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Proper Use
This medicine is given as a shot under your skin or into a muscle. Somatropin may sometimes be given at home to patients who do not need to be in the hospital. If you are using this medicine at home, your doctor will teach you how to prepare and inject the medicine. Be sure that you understand exactly how the medicine is prepared and injected.
You will be shown the body areas where this shot can be given. Use a different body area each time you give yourself a shot. Keep track of where you give each shot to make sure you rotate body areas. This will help prevent skin problems from the injections.
If you are using this medicine to treat short bowel syndrome, carefully follow your doctor's instructions about any special diet. Take all other medicines or supplements your doctor has prescribed as part of your combination treatment.
This medicine comes with a patient information insert. Read and follow the instructions in the insert carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.
Dosing
The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.
- For injection dosage form:
- For treatment of growth hormone deficiency:
- Adults—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. At first, the usual dose is not more than 0.005 milligram (mg) per kilogram (kg) of body weight injected under the skin once a day. Your doctor may adjust your dose if needed.
- Children—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The usual dose is 0.06 milligram (mg) per kilogram (kg) of body weight, given three times per week and injected under the skin or into a muscle. Your doctor may adjust your dose if needed.
- For treatment of short bowel syndrome:
- Adults—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. At first, the usual dose is 0.1 milligram (mg) per kilogram (kg) of body weight injected under the skin once a day for 4 weeks. Your doctor may adjust your dose if needed.
- Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
- For treatment of growth hormone deficiency:
Missed Dose
This medicine needs to be given on a fixed schedule. If you miss a dose or forget to use your medicine, call your doctor or pharmacist for instructions.
Storage
Keep out of the reach of children.
Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.
Store unopened vials of this medicine at room temperature, away from heat and direct light. Do not freeze.
Store the medicine that has been mixed in the refrigerator. The Saizen® vials and Zorbtive® that has been mixed should be used within 14 days. The Saizen® click.easy® cartridge that has been mixed should be used within 21 days. Make sure you understand how long you can store the medicine after it has been mixed. Throw away any mixed medicine that has not been used within this time.
Throw away used needles in a hard, closed container that the needles cannot poke through. Keep this container away from children and pets.
