Octreotide—the active ingredient in Sandostatin® LAR Depot (octreotide acetate for injectable suspension) has been studied for over 20 years in over 600 clinical trials and has been reviewed in more than 6000 articles.*† Sandostatin® LAR Depot is the number 1 prescribed somatostatin analogue in the world.* It offers you the confidence of a medical therapy that is time tested and has been well-studied . These are some of the reasons you can feel confident in your treatment with Sandostatin® Injection and Sandostatin® LAR Depot.
What Is Sandostatin®?1,5
Sandostatin® (octreotide acetate) is an analogue of somatostatin, a natural hormone that is a powerful inhibitor of growth hormone. It can treat the flushing and severe diarrhea associated with carcinoid syndrome. Sandostatin comes in two forms—immediate-release Sandostatin® Injection and Sandostatin® LAR Depot.
Sandostatin® is indicated for the symptomatic treatment of patients with metastatic carcinoid tumors where it suppresses or inhibits the severe diarrhea and flushing episodes associated with the disease.
Sandostatin® is also indicated to reduce blood levels of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-I) in acromegaly patients who have had inadequate response to or cannot tolerate other treatments such as surgery, radiation therapy, or bromocriptine mesylate.
What Is Sandostatin® Injection?1,2
Sandostatin® Injection is also referred to as "immediate-release" Sandostatin. It is Sandostatin® in the form of an injection that is usually administered 2 or 3 times a day subcutaneously (just under the skin surface) by the patient. It is called immediate release because all the medication is released into the body as soon as it is injected. Patients are usually started on this formulation for 2 weeks to see if they can tolerate the drug. If they can, they then progress to Sandostatin® LAR Depot.
Please see full Prescribing Information for Sandostatin® LAR Depot and Sandostatin Immediate Release
What Is Sandostatin® LAR Depot?1,2
Sandostatin® LAR Depot is a somatostatin analogue administered by your healthcare professional every 28 days. "LAR" stands for long-acting release. Sandostatin® LAR Depot is a different preparation of Sandostatin®. Unlike immediate-release Sandostatin® Injection, Sandostatin® LAR Depot releases the medication into the body gradually, over 28 days.
Sandostatin® LAR Depot is a medical therapy that is dosed once every 28 days, has over 10 years of clinical experience, and over 5 million doses have been administered worldwide.‡
*Combined use of immediate-release Sandostatin® Injection and Sandostatin® LAR Depot for all approved indications.
†Includes both ongoing and completed trials for all approved indications.
‡For all approved indications.
Please see full Prescribing Information for Sandostatin® LAR Depot and Sandostatin Immediate Release.
INDICATIONS AND USAGE
Sandostatin® LAR Depot (octreotide acetate for injectable suspension) is a prescription medicine 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: Treatment with Sandostatin LAR Depot may affect gallbladder function, sugar metabolism, thyroid and heart function, and nutritional absorption, which may require monitoring by your doctor.
Before taking Sandostatin LAR Depot: Tell your doctor if you have a history of heart disease or are taking other medications, including: cyclosporine, insulin, oral hypoglycemic agents, beta-blockers, and bromocriptine.
Common side effects: Most patients experience side effects at some time. Some common side effects you may experience include:
- Acromegaly: diarrhea, gallstones, abdominal pain, and flatulence
- Carcinoid tumors: back pain, fatigue, headache, abdominal pain, nausea, and dizziness
Other information: Patients with carcinoids tumors and VIPomas should adhere closely to their scheduled return visits for reinjection in order to minimize exacerbation of symptoms. Patients with acromegaly should adhere to their return visit schedule to help assure steady control of GH and IGF-1 levels.
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.
Learn how Sandostatin® LAR Depot works
