Octreotide
About Octreotide
Octreotide is a prescription injectable medication used to manage severe watery diarrhoea and sudden flushing associated with certain types of cancerous tumours, such as carcinoid tumours. It is also prescribed to reduce the levels of growth hormone in people with acromegaly, a condition where the body produces too much growth hormone. By mimicking a natural hormone in your body, it helps bring these symptoms under control.
To get the most benefit, you must use Octreotide consistently and exactly as prescribed by your doctor. This medicine is given as an injection, and injecting it between meals or at bedtime can help reduce common stomach-related side effects. Making simple changes, such as eating smaller, more frequent meals and staying well-hydrated, can also support your treatment and ease digestive symptoms.
While using Octreotide, you may experience mild side effects like pain at the injection site, nausea, or stomach gas. However, you should contact your doctor immediately if you notice signs of gallstones, such as sudden and severe pain in your upper right stomach, or if you experience a very slow heart rate (an unusually slow heartbeat).
Before starting this medication, tell your doctor if you have a history of gallbladder disease, kidney problems, liver damage, or diabetes. Do not take this if you have a known allergy to this medicine or any of its inactive ingredients.
This medicine can interact with other drugs like insulin or beta-blockers, which may require your doctor to adjust your doses to prevent abnormal blood sugar or heart rate levels. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or are an older adult, talk to your doctor or pharmacist to ensure this treatment is safe for your specific situation.
Uses of Octreotide
Medicinal Benefits
Octreotide helps reduce troublesome symptoms such as severe diarrhoea, flushing, and other hormone-related problems while supporting better long-term health. Some of the benefits of this medication are:
- Helps control severe, frequent diarrhoea, reducing the risk of dehydration.
- Relieves flushing episodes, making daily activities more comfortable.
- Reduces the anxiety and inconvenience caused by unpredictable bowel movements.
- Keeps growth hormone levels within a healthy range in people with growth hormone disorders.
- Helps reduce symptoms such as joint pain, headaches, and excessive sweating associated with high growth hormone levels.
- Lowers the risk of long-term complications related to uncontrolled hormone production.
Directions for Use
- Octreotide is administered either under the skin (subcutaneously) or through an IV infusion (intravenously), depending on your medical condition.
- It is usually administered three times daily or as prescribed by your doctor.
- Your doctor or nurse will administer your first dose of Octreotide under the skin and may instruct you on self-administration. However, IV infusion will only be done by a healthcare professional.
Storage
Side Effects of Octreotide
Common Side Effects (Usually mild)
- Pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site
- Nausea, stomach gas, bloating, or stomach pain
- diarrhoea or loose, oily stools
- Temporary changes in blood sugar levels (high or low blood sugar)
Serious Side Effects (Call a doctor right away)
- Signs of gallstones, such as sudden, severe pain in your upper right stomach, fever, or yellowing of your skin and eyes
- An unusually slow or irregular heartbeat
- Signs of an underactive thyroid, such as unexplained weight gain, severe fatigue, or feeling unusually cold
- Severe allergic reactions, including hives, swelling of the face or throat, and difficulty breathing
Medicines Containing this Salt
View AllDrug Warnings
- Always inspect the liquid: Check the vial or syringe before use. If you see any cloudiness, discolouration, or floating particles, do not inject it and use a new vial instead.
- Rotate injection sites: Never inject into the exact same spot twice in a row. Rotate between your thighs, abdomen, and upper arms to keep your skin healthy.
- Never reuse needles: Use a sterile needle and syringe for every single injection to prevent serious infections.
- Do not shake the vial: Gently swirl the vial if needed, but shaking can damage the medication and render it less effective.
- Check your pulse: Since this medicine can slow your heart rate, report any feelings of dizziness, lightheadedness, or unusually slow heartbeats to your doctor.
- Allergy warning: Do not use Octreotide if you are allergic to Octreotide or any of the ingredients in this medicine. Tell your doctor if you have ever had a severe allergic reaction after using Octreotide.
Drug Interactions
- Insulin and oral diabetes medicines: Octreotide can alter your blood sugar levels, which may increase the risk of low blood sugar. Your doctor may need to adjust your diabetes medication doses.
- Heart medicines (e.g., Metoprolol, Verapamil): Combining these medicines with Octreotide can cause your heart rate to drop to dangerously low levels.
- Immunosuppressants (e.g., Cyclosporine): Octreotide can lower the amount of cyclosporine in your blood, making it less effective. Your doctor may need to monitor your cyclosporine levels closely.
- Medications that mimic the action of dopamine (e.g., Bromocriptine): Octreotide can increase the absorption of bromocriptine, which may require a dose adjustment of that medication.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionIt is not known that Octreotide may interact with alcohol. Therefore, avoid drinking alcohol while using Octreotide.
Pregnancy
cautionOctreotide should not be taken until prescribed. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and any potential risks before prescribing it to you. Please consult your doctor.
Breast Feeding
cautionIt is not known that Octreotide may pass into breast milk. Hence, inform your doctor before taking Octreotide.
Driving
cautionOctreotide has negligible effects on the ability to drive and use machines. However, you may experience some side effects like tiredness and headache that may reduce your ability to drive.
Liver
cautionOctreotide to be taken with caution, especially if you have a history of Liver diseases/conditions. The dose may have to be adjusted by your doctor.
Kidney
cautionOctreotide to be taken with caution, especially if you have a history of Kidney diseases/conditions. The dose may have to be adjusted by your doctor.
Children
unsafeOctreotide should not be used for children below the age of 18 years as it is not approved for children.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Eat small, frequent meals: Consuming smaller portions throughout the day can ease digestion and reduce the bloating and gas often associated with this medication.
- Stay well-hydrated: If you are managing severe diarrhoea, drink plenty of electrolyte-rich fluids (such as broth or oral rehydration solutions) to prevent dehydration.
- Limit high-fat foods: High-fat meals can worsen the greasy stools and digestive discomfort that some people experience while using Octreotide.
- Monitor your blood sugar: Since this medicine can cause fluctuations in blood sugar, check your glucose levels regularly if you have diabetes, and keep a log for your doctor.
- Get regular health check-ups: Because long-term use can lead to gallstones and affect hormone levels or heart rhythm, attend all scheduled appointments. Your doctor may recommend gallbladder ultrasound, blood sugar monitoring, thyroid function tests, and heart tests, such as an ECG (electrocardiogram), when needed.
Special Advise
Prolonged use of Octreotide may result in gallstone formation, if you know that you have gallstones now or have had them in the past inform your doctor immediately.
Regular monitoring of blood sugar should be done, as Octreotide may cause fluctuation in blood sugar.
Regular monitoring of vit B12 and inform your doctor about the results.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Acromegaly: Acromegaly is an illness caused by enhanced levels of growth hormone. It is a disease that causes the growth of feet and hands due to the unnecessary presence of growth hormones. Acromegaly is generally caused by a non-cancerous tumor. The people who are middle-aged are most commonly affected.
Diarrhea: It is a condition in which bowel movements are too frequent leading to loose, watery stools. Acute diarrhea is a common problem and generally lasts for one or two days whereas chronic diarrhea lasts for four weeks. Diarrhea can be due to various reasons like diarrhea due to infection, tumors, antibiotics, a disease (inflammatory bowel disease), other medicines.
FAQs
Yes. Octreotide can affect blood sugar levels by altering the release of insulin and glucagon, which may cause either high or low blood sugar. If you have diabetes, monitor your blood glucose closely, and your doctor may need to adjust your diabetes medicines during treatment. Regular blood sugar monitoring is recommended.
Store Octreotide in a refrigerator at 2°C to 8°C and do not freeze it. If necessary, it may be kept at room temperature (below 25°C) for up to 14 days, provided it is protected from light. After this period, any unused medicine should be discarded. Follow your doctor's or pharmacist's storage instructions.
Octreotide is injected under the skin (subcutaneously) or sometimes into a muscle (intramuscularly). Your healthcare provider will show you how to properly prepare and inject the medicine yourself. Talk to your doctor if you have questions about the injection technique.
The safety of Octreotide during pregnancy and breastfeeding is not fully established. It should only be used if the potential benefits outweigh the risks. Talk to your doctor to discuss your options.
This medicine slows down the movement of your digestive system and can temporarily reduce your body's ability to absorb dietary fats. This can cause bloating, gas, or nausea, which usually improves over time. Talk to your doctor if these symptoms persist.
Yes, long-term use of Octreotide can slow gallbladder activity, which increases the risk of developing gallstones. Your doctor may recommend regular ultrasound scans of your gallbladder during treatment. Talk to your doctor if you experience sudden upper stomach pain.
No, Octreotide does not cure these conditions. Instead, it helps manage and control the symptoms by regulating excess hormone levels in your body. Talk to your doctor about your long-term treatment goals.
To minimise pain, allow the medication to sit at room temperature for 20 to 30 minutes before injecting. Additionally, avoid injecting into the same spot repeatedly and rotate sites daily. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if the pain is severe or does not go away.
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