Replacement therapy in adults with pronounced growth hormone deficiency - Adult onset

Active Ingredient: Somatropin

Indication for Somatropin

Population group: only adults (18 years old or older)
Therapeutic intent: Curative procedure

Patients who have severe growth hormone deficiency associated with multiple hormone deficiencies as a result of known hypothalamic or pituitary pathology, and who have at least one known deficiency of a pituitary hormone not being prolactin. These patients should undergo an appropriate dynamic test in order to diagnose or exclude a growth hormone deficiency.

All other patients will require IGF-I assay and one growth hormone stimulation test.

For this indication, competent medicine agencies globally authorize below treatments:

For patients ≤60 years old 0.15-0.3 mg once daily and for patients >60 years old 0.1-0.2 mg once daily, gradually increased according to individual patient requirements

For:

Dosage regimens

Regimen A, in case that patient age in years is ≤ 60

Subcutaneous, between 0.15 milligrams somatropin and 0.3 milligrams somatropin, once daily.

Regimen B, in case that patient age in years is > 60

Subcutaneous, between 0.1 milligrams somatropin and 0.2 milligrams somatropin, once daily.

Detailed description

In adults with adult-onset GHD, therapy should start with a low dose, 0.15-0.3 mg per day. The dose should be gradually increased according to individual patient requirements as determined by the IGF-I concentration.

Treatment goal should be insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) concentrations within 2 SDS from the age corrected mean. Patients with normal IGF-I concentrations at the start of the treatment should be administered growth hormone up to an IGF-I level into the upper range of normal, not exceeding the 2 SDS. Clinical response and side effects may also be used as guidance for dose titration. It is recognized that there are patients with GHD who do not normalize IGF-I levels despite a good clinical response, and thus do not require dose escalation. The maintenance dose rarely exceeds 1.0 mg per day. Women may require higher doses than men, with men showing an increasing IGF-I sensitivity over time. This means that there is a risk that women, especially those on oral oestrogen replacement are under-treated while men are over-treated. The accuracy of the growth hormone dose should therefore be controlled every 6 months. As normal physiological growth hormone production decreases with age, dose requirements may be reduced.

In patients above 60 years, therapy should start with a dose of 0.1-0.2 mg per day and should be slowly increased according to individual patient requirements. The minimum effective dose should be used. The maintenance dose in these patients seldom exceeds 0.5 mg per day.

Dosage considerations

The injection should be given subcutaneously and the site varied to prevent lipoatrophy.

0.1-0.2 mg once daily gradually increased according to individual patient requirements

For:

Dosage regimens

Subcutaneous, between 0.1 milligrams somatropin and 0.2 milligrams somatropin, once daily.

Detailed description

Therapy should start with a dose of 0.1-0.2 mg per day and should be slowly increased according to individual patient requirements. The minimum effective dose should be used. The maintenance dose in these patients seldom exceeds 0.5 mg per day.

Dosage considerations

The injection should be given subcutaneously and the site varied to prevent lipoatrophy.

Active ingredient

Somatropin

Somatropin is a potent metabolic hormone of importance for the metabolism of lipids, carbohydrates and proteins. In children with inadequate endogenous growth hormone, somatropin stimulates linear growth and increases growth rate. In adults, as well as in children, somatropin maintains a normal body composition by increasing nitrogen retention and stimulation of skeletal muscle growth, and by mobilization of body fat.

Read more about Somatropin

Related medicines

Develop a tailored medication plan for your case, considering factors such as age, gender, and health history

Ask the Reasoner

Liability Disclaimer : RxReasoner has utilized reasonable care in providing content and services that are accurate, complete and up to date. However, RxReasoner does not accept any responsibility or liability about it. The content and services of RxReasoner are for informational purposes only and they are not intended to be a substitute for the knowledge, expertise, skill, and judgment of physicians, pharmacists, nurses, or other healthcare professionals involved in patient care. RxReasoner offers no medical advice. Users are responsible for the use of the provided content. A shown indication or treatment should not be construed to indicate that the medication is safe, appropriate, or effective in any given patient or under any particular circumstances. The absence of an indication or treatment should not roule out the existence of other appropriate medications. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or medicament. RxReasoner is not liable for any damages allegedly sustained arising out of the use of its content and services.