Fast Answers
Navigating insurance and reimbursement questions can be like finding your way through a maze. Let us help you cut through the confusion, so you can focus on caring for your patients.
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Sandostatin® Support Hotline
For fast answers, call the Sandostatin® Support Hotline:
1-877-LAR-HELP
(1-877-527-4357)
Monday through Friday,
8 AM to 7 PM EST
The Hotline provides a broad range of coverage and reimbursement information.
Benefit investigation
Determination of in-network specialty pharmacy requirement
Referral to the Patient Assistance Program (PAP)
Billing code information
Policy coverage research
Our pledge is to provide a comprehensive selection of professional programs designed to make your experience with once-a-month Sandostatin® LAR Depot as easy for you as it is for your patients.
Reimbursement Q & A
Q: When can I call 1-877-LAR-HELP?
A: Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 7 PM EST
Q: What can I call 1-877-LAR-HELP for?
A: Any information you need on acquisition, reimbursement, coding, and drug administration. You can also call 1-877-LAR-HELP for any other reason.
Q: Do private medical insurance plans and Medicare cover Sandostatin® LAR Depot?
A: Yes, most do. To find out for sure, call 1-877-LAR-HELP, or for further explanation click here.
Q: Do private medical insurance plans cover immediate-release Sandostatin® Injection?
A: Yes, most do. To find out for sure, call 1-877-LAR-HELP, or for further explanation click here.
Q: What can I do if my patients are not covered for immediate-release Sandostatin® Injection?
A: Qualifying patients can be enrolled in the Sandostatin® Starter Program that provides qualifying patients with access to daily immediate-release Sandostatin® Injection.
Q: What can I do if a claim is denied?
A: There are several things you can do. For starters, you can review the patient's EOB form and document the medical necessity for the patient. For more information, call 1-877-LAR-HELP.
INDICATIONS AND USAGE
Sandostatin® LAR Depot (octreotide acetate for injectable suspension) is indicated for patients in whom initial treatment with immediate release Sandostatin® (octreotide acetate) Injection has been shown to be effective and tolerated for:
- Long-term maintenance therapy in acromegalic patients who have had 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).
- Long-term treatment of the severe diarrhea and flushing episodes associated with metastatic carcinoid tumors.
- Long-term treatment of the profuse watery diarrhea associated with VIP-secreting tumors.
In patients with carcinoid syndrome and VIPomas, the effect of Sandostatin Injection and Sandostatin LAR Depot on tumor size, rate of growth and development of metastases has not been determined.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Warnings and Precautions:
- Gallbladder abnormalities may occur: Patients should be monitored periodically.
- Glucose Metabolism: Hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia may occur. Blood glucose levels should be monitored when Sandostatin LAR Depot treatment is initiated or when the dose is altered. Antidiabetic treatment should be adjusted accordingly.
- Thyroid Function: Hypothyroidism may occur. Baseline and periodic assessment of thyroid function (TSH, total and/or free T4) is recommended.
- Cardiac Function: Bradycardia, arrhythmia, conduction abnormalities, and other EKG changes may occur. The relationship of these events to octreotide acetate is not established because many of these patients have underlying cardiac disease. Use with caution in at-risk patients.
- Nutrition: Octreotide may alter absorption of dietary fats. Monitoring of vitamin B12 levels is recommended during therapy with Sandostatin LAR Depot. Patients on total parenteral nutrition (TPN) and octreotide should have periodic monitoring of zinc levels.
Drug Interactions: The following drugs require monitoring and possible dose adjustment when used with Sandostatin LAR Depot: cyclosporine, insulin, oral hypoglycemic agents, beta-blockers, bromocriptine. Octreotide has been associated with alterations in nutrient absorption, so it may have an effect on absorption of orally administered drugs. Drugs mainly metabolized by CYP3A4 and which have a low therapeutic index should be used with caution.
Adverse Reactions: The most common adverse reactions occurring in patients receiving Sandostatin LAR Depot are:
- Acromegaly: biliary abnormalities (52%), diarrhea (36-48%), cholelithiasis (13-38%), abdominal pain or discomfort (11-29%), flatulence (26%), influenza-like symptoms (20%), constipation (19%), headache (15%), anemia (15%), hyperglycemia (15%), injection site pain (2-14%), hypertension (13%), dizziness (12%), fatigue (11%), nausea (10%), vomiting (7%), hypothyroidism (2%), hypoglycemia (2%), and goiter (2%).
- Carcinoid Tumors and VIPomas: biliary abnormalities (62%), injection site pain (20-50%), nausea (24-41%), abdominal pain (10-35%), fatigue (8-32%), headache (16-30%), hyperglycemia (27%), back pain (8-27%), constipation or vomiting (15-21%), dizziness (18-20%), sinus bradycardia (19%), pruritus (18%), URTI (10-18%), myalgia (4-18%), flatulence (9-16%), arthropathy (8-15%), rash (15%), generalized pain (4-15%), sinusitis (5-12%), conduction abnormalities (9%), hypoglycemia (4%), and arrhythmia (3%).
