Growth Hormone Deficiency

Our Specialty Pharmacy offers pharmacy services to people with growth hormone deficiency who need long-term drug therapy. Our pharmacy staff can provide the medications you need for your condition after you return home from the clinic. Experienced pharmacy professionals work closely with your Mayo Clinic care team to develop a personalized medication management program for you at no additional cost. We coordinate all billing and claims on your behalf, relieving you of up-front costs and the headaches of completing insurance forms and filing claims.

About Growth Hormone Deficiency
The Role of Medications in Treating Growth Hormone Deficiency
Side Effects, Cautions and Special Requirements
Always Ask Your Pharmacist

About Growth Hormone Deficiency

Growth hormone is naturally produced by the pituitary gland and is necessary to stimulate growth in children. Growth hormone controls bone and tissue growth and maintains the appropriate balance of muscle and fat tissue. Hypopituitarism is a disorder in which the pituitary gland fails to produce one or more of its hormones, or doesn't produce enough of them. It can affect the body's routine functions and is one cause of failure to grow in children. When pediatric growth hormone deficiency occurs and growth is disrupted in infancy or childhood, growth hormone replacement may be prescribed. Diagnosis of chronic renal insufficiency, Prader-Willi syndrome and Turner's syndrome may also require growth hormone treatment.

Adult growth hormone deficiency occurs when the pituitary gland does not secrete enough hormones to maintain healthy body composition and metabolism, which can lead to pituitary disease, hypothalamic disease and serious complications.

The Role of Medications in Treating Growth Hormone Deficiency

Growth hormone, also called somatropin, is taken through an injection beneath the skin. It promotes growth, resulting in a more normal height in children. Adults with a growth hormone deficiency may also benefit from growth hormone replacement, but will not become taller.

Use of growth hormone replacement medication rarely causes complications. To help reduce any drug-related risks, an endocrinologist may regularly monitor the levels of these hormones in your blood. Generally, hormone levels are checked every few weeks or months at the beginning of treatment, and then eventually once a year.

Adjustment of your dose may be required if you become seriously ill or experience major physical stress. Dosage may also need to be fine-tuned when you have the flu, experience diarrhea or vomiting, or have surgery or dental procedures.

The long-term outlook for people with growth hormone deficiency is usually excellent once treatment begins. The signs and symptoms of this disease should disappear once hormone-replacement medications are started.

Side Effects, Cautions and Special Requirements

Like all medications, growth hormone therapy may have side effects. Most side effects usually do not need medical attention and may go away during treatment as the body adjusts to the medicine.

Ear infections or other ear problems, particularly in patients with Turner's syndrome, are common. Less common side effects are abdominal pain or bloating, changes in vision, depression in the skin or pain and swelling at the site of injection, headache, nausea, vomiting, pain in the hip and knee, or skin rash and itching.

In rare cases, side effects can include carpal tunnel syndrome, enlargement of breasts, increased growth of birthmarks, joint and muscle pain, and swelling of the hands, feet and lower legs. The more serious and persistent side effects must be checked out with your physician.

Wearing a medical alert bracelet or pendant and carrying a special card notifying others that you are taking growth hormone medication can help medical staff in emergency situations.

Always Ask Your Pharmacist

If you experience problems with growth hormone therapy, your pharmacist is a reliable source of information about growth hormone medication management and can help you monitor your condition, maximize the benefits of your medications, limit side effects and identify drug-drug or drug-disease interactions. Your pharmacist will work closely with your doctor to create a safe and appropriate care plan.

Optimal benefit from growth hormone therapy requires the coordinated care of your health care team. Doctors, nurses and other caregivers must work closely with pharmacists and others to ensure therapy is safe and effective. Incomplete management of your medical condition may lead to complications or limit the success of treatment.