Preparation and Administration
On this page:
- In-Office Support
- Preparation of Sandostatin LAR® Depot
- Critical Information for First-Time Preparation
- Sandostatin LAR® Depot Q & A
In-Office Support
To help health care professionals become more familiar with the exact preparation of the Sandostatin LAR® Depot (octreotide acetate for injectable suspension), Novartis has prepared an in-office program available through your local Sandostatin® Sales Specialist.
You and/or your staff can receive:
- One-on-one mixing instructions, at your own office, at a time that is convenient for you
- A videotaped demonstration for step-by-step preparation and administration procedures
- A fully detailed mixing and administration manual for easy reference
Preparation of Sandostatin LAR® Depot
Successful preparation and administration of Sandostatin LAR® Depot (octreotide acetate for injectable suspension) relies on proper suspension technique. Follow each of the steps outlined in this instruction manual to ensure complete saturation of the powder and its uniform suspension prior to deep intragluteal injection. Due to the unique aspects of mixing Sandostatin LAR® Depot, you may want to call the Sandostatin® Therapy Support Hotline (1-877-527-4357) to schedule an in-office demonstration before you or your staff administer the Sandostatin LAR® Depot for the first time.
It is also important to note that Sandostatin LAR® Depot and the diluent should be allowed to reach room temperature and then be mixed immediately prior to injection. Ensure that the powder is completely suspended at the time of injection.
Critical Information for First-Time Preparation
Although you and your staff may be familiar with the preparation of drug suspensions and the administration of depot injections, you will want to READ ALL THE INSTRUCTIONS for the preparation of Sandostatin LAR® Depot.
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Before administering, please see the instruction booklet included in the product kit for complete mixing/administration instructions.
*The Sandostatin LAR® Depot product kit is supplied with two 1 1/2", 19-gauge needles
Sandostatin LAR® Depot Q & A
To save you time, we've answered questions that may come up with initial use of Sandostatin LAR® Depot. Of course, if your question is not answered here, simply call the Sandostatin® Therapy Support Hotline at 1-877-LAR-HELP (877-527-4357). For additional information about Sandostatin LAR® Depot, please refer to the full prescribing information.
- Q: What is the difference between immediate release Sandostatin® (octreotide acetate) Injection and Sandostatin LAR® Depot (octreotide acetate for injectable suspension)?
- A: Sandostatin LAR® Depot is a long-acting depot dosage form, consisting of microspheres of a biodegradable polymer containing octreotide acetate which allows injection once every 28 days. It exhibits all of the clinical and pharmacologic characteristics of the immediate dosage form of Sandostatin Injection with the added feature of slow release. This reduces the need for frequent administration.
- Q: What is the recommended dosage interval?
- A: To maintain optimal control, Sandostatin LAR® Depot must be administered once every 28 days.
- Q: How do you administer Sandostatin LAR® Depot?
- A: Sandostatin LAR® Depot must be administered by a health care professional at 28-day intervals. It is administered via deep intragluteal injection. It is absolutely critical that the product is not injected subcutaneously, or intravenously, or in any muscle other than the gluteus.
- Q: What if the powder does not seem to be saturated completely in 5 minutes?
- A: The powder must be saturated with the diluent before you begin to swirl the vial. Continue to check the vial every 30 seconds until the powder is evenly wet.
- Q: What if the suspension "clumps" or flocculates while in the vial?
- A: Shaking or inverting the vial during the preparation process may cause the product to become solid and incapable of being drawn up into the syringe. If the product "clumps" or flocculates, it is not usable. You will need to start the preparation process again with a new vial of Sandostatin LAR® Depot. Contact 1-877-LAR-HELP, and ask for assistance. Never shake or invert the vial while preparing Sandostatin LAR® Depot.
- Q: It looks as though there is still some product left in the vial after I draw out the suspension. Why?
- A: This is normal. It is not necessary to draw ALL the suspended drug into the syringe. The vial has been slightly "overfilled" with powder to allow for ease of mixing, and it is expected that some of the product will coat the side and remain in the bottom of the vial. To draw up the maximum amount of drug, tilt the vial at a 45-degree angle and, with the bevel of the needle down, slowly draw the contents of the vial into the syringe. Do not invert the vial when filling the syringe. Draw the suspension from the bottom of the vial.
- Q: What can be done if the product seems to come out of suspension after it has been drawn into the syringe?
- A: You should moderately rock the syringe back and forth to maintain suspension. Do not invert the syringe. Remember that Sandostatin LAR® Depot must be administered immediately after the product has been prepared for injection.
- Q: What should I do if the needle clogs while injecting Sandostatin LAR® Depot?
- A: Replace the needle with another 1 1/2", 19-gauge needle. This size is necessary to handle the microsphere formulation.
- Q: What should I do if I have any other question during the preparation and/or administration of Sandostatin LAR® Depot?
- A: For personal instruction and information regarding the preparation and/or administration of Sandostatin LAR® Depot, call the Sandostatin® Therapy Support Hotline at 1-877-LAR-HELP.
- Q: What should I do if a vial of Sandostatin LAR® Depot becomes unusable?
- A: Immediately call 1-877-LAR-HELP for information about the Novartis returned goods program.
- Q: Is patient educational information available?
- A: Yes, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation has a wide variety of information available to patients taking Sandostatin LAR® Depot. For example, there is a patient information booklet on acromegaly and one on carcinoid syndrome. There is also a program called InsideInfo that mails educational materials and injection-appointment reminders to patients. To sign up for this program, your patients should call 1-877-LAR-HELP. For more information on InsideInfo, please ask your Novartis Sales Specialist.
- Q: How should patients and/or health care professionals address reimbursement issues?
- A: For help with insurance questions, Patients should call the Sandostatin® Therapy Support Hotline at: 1-877-LAR-HELP. This telephone number is also provided in the following patient booklets: "Living With Acromegaly," "Living With Carcinoid Syndrome," and "A Patient's Guide to Treatment With Sandostatin LAR® Depot (octreotide acetate for injectable suspension)."
Health care professionals should call the Sandostatin® Therapy Support Hotline at 1-877-LAR-HELP. This Hotline will help answer questions from professionals concerning coding, verify insurance coverage, investigate prior authorization requirements, and help file denied claims appeals.
