Formulary
Somapacitan: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Somapacitan is a long-acting recombinant human growth hormone derivative.
MedNext Academy | 3 min read
Somapacitan: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Somapacitan is a long-acting recombinant human growth hormone derivative.
Drug action
Somapacitan is a long-acting recombinant human growth hormone derivative.
Indications and dose
**Deficiency of growth hormone in treatment-nave patients (under expert supervision)**
- **Adult** (By Subcutaneous Injection): 60 years and over Initially 1 mg once weekly, then maintenance dose to be increased in steps of 0.5-1.5 mg every 2-4 weeks, adjusted according to response, up to 8 mg once weekly, for advice on dose adjustments and treatment evaluation or discontinuation-consult product literature.
**Deficiency of growth hormone in treatment-nave females on oral oestrogen therapy (under expert supervision)**
- **Adult** (By Subcutaneous Injection): Initially 2 mg once weekly, then maintenance dose to be increased in steps of 0.5-1.5 mg every 2-4 weeks, adjusted according to response, up to 8 mg once weekly, for advice on dose adjustments and treatment evaluation or discontinuation-consult product literature.
**Deficiency of growth hormone in patients switching from another growth hormone therapy (under expert supervision)**
- **Adult** (By Subcutaneous Injection): 60 years and over Initially 1.5 mg once weekly, then maintenance dose to be increased in steps of 0.5-1.5 mg every 2-4 weeks, adjusted according to response, up to 8 mg once weekly, for advice on dose adjustments and treatment evaluation or discontinuation-consult product literature.
**Deficiency of growth hormone in females on oral oestrogen therapy switching from another growth hormone therapy (under expert supervision)**
- **Adult** (By Subcutaneous Injection): Initially 4 mg once weekly, then maintenance dose to be increased in steps of 0.5-1.5 mg every 2-4 weeks, adjusted according to response, up to 8 mg once weekly, for advice on dose adjustments and treatment evaluation or discontinuation-consult product literature.
**Deficiency of growth hormone (under expert supervision) for somapacitan**
- **Child 3-17 years** (By subcutaneous injection): 160 micrograms/kg once weekly, for advice on dose adjustments and treatment evaluation or discontinuation-consult product literature.
Cautions
Diabetes mellitus (adjustment of antidiabetic therapy may be necessary); glucose intolerance or risk factors for diabetes (additional monitoring may be necessary); history of malignant disease or benign tumour; hypoadrenalism (initiation or adjustment of glucocorticoid replacement therapy may be necessary); hypothyroidism (periodic thyroid function tests recommended); resolved intracranial hypertension (monitor closely)
Contraindications
Complications in acute critical illness (consult product literature); evidence of tumour activity (complete antitumour therapy and ensure intracranial lesions are inactive before starting)
Side effects
Common or very common Adrenal insufficiency; asthenia; headache; hyperglycaemia; hypothyroidism; joint disorders; muscle complaints; paraesthesia; peripheral oedema; skin reactions Uncommon Carpal tunnel syndrome; lipohypertrophy
Interactions
**Other interactions (4):**
- The clearance of compounds metabolised by cytochrome P450 (e.g.
- Oral oestrogens In females on oral oestrogen therapy, a higher dose of somapacitan may be required to achieve the treatment goal, see sections 4.2 and 4.4.
- Antihyperglycaemic products Antihyperglycaemic treatment including insulin may require dose adjustment in case of somapacitan co-administration since somapacitan may decrease insulin sensitivity,...
- Other The metabolic effects of somapacitan can also be influenced by concomitant therapy with other hormones, e.g.
Pregnancy
Avoid (toxicity in animal studies). M
Breast feeding
Avoid (present in milk in animal studies). M
Medicinal forms
Clinical governance
**Author:** MedNext Clinical Team. **Clinical reviewer:** Dr Shameer Deen, MBBS, MS, MRCS. **Sources:** BNF, Indian Pharmacopoeia, CIMS India. **Correction:** Report errors at support@mednext.academy.
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