Lanreotide, Injection

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KEY POINTS

• This medicine is given by injection to treat acromegaly. It is also used to treat neuroendocrine tumors. Use it exactly as directed.
• Keep all appointments for tests to see how this medicine affects you.
• This medicine may cause unwanted side effects. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that are serious, continue, or get worse.
• Tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take.

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What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: growth hormone inhibitor; somatostatin analogue

Generic and brand names: lanreotide, injection; Somatuline Depot

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is given by injection (shots) to treat:

• Acromegaly in people who cannot be treated with surgery or radiation.
• Neuroendocrine tumors from the digestive tract or pancreas that have spread or cannot be removed by surgery

This medicine may be used to treat other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• An allergic reaction to any medicine, or to latex
• Diabetes
• Gallbladder problems
• Heart disease or an irregular heartbeat
• Kidney or liver disease
• Thyroid problems

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I use it?

Usually, your healthcare provider will give you these shots. Sometimes you can give yourself these shots or have someone at home give them to you. Your healthcare provider will teach you how to give the shots. Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Be sure you know when to use the medicine and how much medicine you should use. Carefully follow the instructions for using this medicine. If you are not sure how to use this medicine, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for help.

Check with your healthcare provider before using this medicine in children under age 18.

Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist how to dispose of any used needles or syringes. Put used needles or syringes in rigid puncture-resistant containers with lids or caps, such as heavy plastic bleach bottles with screw caps. DO NOT throw them directly into garbage cans or dumpsters.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, contact your healthcare provider right away.

What if I overdose?

Symptoms of an acute overdose have not been reported.

What should I watch out for?

You may need regular lab tests to show how you are responding to the medicine and to check for side effects such as a decrease in thyroid function. Keep all appointments for these tests.

If you need emergency care, surgery, lab tests, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are using this medicine.

If you have diabetes: This medicine may affect your blood sugar level and change the amount of insulin or other diabetes medicines you may need. Talk to your healthcare provider about this.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help.): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (Report these to your healthcare provider right away.): Severe nausea or diarrhea that continues; sudden or severe stomach pain; unexplained fever; chest pain; pain or swelling in arms or legs; yellowing of the skin or eyes; increased thirst or hunger; increased urination; sweating; shakiness; confusion; severe or ongoing headache; severe dizziness or fainting; severe back or shoulder pain; unexplained bleeding or bruising; unusual drowsiness; tiredness or weakness; slow, fast, or irregular heartbeat.

Other: Constipation, diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, bloating, gas, headache, pain or swelling at the spot of the injection, weight loss, joint pain.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• Antiarrhythmic medicines (to treat irregular heartbeat) such as amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone) and quinidine
• Beta blockers such as acebutolol (Sectral), atenolol (Tenormin), bisoprolol (Zebeta), carvedilol (Coreg), labetalol (Trandate), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol), nadolol (Corgard), pindolol, and sotalol (Betapace, Sorine)
• Bromocriptine (Cycloset, Parlodel)
• Calcium channel blockers such as diltiazem (Cardizem, Cartia, Tiazac), felodipine, isradipine (DynaCirc), nicardipine (Cardene), nifedipine (Adalat CC, Procardia), and verapamil (Calan, Covera, Verelan)
• Ceritinib (Zykadia)
• Cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune)
• Diabetes medicines such as acarbose (Precose), glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (Glynase), insulin, metformin (Fortamet, Glucophage, Riomet), pioglitazone (Actos), repaglinide (Prandin), and rosiglitazone (Avandia)
• Diuretics (water pills) such as amiloride, bumetanide, chlorothiazide (Diuril), furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide), spironolactone (Aldactone), torsemide (Demadex), and triamterene (Dyrenium)
• Natural remedies such as alfalfa, aloe, bilberry, bitter melon, burdock, celery, fenugreek, garcinia, garlic, ginger, ginseng, gymnema, and stinging nettle
• Propranolol (Hemangeol, Inderal, InnoPran)

If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine in the refrigerator. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

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This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicines in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.