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Somatuline depot is a natural hormone in the body and is used to treat carcinoid syndrome, neuroendocrine tumors. In the process of using the drug can cause some unwanted side effects, so the patient should follow the doctor's prescription.
1. Mechanism of action of the drug Somatuline depot
Somatuline depot medicine has the active ingredient Lanreotide with the equivalent strengths of 60mg, 90mg, 120mg. The drug is in the form of a solution for injection.
Somatostatin depot is an analogue of somatostatin SSA and has a predominantly somatostatin SSTRs 2 and 5 mediated inhibitory effect along with inhibition of growth hormone release in the brain. Activation of somatostatin SSTRs receptors can induce tumors with downstream cell cycle arrest or apoptosis. It also leads to the production of substances that support tumor growth and angiogenesis. At that time, the drug Somatuline depot has an anti-proliferative effect.
After injecting Somatuline depot into the body, the increased drug concentration can reach the maximum corresponding to the content of the drug, including 4.25ng/ml, 8.39ng/ and 6.79ng/ml. Plasma concentrations peak and decline slowly according to first-order kinetics with half-lives of 23.3, 27.4 and 30.1, respectively.
2. Indications and contraindications to the use of Somatuline depot
Somatuline depot is indicated for use in the treatment of carcinoid syndrome to reduce the frequency of emergency therapy similar to somatostatin or in patients with neuroendocrine tumours. These may be gastric or pancreatic metastases that cannot be resected, are locally advanced, are well differentiated, or may improve survival without progression.
The drug can be used for long-term treatment of adults with enlarged abdomen when surgery or radiation therapy cannot do or work well enough.
In addition, Somatuline depot can be used for other purposes under the direction of the treating doctor.
3. Dosage and how to use Somatuline depot
Dosage of Somatuline depot will be recommended on a case by case basis:
For patients with acromegaly, it is recommended that the starting dose of Somatuline depot 90mg is given by deep subcutaneous injection and the frequency of 4 weeks out of 3 months. After 3 months, the doctor can adjust the dose accordingly. With neuroendocrine tumors of the stomach - pancreas, the recommended dose of Somatuline depot is 120mg and is injected deep subcutaneously after 28 days. With carcinoid syndrome is recommended to use at a dose of 120mg, deep subcutaneous injection and a frequency of 28 days. Somatuline depot belongs to a class of drugs that are long-acting and allow for a gradual release into the body over a 4-week period. Patients will be injected every 1 month at a medical facility. Somatuline depot is usually injected into the buttocks.
Somatuline depot can also interact with drugs such as Cyclosporin, Insulin, beta-blockers used in reducing heart rate... Therefore, patients need to inform their doctor about the drugs they have used in the past to reduce heart rate. have suitable options.
4. Undesirable side effects of the drug Somatuline depot
Somatuline depot may cause some unwanted side effects during treatment. However, the degree of reaction depends on the individual.
The patient may experience pain, itching or a lump at the injection site. Therefore, to overcome this, the medical staff can rotate the injection site between the left and right buttocks after each injection. Moreover, before injecting, it is important to take the medicine out of the refrigerator 30 minutes before use. Patients may experience side effects caused in the abdomen with symptoms such as diarrhea, flatulence, abdominal pain. Even so, abdominal symptoms during treatment are difficult to detect. But these symptoms may stop in about 4 days after use and subside with long-term treatment. Nausea and vomiting may occur with the use of the drug. You can tell your doctor to prescribe medication to help control the condition. Changes in blood sugar levels: For patients with or without diabetes, blood sugar levels can decrease or increase. Therefore, when using Somatuline depot in treatment, it is necessary to monitor blood sugar tests regularly. If the patient experiences symptoms such as trembling, nervousness, anxiety, sweating, chills, itching, faster heart beat, increased thirst, increased urination, etc., it is necessary to notify the doctor immediately. Musculoskeletal pain: The ingredient in Somatuline depot can cause moderate to severe musculoskeletal pain. This condition can occur about 1 day or several months after using Somatuline depot. When experiencing these symptoms, the patient should notify the treating doctor to have a plan to relieve the pain. Gallstones can occur with the use of Somatuline depot. This condition affects the gallbladder and causes unusual signs such as jaundice. In case the patient has symptoms such as sudden abdominal pain, fever, nausea and vomiting, dark urine, pale stools, yellow eyes, etc., they need immediate medical attention. Thyroid-related problems when using Somatuline depot in the treatment. Patients may experience symptoms of hypothyroidism, including fatigue, feeling chills, voice changes, weight gain, hair loss, muscle cramps... Somatuline Depot is effective in the treatment. carcinoid syndrome, neuroendocrine tumor. However, the drug can cause many side effects for users. That's why it's so important to follow your doctor's instructions.
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Reference source: oncolink.org
