Sometimes the symptoms associated with carcinoid syndrome can intensify.
If you ever develop intense diarrhea or flushing with abdominal pain, inform your healthcare team immediately. This could be an indicator of carcinoid crisis—a serious, sometimes fatal complication of carcinoid syndrome that may occur on its own or in response to stress, anesthesia, surgery, or chemotherapy initiation.
Many types of medical procedures can also trigger carcinoid crisis. It is important to tell your healthcare team that you have carcinoid syndrome prior to having any medical procedures. They can review your treatment options with you. Carcinoid crisis is defined as a severe episode of flushing, low blood pressure, and rapid heartbeat. This condition can be fatal and it is important that your healthcare providers, including emergency room professionals, be made aware that you have carcinoid syndrome. There are some emergency treatments, like certain cardiac (heart) medications, that can be fatal to a person experiencing carcinoid crisis.1,2
It is imperative that you inform your healthcare team about new symptoms you experience or changes in your symptoms, especially if they become more severe.
Sandostatin® LAR Depot (octreotide acetate for injectable suspension) is indicated for long-term treatment of the severe diarrhea and flushing episodes associated with metastatic carcinoid tumors and for the long-term treatment of the profuse watery diarrhea associated with VIP-secreting tumors in patients in whom initial treatment with immediate release Sandostatin® (octreotide acetate) Injection has been shown to be effective and tolerated.
Important Safety Information3
As with immediate release Sandostatin® Injection, the most frequently reported drug-related adverse events were biliary disorders (62%), gastrointestinal disorders (14% to 38%), and injection-site pain (20% to 50%). Hypoglycemia (4%), hyperglycemia (27%), sinus bradycardia (19%), conduction abnormalities (9%), and arrhythmias (3%) have been reported.
The controlled clinical trials that support the marketing clearance for Sandostatin® LAR Depot did not include determination of effect on tumor size or rate of growth. Sandostatin® LAR Depot is not indicated for tumor shrinkage. 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.
