Growth Hormone (Systemic)

Brand name(s): Genotropin

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For growth hormone, the following should be considered:

Allergies-Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to growth hormone. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives (especially benzyl alcohol), or dyes.

Pregnancy-Growth hormone has not been studied in pregnant women. However, in animal studies, growth hormone has not been shown to cause birth defects or other problems. This drug should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan on becoming pregnant.

Breast-feeding-It is not known whether growth hormone passes into breast milk. However, you should tell your doctor if you are nursing.

Children-There is no specific information comparing use of growth hormone in children with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) with use in other age groups.

Older adults-Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults. Although there is no specific information comparing use of growth hormone in the elderly with use in other age groups, it is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults. However, elderly patients may be more sensitive to the action of growth hormone drugs and may be more at risk to develop adverse reactions.

Other medicines-Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking growth hormone, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

• Corticosteroids (cortisone-like medicines)-These medicines can interfere with the effects of growth hormone

Other medical problems-The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of growth hormone. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Acute critical illnesses (e.g., complications following open heart or abdominal surgery, accidental trauma, or respiratory failure)-Growth hormone use has not been studied in patients with these serious illnesses. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and risks before starting you on this medicine.
• Brain tumor-Growth hormone should not be used in patients who have a brain tumor that is still growing
• Diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes) or a family history of diabetes mellitus-Growth hormone may prevent insulin from working as well as it should; your doctor may have to change your dose of insulin
• Diabetic retinopathy (inflammation of the retina in diabetic patients)-Growth hormone should not be used in these patients.
• Prader-Willi syndrome [a rare genetic disorder]-Certain patients with this rare genetic disorder may be at increased risk for side effects from growth hormone therapy. You and your doctor will decide if growth hormone is right for you.
• Tumors-If you already have a tumor, your doctor should treat you for it before beginning this medicine. If the tumor comes back, growth hormone medicine should be stopped.
• Underactive thyroid-This condition can interfere with the effects of growth hormone

Last Revised: 01/24/2005