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Click here to open the Sandostatin LAR Depot Nurse Home Injection Program
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Convenience of home care with the quality of professional support
The NHIP offers convenient, at-home administration of Sandostatin® LAR Depot by a registered nurse. Once you have elected to have your injections administered at home by a specially trained registered nurse, you will maintain the level of care in the comfort of your home.
In this section, you will learn about the NHIP, including:
Proven control delivered by a registered nurse
1. The Right Dose: The NHIP helps ensure that you receive the right dose, consistently, by a specially trained nurse, at your convenience.
2. The Right Time: Receive your monthly therapy administered by a registered nurse at a time that is convenient for you, including weekends and evenings or even when you are traveling out of town. All you have to do is enroll in the program with your doctor's help, pick up your prescription, and be at home at the scheduled time.
3. The Right Technique: The registered nurse who arrives at your home has been specially trained in administering your Sandostatin® LAR Depot (octreotide acetate for injectable suspension) dose. You can trust that he or she will use the appropriate technique when administering your dose.
Your registered nurse will also be there to answer any questions or concerns that you may have about your treatment. He or she can also schedule your next appointment, communicate any important information to your doctor, and confirm that you have received your dose, making your treatment program as seamless and convenient as possible.
Click here for answers to frequently asked questions about the NHIP.
Program eligibility
The NHIP is administered by BioScrip®, the company that coordinates this program on behalf of Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. Eligibility can be determined by calling BioScrip® at 1-888-LAR-4759.
Currently, reimbursement for home injections is provided to members of most commercial plans (eg, HMO, PPO) who reside in the United States. Patients with government-provided medical insurance (eg, Medicare Parts B and D, or Medicaid) are not covered at this time.
Patients residing in Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, or Rhode Island are not eligible for this program
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.
