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Sandostatin ( ok-TREE-oh-tide) is used to treat the severe diarrhea and other symptoms that occur with certain intestinal tumors. It does not cure the tumor but it helps the patient live a more normal life. Also, Sandostatin is used to treat a condition called acromegaly, which is caused by too much growth hormone in the body. Too much growth hormone produced in adults causes the hands, feet, and parts of the face to become large, thick, and bulky. Other problems such as arthritis also can develop. Sandostatin works by reducing the amount of growth hormone that the body produces. Sandostatin may also be used for other medical conditions as determined by your doctor. Sandostatin is available only with your doctor's prescription, in the following dosage form: Parenteral Injection (U.S. and Canada)
Your doctor has ordered octreotide to help control diarrhea and other symptoms of abdominal illness and other medical conditions such as intestinal tumors. Octreotide will be either injected subcutaneously (beneath the skin) or added to an intravenous fluid that will drip through a needle or catheter placed in your vein for 15-30 minutes, one to four times a day. Sandostatin is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information. Your health care provider (doctor, nurse, or pharmacist) may measure the effectiveness and side effects of your treatment using laboratory tests and physical examinations. It is important to keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. The length of treatment depends on how you respond to the medication. Brand names: - Octreotide - Sandostatin - Sandostatin LAR Depot |