Nutropin Injection: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Nutropin Injection (somatropin) is a man-made form of human growth hormone given as an injection under the skin. It is used to treat growth failure in children and growth hormone deficiency in adults. Treatment is usually long-term and should be used exactly as prescribed by a doctor.

What is Nutropin Injection

Nutropin AQ is a man-made form of human growth hormone. It is made using genetic engineering and has the same structure as the growth hormone your body makes naturally. It is given as an injection under the skin.

Nutropin Injection uses

• Long-term treatment of children with growth failure due to the body not making enough growth hormone
• Treatment of growth failure in children associated with Turner syndrome
• Treatment of growth failure in children with chronic kidney disease, up to the time of kidney transplant
• Treatment of idiopathic short stature (short stature not caused by growth hormone deficiency) in children
• Replacement of growth hormone in adults with growth hormone deficiency that started in childhood or adulthood

Benefits of Nutropin Injection

• Helps children grow taller over time
• Can increase final adult height in children with Turner syndrome or growth hormone deficiency
• Improves body composition in adults by reducing body fat and increasing lean muscle mass
• Can improve bone density in adults whose growth hormone deficiency began in childhood

How Nutropin Injection works

Growth hormone attaches to receptors on cells and triggers a chain of effects in the body. Many of its effects on bone and tissue growth happen through a substance called IGF-1, which is made mostly by the liver. Other effects, like breaking down fat, come directly from the growth hormone itself.

Nutropin Injection dosage

This medicine is given as a daily injection under the skin (subcutaneous). Change (rotate) the injection site each time to avoid skin problems. Recommended injection sites include the upper arm, abdomen, thigh, or buttock. Do not inject into the same spot two times in a row.

Check that the solution is clear and colorless before injecting; do not use it if it looks cloudy or hazy. Let the medicine warm to room temperature and gently swirl before drawing up a dose; do not shake it. Use a new, sterile needle for each injection. Give the injection as soon as possible after drawing up the dose; do not store the filled syringe.

If a dose is missed, do not double the next dose — contact your doctor for instructions. Hemodialysis patients should inject at night before sleep or several hours after dialysis to avoid bruising from heparin. Peritoneal dialysis patients should time their injection around their dialysis exchange, as advised by their doctor. Treatment is usually long-term; do not stop or change the dose without talking to your doctor.

Available forms and strengths

• Solution for injection in a vial
• Prefilled pen cartridge
• Prefilled NuSpin injection device

Side effects of Nutropin Injection

Common

• Pain, redness, or swelling where the medicine was injected
• Headache
• Joint pain (arthralgia)
• Swelling in the hands, feet, or face (fluid retention)
• Muscle pain
• Numbness or tingling in the hands or fingers
• Stomach pain or gas
• Back pain
• Cold or flu-like symptoms

Serious

• Signs of an allergic reaction: hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, difficulty breathing
• Breathing problems or new/increased snoring, especially in Prader-Willi syndrome
• Signs of high pressure in the skull: severe headache, vision changes, nausea, vomiting, ringing in the ears
• Signs of diabetes or high blood sugar: increased thirst, increased urination, dry mouth, fruity breath
• Severe stomach pain spreading to the back, with nausea and vomiting (possible pancreatitis)
• Limping or hip/knee pain in children (possible bone problem)
• Changes in a mole's size, shape, or color
• Signs of an adrenal gland problem: extreme weakness, dizziness, weight loss, skin color changes
• Ear pain, swelling, warmth, or drainage
• Signs of a growing or returning tumor

Warnings and precautions

• This medicine should not be used by people experiencing serious illness from recent heart or abdominal surgery, major trauma, or severe breathing failure, since it has been linked to a higher risk of death in these situations.
• Children with Prader-Willi syndrome who are severely obese, have breathing problems, or have sleep apnea should not use this medicine, as there have been reports of sudden death in such cases.
• This medicine should not be used if you have an active tumor or cancer. It should be stopped if there are signs that a tumor is growing.
• This medicine can affect blood sugar control. People with diabetes should be watched closely and may need their diabetes medicine dose adjusted.
• A small number of people taking this medicine have developed high pressure inside the skull, with symptoms like headache, vision changes, nausea and vomiting, usually within the first two months of treatment.
• This medicine should not be given to children whose bones have already stopped growing (closed growth plates), as it will not make them any taller.
• Children treated with this medicine can develop slipped growth plates in the hip, which may cause a limp or hip/knee pain.
• There isn't enough information to know if this medicine is safe during pregnancy. If pregnancy occurs while on treatment, it should usually be stopped. Talk to your doctor before taking this medicine if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
• It isn't known whether this medicine passes into breast milk, but it is unlikely a baby would absorb much of it from breastfeeding. Talk to your doctor before using this medicine while breastfeeding.
• People with kidney problems may clear this medicine from the body more slowly than others, though this hasn't caused a buildup of the drug with usual doses.
• People with severe liver problems may clear this medicine more slowly, though it isn't clear if this matters clinically.
• This medicine is not known to affect your ability to drive or operate machinery.

Storage

• Store at 2°C to 8°C (36-46°F) in a refrigerator
• Do not freeze
• Keep the container in the outer carton to protect from light
• Once opened, the product may be used for up to 28 days when kept refrigerated
• Do not use after the expiry date on the label or carton
• Keep out of the reach and sight of children
• Do not store the device with the needle attached

When to see a doctor

• Get emergency help right away if you notice signs of a serious allergic reaction, such as hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, or trouble breathing.
• Call your doctor right away if you or your child develops a limp, or complains of hip or knee pain.
• Call your doctor if you notice vision problems, unusual headaches, dizziness, nausea, or ringing in the ears, as these can be signs of increased pressure in the brain.
• Contact your doctor promptly if you have severe stomach pain that spreads to your back, along with nausea and vomiting, as this could be a sign of pancreas inflammation.
• If you have Prader-Willi syndrome, call your doctor promptly if you develop breathing problems, coughing, or new or increased snoring.
• Tell your doctor if you notice a mole changing in shape, size, or color.
• Seek medical advice if you notice signs of high blood sugar, such as increased thirst, increased urination, dry mouth, or fruity-smelling breath.

Alternatives

• Genotropin
• Humatrope
• Norditropin