Omnitrope Cartridge: Uses, indications and precautions when using

Omnitrope Cartridge (somatropin) is a prescription medication indicated in certain cases of growth disorders. Diagnosis and treatment with somatropin should be initiated and monitored by physicians qualified and experienced in the diagnosis and management of growth disorders.

Growth hormone is secreted by the pituitary gland (a gland at the base of the brain). It is important for development during childhood and adolescence and it also affects how the body processes proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. The active ingredient in Omnitrope, somatropin, resembles the human growth hormone it replaces. Somatropin is produced using a method known as “recombinant DNA technology”: hormones made by bacteria in which a gene (DNA) has been inserted so that they can produce somatropin.
Omnitrope Cartridge (somatropin) is used to treat one of the following medical conditions: growth failure, growth hormone deficiency, intestinal disorder (short bowel syndrome), or weight loss or associated emaciation to HIV, with certain disorders (such as Noonan syndrome, Turner syndrome, idiopathic short stature).

Omnitrope is a medicine used to treat children:
Does not grow normally because the body does not have enough growth hormone; Being short because of long-term kidney disease or a genetic disorder called Turner syndrome; Low and small for gestational age and underdeveloped from 4 years of age or older; Having a genetic condition called Prader-Willi syndrome. Omnitrope is indicated to improve the growth and body composition of children (by reducing fat and improving muscle mass). The diagnosis must be confirmed by genetic testing. Omnitrope is also used as replacement therapy in adult patients with marked growth hormone deficiency. Deficiency may begin in adulthood or childhood and should be confirmed by testing prior to treatment.

The drug is available as a powder and solvent, made into a solution for injection, or as a ready-to-use solution in a box. The doctor will calculate the dose for each patient according to the body weight and the condition being treated. The dose may need to be adjusted over time, depending on changes in body weight and response to treatment.
If you are using an injection pen device, do not share your pen with others, even if the needles have been changed as you could expose others to infection or get infection from them.
If this medicine is used for short bowel syndrome, consult your doctor if a special diet (high in carbohydrates / low in fat) or the use of nutritional supplements may useful.
If this medicine is used for weight loss or muscle loss, it may take up to 2 weeks to notice the effects of the medicine. Do not increase the dose or frequency of the medication on your own because the risk of side effects increases.

In adults, side effects are related to water retention, such as peripheral edema (swelling, especially of ankles and feet), paralysis (numbness or tingling), joint and muscle pain, stiffness extremities (may affect 1 to 10 patients in 100). These side effects are uncommon in children (may affect 1 to 10 patients in 1,000). As with all protein drugs, some patients may develop antibodies (proteins produced in response to Omnitrope). However, these antibodies do not affect how well Omnitrope works.
Omnitrope must not be used if the patient has an active tumor or an acute life-threatening illness. It is also not used to promote growth in children presenting with a closed head of bone (when the large bones have completed development).
Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects, including: sluggishness, persistent fatigue, unusual/unexplained weight gain, prolonged intolerance to cold, heartbeat slow, fast heartbeat, ear pain/itching, hearing problems, joint/hip/knee pain, numbness/tingling, increased thirst or unusual urination, swelling of hands/ankles/table legs, change in shape or size of any moles, persistent nausea/vomiting, severe stomach/abdominal pain.
Get medical help right away if you have any very serious side effects, including: problems or changes in vision, seizures, severe headache.
Children should be checked for breathing problems before and during treatment. Loud snoring or irregular breathing while sleeping is a sign of airway obstruction. Tell your doctor right away if these signs occur. Also report any signs of a lung infection, such as fever, persistent cough, or difficulty breathing.

Before using Omnitrope, tell your doctor if you are allergic to somatropin or have any other allergies. Omnitrope Cartridge may contain excipients (such as benzyl alcohol or metacresol found in some brands), which may cause an allergic reaction.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor about your medical history, especially of: adrenal gland problems, eye problems (e.g. diabetic retinopathy). , recent major surgery/injury, severe breathing problems (acute respiratory failure), diabetes or family history of diabetes, obesity, kidney disease, tumors (cancer) , especially in the head and neck), thyroid problems, back problems (curvature of the spine).
When giving this medicine to an infant, mix it with sterile water for a preservative-free injection. The preservative (benzyl alcohol) in this product can in rare cases cause serious problems (sometimes fatal) if given to an infant. The risk is higher with low birth weight infants and higher as the amount of benzyl alcohol increases. Symptoms include rapid breathing, low blood pressure, or a very slow heartbeat.
There is no or limited use of somatropin in pregnant women. Therefore the drug is not recommended for pregnant women.
It is not known whether somatropin is excreted in human milk, but absorption of intact protein from the infant gastrointestinal tract is extremely unlikely. Therefore, caution should be exercised when Omnitrope is administered to a nursing woman.
Clinical, laboratory tests (eg, eye exam, thyroid function test, glycemic index, growth hormone antibody level) should be performed regularly to monitor your response to medication or check for drug side effects.

Some drugs that may interact with this drug include: estrogen replacement therapy. In addition, concomitant treatment with glucocorticoids inhibits the growth-promoting effects of Omnitrope. Patients with ACTH-adrenocortical hormone deficiency should be carefully adjusted to glucocorticoid replacement therapy to avoid any growth inhibitory effects.
Omnitrope Cartridge (somatropin) is a prescription medication indicated in certain cases of growth disorders. Therefore, patients need to take the medicine according to the prescription or strictly follow the instructions of the doctor or pharmacist.

References: webmd.com, ema.europa.eu