diuretics (water pills) such as amiloride, bumetanide, chlorothiazide (Diuril), furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide), spironolactone (Aldactone), torsemide (Demadex), and triamterene (Dyrenium)
• insulin and oral diabetes medicines such as acarbose (Precose), glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase), metformin (Glucophage), pioglitazone (Actos), repaglinide (Prandin), and rosiglitazone (Avandia)
• natural remedies such as alfalfa, aloe, bilberry, bitter melon, 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

If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. 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. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

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.