Growth Hormones, Injection

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: growth hormone

Generic and brand names: growth hormones, injection; somatrem, injection; somatropin, injection; Genotropin; Genotropin Miniquick; Humatrope; Norditropin; Norditropin NordiFlex; Norditropin NordiPen; Nutropin; Nutropin AQ; Nutropin AQ Pen; Omnitrope; Saizen injection; Serostim; Tev-Tropin; Zorbtive

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is given by injection (shots) to:

• increase height in children with a growth hormone deficiency and in children who are not growing because of long-term kidney problems, up to the time of a kidney transplant
• treat a condition called wasting (loss of size and strength) in people with AIDS
• help the bowel take in more water, electrolytes, and nutrients in people with short bowel syndrome
• treat growth hormone deficiency in adults

It may be used for 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
• breathing or lung problems
• cancer or tumors
• carpal tunnel syndrome
• diabetes
• diabetic retinopathy (eye problems caused by diabetes)
• ear infection or hearing disorder
• heart problems or high blood pressure
• kidney or liver problems
• problems with the growth plate in the leg
• scoliosis
• thyroid problems

Tell your health care provider if you are allergic to benzyl alcohol or recently had a severe illness, surgery or injury. This medicine should not be given to a child with Prader-Willi syndrome who is also severely obese or has severe lung problems. If you have Prader-Willi syndrome, this medicine must be used very carefully. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

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 the unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I use it?

Follow your healthcare provider's instructions exactly. These shots are usually given into a muscle or just under the skin. You may be able to give yourself the shots, or have someone at home give them to you. Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Be sure you understand when and how you are to receive your shots.

This medicine comes in the form of powder or in prefilled delivery devices. Make sure that you understand exactly how to give the shots. If your medicine must be mixed with a liquid, make sure you understand exactly how to mix the medicine. If you do not understand how to use the injection devices or disposable syringes, or how to mix the medicine, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist to demonstrate.

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, contact your healthcare provider.

What if I overdose?

If you or anyone else has intentionally taken too much of this medicine, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. If you pass out, have seizures, weakness or confusion, or have trouble breathing, call 911. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. The poison control center number is 800-222-1222.

Symptoms of an acute overdose may include: swelling, headache, nausea, vomiting, hunger, confusion, irritability, drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, tremors, sweating, fast heartbeat, fainting, increased thirst or urination, fruity breath, lightheadedness, seizures, coma.

What should I watch out for?

Your healthcare provider may want to see you regularly to check your progress. Keep all appointments.

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

Follow the diet and exercise program your healthcare provider recommends.

If you have Prader-Willi syndrome, it is very important to maintain a healthy body weight. If you start snoring, have increased snoring, have any changes in breathing during sleep, or develop a cold and coughing, contact your healthcare provider right away.

If you have HIV, your body fat may change as a result of taking this medicine. Your legs and arms may be thin but your chest, belly, back and face may have more fat. Discuss this with your healthcare provider.

Diabetics: This medicine may affect your blood sugar level and change the amount of insulin or other diabetes medicine 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 right away): Blurred vision or other vision changes; hip or knee pain; limping; increased urination; increased thirst or hunger; unexplained headache, nausea, or vomiting; changes in skin moles; swelling of fingers, arms, feet, or legs; numbness or tingling in wrist or hand; back pain; muscle pain or stiffness

Other: Headache; pain at the injection site; ear infection; trouble sleeping; stomach pain.

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:

• antiseizure medicines such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenobarbital, primidone (Mysoline), and phenytoin (Dilantin)
• corticosteroids such as cortisone (Cortone), betamethasone (Celestone), dexamethasone, fludrocortisone (Florinef), hydrocortisone (Cortef, Hydrocortone, A-HydroCort), methylprednisolone (Medrol), prednisone (Meticorten), prednisolone (Delta-Cortef), and triamcinolone (Aristocort, Kenacort)
• cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral)
• diabetes medicines such as insulin, glyburide (DiaBeta, Micronase), glipizide (Glucotrol), repaglinide (Prandin), metformin (Glucophage), rosiglitazone (Avandia), and pioglitazone (Actos)
• estrogen hormones such as estradiol (Estrace, Estratab) and conjugated estrogens (Premarin)

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 Genotropin, Humatrope, Norditropin, Omnitrope, Tev-Tropin, and Nutropin in the refrigerator before and after mixing. Store Saizen, Serostim, and Zorbtive at room temperature before mixing and in the refrigerator after mixing. The information that comes in your medicine package tells you how long you can use the medicine after it has been mixed. Do not let it freeze. Protect it from direct 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.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.