What is Somatropin?

Human physical growth from birth to maturity is one of the vital stages that has a major impact on the quality and general health of humans. Developmental disorders can play a role as one of the main problems in human ability to perform daily tasks and realize optimal life. Therefore, proper growth is very important, especially during childhood and adolescence. One of the drugs that has been noticed as a new solution in increasing body growth is somatropin. This drug is a new breakthrough in the treatment of growth disorders and acts as a synthetic growth hormone.

Pharmaceutical forms of somatropin

Pharmacies produce their products in pharmaceutical forms such as tablets, serum, capsules, injectable solutions or ampoules, etc. The doctor prescribes these medicinal forms based on the patient’s age, type of disease and medical records. Different brand names of somatropin include Genotropin Miniquick, Humatrope, Nutropin, Omnitrope, Saizen, Serostim, Zomacton, Zorbtive, Norditropin FlexPro, Nutropin AQ NuSpin 20, Nutropin AQ NuSpin 10, Nutropin AQ NuSpin 5, Omnitrope, etc.

Somatropin uses

Different brands of this drug are used to treat a medical condition such as growth failure, growth hormone deficiency, bowel disorder (short bowel syndrome), or normal weight loss and HIV-related weight loss. Somatropin is also used to increase height in children. Some disorders of this product are Noonan syndrome, Turner syndrome, idiopathic short stature. The most important uses of somatropin include growth hormone deficiency, short bowel syndrome, HIV-related wasting or cachexia, HIV adipose tissue redistribution syndrome (off-label) and…

Uses of somatropin ampoule in adults

1. Growth hormone deficiency
2. Short bowel syndrome
3. HIV-related wasting or cachexia
4. HIV adipose tissue redistribution syndrome (off label)

Uses of somatropin ampoule in children

1. Growth hormone deficiency
2. Chronic renal failure
3. Short stature associated with Noonan syndrome
4. A gene containing a short homeobox
5. Idiopathic short stature
6. Short stature associated with Turner syndrome
7. Growth failure with Prader-Willi syndrome
8. Small for gestational age

Pharmacological effects and mechanism of action of somatropin drug

Purified polypeptide from recombinant human growth hormone. Human growth hormone plays a role in the growth of linear bone, skeletal muscles and organs by stimulating the proliferation and differentiation of chondrocytes and stimulates erythropoietin. Metabolism is slightly different in different forms and commercial companies, but in general, it takes place through the liver and kidney.

Dosage of somatropin

Most brands of this drug are administered by injection into the muscle or under the skin. Some brands may only be injected under the skin, the way this medicine is injected depends on the brand you use. Consult your pharmacist or doctor to ensure the time and dosage. Also, change the injection site at the time of each dose to avoid skin complications and pain. Do the treatment according to your doctor’s prescription to get the best somatropin results.

Dosage of somatropin for growth hormone deficiency

1. The dosage of somatropin is very different in different brands. The best prescription for general use is stated by the doctor or the manufacturer on the package.
2. Norditropin: started with 0.04 mg per day and the dose may be increased up to 0.016 mg per day by the doctor according to the patient’s needs.
3. Nutropin or Nutropin AQ: Do not take more than 0.006 mg/kg daily for 6 weeks initially. Then it can be increased up to 0.025 mg/kg per day until the approval of the doctor.
4. Humatrope: should not exceed 0.006 mg/kg daily initially. Then, depending on the response, the dose may be increased to a maximum of 0.0125 mg/kg/day.
5. Genotropin or Omnitrope: the daily intake should not be more than 04 mg/kg per week. Initially divided into equal doses over 7 days, the doctor may also increase the dose at intervals of 4-8 weeks up to 0.08 mg/kg per week.
6. Saizen: should not exceed 0.005 mg/kg initially for 4 weeks. Then it can be increased to 0.01 mg/kg per day.
7. Zomactone: start using this brand at 0.06 mg/kg per day and do not exceed 0.0125 mg/kg per day.

Time to take somatropin

Dosage is based on age, weight, medical condition and response to treatment. If you are taking this medication at home, ask your healthcare professional for all instructions for preparation and use. Do not shake yourself while mixing the solution, shaking will cause the medicine not to work properly. Visually inspect this product for particulate matter or discoloration prior to use. If somatropin is used for short bowel syndrome, you may need to follow a special diet. Consult your doctor about this disease and your diet.

Dosage of somatropin ampoule in children

1. For growth hormone deficiency Genotropin brand name 0.16-0.24 mg/kg/week, Homatrop brand name 0.18-0.3 mg/kg/week, Norditropin 0.17-0.24 mg/kg/week, Saizen 0.18 mg/kg/week it is suggested.
2. To treat chronic kidney failure, take Neutropin 0.35 mg/kg and be careful that the total amount of medicine does not exceed this amount.
3. Short stature associated with Noonan syndrome, norditropin up to 0.46 mg/kg per week divided into equal doses 6-7 days per week.
4. Short stature associated with Turner syndrome, for genotropin 0.33 mg/kg for 6-7 days per week, homatrope 0.375 mg/kg for 6-7 days per week, norditropin up to 0.47 mg/kg per week, and Omnitrope 33 mg/kg divided into 6-7 daily injections per week.
5. Shortness associated with Turner syndrome, genotropin 0.33 mg/kg 6-7 days/week, homatrope 0.375 mg/kg/week, norditropin up to 0.47 mg/kg/week in equal doses 6-7 days/week, and Omnitrope 33 mg/kg per week is prescribed.
6. Growth failure with Prader-Willi syndrome, for Genotropin brand name 0.24 mg/kg/week SC divided into equal doses for 6-7 daily injections. Brand name Omnitrope 24 mg/kg/week and norditropin up to 0.24 mg/kg/week SC divided into equal doses 6-7 days/week (not to exceed 0.034 mg/kg/day).

Precautions

Before using somatropin, check the drug information on the product packaging. This product may contain inactive ingredients (such as benzyl alcohol or metacresol in some brands) that can cause allergic reactions or other problems. If you have a medical history such as adrenal gland problems, eye problems (such as diabetic retinopathy), recent major surgery or injury, breathing problems, diabetes, obesity, kidney disease, cancer or tumors (especially head and neck), thyroid problems, Back (scoliosis) and… consult your doctor regarding risks and complications.

1. Increased mortality has been reported among acutely ill patients due to complications from open heart surgery, abdominal surgery, or multiple accidental trauma or patients with acute respiratory failure. The benefits of continued treatment should be weighed against the potential risks (see Contraindications).
2. blood sugar in patients with other risk factors (such as obesity, Turner syndrome, family history of diabetes [DM]) monitor for glucose intolerance during therapy and adjust antidiabetic therapy if needed. Also, monitor glucose levels periodically in newly reported type 2 diabetes. The dose of concomitant antihyperglycemic drugs in diabetic patients may need to be adjusted.
3. Intracranial hypertension (IH) has been reported with papilledema, visual changes, headache, nausea or vomiting. Symptoms usually occur within the first 8 weeks after starting treatment. In all reported cases, signs and symptoms associated with IH resolved rapidly after discontinuation or reduction of the somatropin dose.
4. Severe systemic hypersensitivity reactions (eg, anaphylactic reactions, angioedema) have been reported with the use of somatropin products. Inform patients and caregivers that such reactions are possible and that if an allergic reaction occurs, a doctor should be consulted immediately.
5. Somatropin increases the rate of growth and progression of existing scoliosis can occur in patients who experience rapid growth. Monitor patients with a history of scoliosis for scoliosis progression.
6. Epiphysis of the femoral head may occur more often in patients with endocrine disorders (including GH deficiency and Turner syndrome) or in patients undergoing rapid growth.
7. Serious and fatal side effects, including asphyxiation syndrome, can occur in infants treated with benzyl alcohol.
8. Serum levels of mineral phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, parathyroid hormone and IGF-1 may increase after treatment.

Somatropin contraindications

1. Hypersensitivity to methacresol or glycerin (diluent)
2. Allergy to benzyl alcohol
3. Acute illness after open heart surgery, abdominal surgery or multiple accidental trauma and patients with acute respiratory failure due to the risk of increased mortality with the use of medicinal doses of somatropin
4. Active malignancy
5. Pediatric patients with closed epiphysis
6. Active or severe nonproliferative proliferative diabetic retinopathy
7. Active malignancy, acute complications of open heart or abdominal surgery, multiple trauma, acute respiratory failure
8. Pediatric patients with Prader-Willi syndrome who are severely obese, history of upper airway obstruction

Side effects of somatropin

Headache, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, muscle pain or weakness are some of the side effects of somatropin. Most people who use this drug do not experience serious side effects. Some of the serious side effects of this drug include nausea or vomiting that does not stop, limping, unusual fatigue, unusual weight gain, cold intolerance, fast or slow heartbeat, ear pain and itching, hearing problems, joint, hip, and knee pain. Numbness and tingling, unusual increase in thirst or urination, swelling of the hands and wrists, change in the appearance or size of any mole, severe stomach or abdominal pain, etc.

Somatropin drug interactions

Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk of serious side effects. Before going to the doctor, make a list of the chemical and herbal medicines you use and show them to him. Masimorelin, antidiabetic drugs, cortisone, masimorelin, prednisone, thyroid products, corticosteroids (systemic), cortisone, estrogen derivatives, etc. will cause drug interactions with somatropin. Somatropin is very similar to lonapegsotropin, do not use it while using lonapegsotropin containing drugs.

Somatropin use during pregnancy and breastfeeding

The limited data available on the use of somatropin in pregnant women are insufficient to determine the risk of drug-related adverse developmental outcomes. In animal reproduction studies, there was no evidence of fetal or neonatal harm in pregnant rats. The diluent contains benzyl alcohol, which is associated with gasping syndrome in infants. The preservative benzyl alcohol can cause serious side effects and death when administered intravenously to infants. If treatment is required during pregnancy, reconstitute with normal saline. Also, use only one dose per vial and discard the reconstituted product after use, or use a formulation without benzyl alcohol.

The effect of somatropin ampoule on breastfeeding

There is no information about the presence of somatropin in human milk. The limited published articles do not report any adverse effects on infants with the administration of this product. No reduction in milk production or change in milk content has been reported during treatment with somatropin.

Somatropin storage conditions

Consult product instructions and your pharmacist for storage details. Keep all chemical and herbal medicines out of the reach of children and animals. Dispose of this product properly when it has expired or is no longer needed. Avoid pouring all kinds of medicines into the toilet well, street and sewer.

A final word about somatropin

As we said in this article from Positive Green Online Pharmacy magazine, the mechanism of action of somatropin improves the production and activity of the body’s natural growth hormone and has positive effects on the structure of bones and muscles. This medicine can not only help improve the height and increase the physical growth of children and teenagers, but it is also used in some other diseases and disorders. In the end, if you have any questions about this medicine, leave us a comment.

Site source: Medscape