Sandostatin LAR® Depot and Carcinoid Syndrome
Learn more about Sandostatin LAR® Depot (octreotide acetate for injectable suspension) in the treatment of carcinoid syndrome:
- Taking Control of Carcinoid Syndrome with Sandostatin LAR® Depot
- Your Role in Optimizing Therapy with Sandostatin LAR® Depot
- More Things You Can Do to Improve Your Symptoms
- What If the Symptoms Come Back?
Taking Control of Carcinoid Syndrome with Sandostatin LAR® Depot
If you've been diagnosed with carcinoid syndrome or VIPomas, you need medical care to control the symptoms and get back to the things that matter most.
Fortunately, there are ways to treat symptoms of carcinoid syndrome and VIPomas successfully, including, for many patients, once-a-month Sandostatin LAR® Depot.
You and your health care professional will work together to determine the therapy that works best for you. When you follow your treatment plan, you and your family can be optimistic about controlling the symptoms associated with carcinoid syndrome and VIPomas.
Your Role in Optimizing Therapy with Sandostatin LAR® Depot
Managing carcinoid syndrome means forming a partnership with your health care professional. This is especially important if you are receiving Sandostatin LAR® Depot. Your commitment to make and keep your monthly medical appointments is the first step in ensuring the most effective relief of your symptoms. During these monthly appointments, you and your health care professional will discuss the effects of your medication and your overall health and well-being. As long as you follow the medical instructions provided and return regularly for your injections (usually every 4 weeks), you will be optimizing your opportunities for symptom control.
You can further help your health care professional by keeping yourself well-informed about your condition, taking an active role in your own disease management, and keeping a look out for a return of your symptoms or any new symptoms.
More Things You Can Do to Improve Your Symptoms
Your health care team will discuss lifestyle changes you can make that may further help to control the symptoms of carcinoid syndrome, such as dietary changes. Avoiding alcohol and spicy foods may help prevent flushing. You may also wish to avoid foods that are more difficult for your body to digest, such as foods that are high in fiber, high in fat or sugar, or which contain milk or milk products.
What If the Symptoms Come Back?
Even when symptoms are under good control, carcinoid tumors may sometimes cause a "flare-up" or temporary return of diarrhea and/or flushing. This may occur whether you are taking immediate release Sandostatin® (octreotide acetate) Injection or Sandostatin LAR® Depot. These flare-ups are a normal part of the disease process and do not mean the drug has stopped working. During periods when flare-ups occur, you may be given additional immediate release Sandostatin® Injection for a few days until the symptoms are back under control. If this occurs, you will probably be given immediate release Sandostatin® Injection at the dose you were receiving before you switched to once-a-month Sandostatin LAR® Depot.
