Because Sandostatin® LAR Depot (octreotide acetate for injectable suspension) is administered as a once-a-month intragluteal injection, it must be given by a healthcare professional. There are several ways to ensure that the product is available when it needs to be administered.
- If the patient's insurance allows, you can provide your patient with a prescription and instruct the patient to bring the medication with him or her on a return visit to you
- The Sandostatin® Easy Access program allows Sandostatin® LAR Depot and immediate release Sandostatin® Injection to be purchased directly through a third-party specialty distributor of Sandostatin® LAR Depot. Just follow the 3-step process below
- The Sandostatin® LAR Depot Nurse Home Injection Program is available for all eligible patients with acromegaly who wish to have the convenience of home care with the quality of a clinical experience. With the Nurse Home Injection Program, patients can receive Sandostatin® LAR Depot in their own homes, administered by a registered nurse
Find out more about the Nurse Home Injection Program for Patients with Acromegaly at www.AcromegalyTreatmentAtHome.com
The Easy Access Program
To take advantage of the Easy Access Program, simply follow these 3 steps:
1. Collect
Download and fill out a Service Request Form (PDF 100KB), or collect the following information:
- Patient name, address, and phone number
- Patient insurance information (if available)
- Requested delivery date
2. Submit
Fax the form or patient information to 1-877-884-2472. A Sandostatin® Patient Care Consultant will contact you after verifying insurance benefits and determining available distribution options.
3. Select
Your ordering options may be determined by the specifics of your patient's insurance plan:
- Retail: A third-party distributor will bill the insurance company, contact the patient, collect required co-payments, and ship the patient's Sandostatin® LAR Depot to a designated location
- Wholesale: Select this option if the insurer requires that you bill the product in conjunction with the office visit or if you choose to bill the insurance carrier directly for the Sandostatin® LAR Depot and the administration services
Important Safety Information
Carcinoid Syndrome:
Sandostatin® LAR Depot (octreotide acetate for injectable suspension) is indicated for long-term treatment of the severe diarrhea and flushing episodes associated with metastatic carcinoid tumors and for the long-term treatment of the profuse watery diarrhea associated with VIP-secreting tumors in patients in whom initial treatment with immediate release Sandostatin® (octreotide acetate) Injection has been shown to be effective and tolerated.
Important Safety Information:
As with immediate release Sandostatin® Injection, the most frequently reported drug-related adverse events were biliary disorders (62%), gastrointestinal disorders (14% to 38%), and injection-site pain (20% to 50%). Hypoglycemia (4%), hyperglycemia (27%), sinus bradycardia (19%), conduction abnormalities (9%), and arrhythmias (3%) have been reported.
The controlled clinical trials that support the marketing clearance for Sandostatin® LAR Depot did not include determination of effect on tumor size or rate of growth. Sandostatin® LAR Depot is not indicated for tumor shrinkage.
Acromegaly
Sandostatin® LAR Depot (octreotide acetate for injectable suspension) is indicated for long-term maintenance therapy in acromegalic patients who have had an inadequate response to surgery and/or radiotherapy, or for whom surgery and/or radiotherapy is not an option. The goal of treatment in acromegaly is to reduce GH and IGF-1 levels to normal.
Important Safety Information:
As with immediate release Sandostatin® Injection, the most frequently reported drug-related adverse events were biliary disorders (52%), gastrointestinal disorders (7% to 36%), and injection-site pain (2% to 11%). Hypoglycemia (2%), hyperglycemia (15%), and hypothyroidism (2%) have been reported. While not measured in acromegalic patients receiving Sandostatin® LAR Depot, ECG changes have been reported in patients receiving immediate release Sandostatin® Injection; the degree to which these abnormalities are related to octreotide acetate is not clear, as many acromegalics have cardiovascular disease. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
