Lanreotide (Somatuline® Depot)

How to Take Lanreotide

Lanreotide is a long-acting formula, which allows the medication to slowly release into your body over a 4-week period. The patient typically receives one injection a month at their doctor's office, with the medication lasting all month in the body. This injection is given into the buttocks.

This medication can interact with other medications, including cyclosporine, insulin, bromocriptine, and beta-blocker medications used to lower your heart rate. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider about all medications and supplements you take.

Possible Side Effects of Lanreotide

There are a number of things you can do to manage the side effects of lanreotide. Talk to your care team about these recommendations. They can help you decide what will work best for you. These are some of the most common or important side effects:

Pain at the Injection Site

Pain, itching, or a lump may occur at the injection site. This will get better on its own. The injection site should be alternated (switched) between your left and right buttocks from month to month. The medication should be removed from the refrigerator by your provider 30 minutes before administration.

Abdominal (Belly) Side Effects

Side effects such as diarrhea, bloating, gas, and abdominal pain were reported in studies. You may also have steatorrhea (too much fat in your stools) and discolored stools. This may be caused by a change in pancreatic enzymes while on this medication. lt is hard to tell if these effects are related to the medication or the disease, so talk about them with your care team. If these occur, they often stop within 1 to 4 days of the injection and decrease with long-term treatment.

Nausea and/or Vomiting

Talk to your care team so they can prescribe medications to help you manage nausea and vomiting. In addition, dietary changes may help. Avoid things that may worsen the symptoms, such as heavy or greasy/fatty, spicy, or acidic foods (lemons, tomatoes, oranges). Try antacids (such as milk of magnesia, calcium tablets such as Tums), saltines, or ginger ale to lessen symptoms.

Call your provider if you are unable to keep fluids down for more than 12 hours or if you feel lightheaded or dizzy at any time.

Heart Problems

This medication may cause a lower than normal heart rate (called sinus bradycardia), abnormal heartbeats, or high blood pressure. Notify your healthcare provider right away if you feel abnormal heartbeats, you feel dizzy or faint, or you experience headaches.

Blood Sugar Changes

This medication can cause lowered or elevated blood sugar levels in patients with and without diabetes. Your healthcare team will monitor your blood sugar. If you develop shakiness, nervousness, anxiety, sweating, chills, clamminess, rapid/fast heartbeat or headaches (symptoms of low blood sugar) or develop increased thirst, urination or hunger, blurry vision, headaches, or your breath smells like fruit (symptoms of high blood sugar), notify your healthcare team. Diabetics should monitor their blood sugar closely and report any changes to the healthcare team.

Muscle or Joint Pain/Aches and Headache

Your provider can recommend medication and other ways to relieve pain.

Gallstones

This medication can affect your gall bladder and cause gallstones or biliary abnormalities (including jaundice) in patients who use it over a long period of time. Report any symptoms of sudden abdominal pain, fever, nausea/vomiting, tea colored urine, light colored stools, or yellowing of the eyes or skin to your health care provider.

Thyroid Problems

This medication can cause a decrease in your thyroid function. Your healthcare provider will perform blood tests to check the function of your thyroid and treat this side effect if it develops. Symptoms of decreased thyroid function include tiredness, feeling cold, changes in your voice, weight gain, hair loss, and muscle cramps. Report any of these symptoms to your healthcare team.

Sexual and Reproductive Concerns

This medication may affect a woman's reproductive system, resulting in the menstrual cycle becoming irregular or stopping permanently. Women may experience menopausal effects including hot flashes and vaginal dryness. In addition, the desire for sex may decrease during treatment. You may want to consider egg harvesting if you may wish to have a child in the future. Discuss these options with your oncology team.

It is not known if exposure of an unborn child to this medication could cause birth defects, so you should speak to your care provider if you want to become pregnant or father a child. You should not breastfeed while receiving this medication or for 6 months after your last dose.