If you have been diagnosed with acromegaly, your doctor may have determined that Sandostatin® LAR Depot (octreotide acetate for injectable suspension) is the right treatment for you. It is important to understand how Sandostatin® LAR Depot can help, so be sure to speak with your doctor about any questions you may have regarding your therapy.
You can download and print these questions, and bring them with you on your next doctor visit. There is also space in the printable version for you to write your own questions and take notes.
There are 3 sets of questions, depending on where you are in your treatment. You can ask your doctor:
- About acromegaly and your treatment options
- About starting Sandostatin® LAR Depot
- About maintaining therapy with Sandostatin® LAR Depot
About acromegaly and your treatment options
If you have been diagnosed with acromegaly, your doctor may have determined that Sandostatin® LAR Depot is the right treatment for you. It is important to understand how Sandostatin® LAR Depot can help, so be sure to speak with your doctor about any questions you may have regarding your therapy. The following questions can help you start your discussion.
- What are the goals of my treatment for acromegaly?
- How does my treatment with Sandostatin® LAR Depot help me reach these goals?
- What do you think is the appropriate dose of therapy to achieve these goals?
- Can my dose be adjusted?
- Am I eligible for the Nurse Home Injection Program?
- Are there any side effects of treatment?
- How often do I need this treatment?
- How long will I be on treatment?
About starting Sandostatin® LAR Depot
Before starting 28-day injections of Sandostatin® LAR Depot, your doctor will start you on daily self-administered doses of immediate release Sandostatin® (octreotide acetate) Injection. During this time, it's important to keep close tabs on your symptoms and any side effects you may experience. In addition, you may want to ask your doctor:
- Can I take Sandostatin® LAR Depot with other medications?
- When should I expect to notice symptom relief?
- What happens if I don't experience symptom relief?
- When will my dosage be reviewed?
- What are my current GH and IGF-1 levels?
- What are my targeted GH and IGF-1 levels?
- Will you be scheduling any imaging tests for me?
- What side effects of therapy should I look for?
Download a printable version of these questions.
About maintaining Sandostatin® LAR Depot
If you're already receiving Sandostatin® LAR Depot, from time to time you may want to ask:
- Has there been any change in my condition?
- What dose of Sandostatin® LAR Depot am I currently on?
- Should my current dosage be reviewed?
- How long can I stay on Sandostatin® LAR Depot?
- What are my current GH and IGF-1 levels?
- What are my target GH and IGF-1 levels?
- Have I had any tumor recurrence?
- What were the results of my last imaging test, and will I require additional tests?
- Do I show any signs of developing gallstones?
- Do I show any signs of low or high glucose levels?
- Are there any lifestyle changes I should make?
Download a printable version of these questions.
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.
