Daily Medication Pearl: Octreotide (Sandostatin)

Medication Pearl of the Day: Octreotide (Sandostatin)

Indications: Sandostatin is a somatostatin analogue indicated to treat severe diarrhea and flushing associated with certain types of metastatic carcinoid tumors. The drug is also used to treat acromegaly.

Insight:

• Dosing: 50 mcg 3 times daily, Sandostatin injection subcutaneously for 2 weeks followed by 20 mg intragluteally every 4 weeks for 3 months.
• Dosage forms: For injectable suspension, strengths 10 mg per 6 mL, 20 mg per 6 mL, or 30 mg per 6 mL vials.
• Adverse events: The most common adverse reactions, occurring in ≥ 20% of patients are diarrhea, cholelithiasis, abdominal pain, flatulence, back pain, fatigue, headache, abdominal pain, nausea, and dizziness.
• Mechanism of action: Octreotide exerts pharmacologic actions similar to the natural hormone, somatostatin. It is an even more potent inhibitor of growth hormone, glucagon, and insulin than somatostatin. Like somatostatin, it also suppresses LH response to GnRH, decreases splanchnic blood flow, and inhibits release of serotonin, gastrin, vasoactive intestinal peptide, secretin, motilin, and pancreatic polypeptide.
• Manufacturer: Novartis

Sources:

sandostatin_lar.pdf (novartis.us)