Octreotide Injection

Who is Octreotide Injection for ?

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. This medication 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.

When should I be careful taking Octreotide Injection ?

Before administering octreotide,

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to octreotide or any other drugs.
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially antidiarrheals, cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), medications for diabetes or high blood pressure, and vitamins.
• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had diabetes or kidney or gallbladder disease.
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking octreotide, call your doctor.
• you should know that this drug may make you drowsy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this drug affects you.
• remember that alcohol can add to the drowsiness caused by this drug.

Side Effects

Although side effects from octreotide are not common, they can occur. Pain or burning at the injection site may last for up to 15 minutes. Tell your health care provider if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• upset stomach
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• stomach pain
• bloating
• flatulence
• loose stools
• loss of appetite or increased hunger

• increased urination
• increased thirst
• difficulty breathing
• chills
• shakiness
• sweating
• weakness