According to Somatropin.net, somatropin or Serostim is a synthetic growth hormone extracted from human pituitary glands. Somatropin acts by stimulating another hormone called somatomedin produced by the liver, thereby causing growth of the body. Somatropin growth hormone leads to increased bone density and muscle mass, heightened energy levels, improved sexual functioning and loss of body fat.
Uses
Somatropin has several medical uses. According to Drugs.com, somatropin is used to treat people with growth failure, growth hormone deficiency, short bowel syndrome and AIDS wasting syndrome. Doctors usually prescribe somatropin to children and adults with Turner syndrome and Noonan syndrome to increase height caused by lack of enough growth hormone. Somatropin is also used to increase appetite and stimulate growth in patients with AIDS wasting syndrome.
Contraindications
Drugs.com states that Somatropin should not be used by patients who are allergic to synthetic growth hormone. Somatropin should also not be used in patients with diabetic retinopathy, Prader-Willis syndrome, sleep apnea, severe respiratory problems or open heart surgery or in overweight patients. Somatropin causes worsening of these conditions.
Precautions
According to Drugs.com, somatropin affects blood sugar levels and should be used with caution in patients with diabetes. Dosage adjustment and frequent lab work are necessary for diabetic patients taking somatropin. Somatropin should also be used with caution in patients taking steroids because somatropin makes steroids less effective. Frequent lab tests are necessary in patients taking steroids together with somatropin. Somatropin should also be used carefully in patients with scoliosis, high blood pressure, brain tumors, thyroid problems and liver and kidney diseases.
Side Effects
According to Drugs.com, common side effects of somatropin include headache, redness and swelling at the injection site, joint pain, stiffness, breast swelling, nausea, vomiting, gas and increased thirst and urination. Adverse side effects of somatropin include sudden severe pain behind the eyes; vision changes; swelling of the face, head, hands and feet; numbness and tingling in the wrists and hands, sweating; fever; rapid heart rate; and yellowing of the eyes and skin.
Administration
Drugs.com states that somatropin is injected into muscles or under the skin. Patients who have no clear knowledge about self-injection techniques should avoid injecting somatropin. Patients should use a different injection spot each time they inject somatropin. Patients should avoid injecting on red and swollen skin. Blood work and other lab work are necessary to check the progression of growth and for effects of somatropin on the body.
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