INJECTABLE HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE HGH
Genotropin HGH
Genotropin is a growth hormone treatment. It is a man-made copy of natural growth hormone.
Human growth hormone is a substance made by the body’s pituitary gland. This tiny gland is found at the bottom of the brain. It makes a group of hormones that control many of the body’s functions. It helps children grow, and adults need it to stay healthy. Genotropin is mostly used to treat adults with adult onset GHD or childhood onset GHD. It is also used in the treatment of children suffering from GHD that has led to failure to grow, small for gestational age, Prader-Willi syndrome and Idiopathic Short Stature.
In adults, Genotropin is prescribed for growth hormone deficiency (GHD) that started either in childhood or as an adult. Your doctor will do tests to show if you have GHD.
Important Safety Information
Growth hormone (GH) therapy should not be used in patients with cancer or who are receiving cancer treatment. GH should not be used to increase height in children after the growth plates have closed.
GH should also not be started in patients who are ill because of surgery, trauma, or respiratory failure.
GH should not be used in children with PWS who are severely overweight or have severe breathing problems.
The 5.8-mg and 13.8-mg cartridges of Genotropin Lyophilized Powder contain m-Cresol and should not be used by patients allergic to it.
Deaths have been reported with the use of growth hormone in children with PWS. These children were extremely overweight, had breathing problems, and/or lung infection. All patients with PWS should be examined for these problems. They should also establish healthy weight control.
If the patient has diabetes, insulin dosage may need to be adjusted during therapy with Genotropin.
Be sure to tell the doctor about any drugs the patient is taking.
Tell the doctor if your child begins to limp or has hip or knee pain while taking Genotropin.
In children experiencing rapid growth, curvature of the spine (scoliosis) may worsen.
A small number of patients treated with Genotropin have had increased pressure in the brain. Be sure to tell the doctor if symptoms of this occur, such as headache, visual changes, and nausea and/or vomiting.
If the patient is pregnant or nursing, talk to the doctor.
In studies of Genotropin in children with GHD, side effects included injection site reactions, such as pain, redness/swelling, inflammation, bleeding, scarring, lumps, or rash. Other side effects were fat loss, headache, blood in the urine, low thyroid activity, and mildly increased blood sugar
In studies of Genotropin in children with PWS, side effects included fluid retention, aggressiveness, joint and muscle pain, hair loss, headache, and increased pressure in the brain
In studies of Genotropin in children born SGA, side effects included temporarily elevated blood sugar, increased pressure in the brain, early puberty, abnormal jaw growth, injection site reactions, growth of moles, and worsening of scoliosis (curvature of the spine).
In studies of Genotropin in adults with GHD, side effects included fluid retention, joint or muscle pain, stiffness, and changes in sensation. These events usually went away with time.
Tell the doctor about these or any other side effects that you notice.