Proper Use

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

Some medicines given by injection 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 health care professional will teach you how to prepare and inject the medicine. You will have a chance to practice preparing and injecting it. Be certain that you understand exactly how the medicine is to be prepared and injected.

It is important to read the patient information and instructions for use, if provided with your medicine, each time your prescription is filled.

It is important to follow any instructions from your doctor about the careful selection and rotation of injection sites on your body. This will help to prevent skin problems.

Put used needles and syringes in a puncture-resistant disposable container or dispose of them as directed by your health care professional. Do not reuse needles and syringes.

Dosing

The dose medicines in this class 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 these medicines. 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 somatrem

  • For injection dosage form:
    • For treatment of growth failure caused by growth hormone deficiency:
      • Children—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The usual total weekly dose is 0.3 milligram (mg) per kilogram (kg) (0.136 mg per pound) of body weight. This is divided into smaller doses and usually is injected under the skin, but may be injected into a muscle as determined by your doctor.

For somatropin

  • For injection dosage form:
    • For treatment of growth failure caused by growth hormone deficiency:
      • Adults—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. At first, it is usually 0.005 milligram (mg) per kilogram (kg) (0.0023 mg per pound) of body weight injected under the skin once a day. Your doctor may then increase the dose if needed.
      • Adults using Norditropin Cartridges or Norditropin NordiFlex—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. At first, it is usually 0.004 milligram (mg) per kilogram (kg) (0.0002 mg per pound) of body weight injected under the skin once a day. Your doctor may then increase the dose if needed. The dose is given using a NordiPen injection device for Norditropin cartridges and a prefilled pen for Norditropin NordiFlex.
      • Children—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The usual total weekly dose is 0.16 to 0.3 mg per kg (0.073 to 0.136 mg per pound) of body weight. This is divided into smaller doses and usually is injected under the skin, but may be injected into a muscle as determined by your doctor.
      • Children using Norditropin Cartridges or Norditropin NordiFlex—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The usual dose is 0.024 to 0.034 mg per kg (0.011 to 0.015 mg per pound of body weight) injected under the skin, on 6 to 7 days a week. The dose is given using a NordiPen injection device for Norditropin cartridges and a prefilled pen for Norditropin NordiFlex.
    • For treatment of growth failure caused by kidney disease:
      • Children—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The usual total weekly dose is 0.35 mg per kg (0.16 mg per pound) of body weight. This is divided into smaller daily doses and is injected under the skin or into a muscle.
    • For treatment of growth failure caused by Turner's syndrome:
      • Children—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The usual total weekly dose is 0.375 mg per kg (0.17 mg per pound) of body weight. This is divided into smaller doses and is injected under the skin.
    • For treatment of growth failure caused by Prader-Willi syndrome:
      • Children—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The usual total weekly dose is 0.24 mg per kg (0.11 mg per pound) of body weight. This is divided into 6 or 7 smaller doses over the course of the week and is injected under the skin.
    • For treatment of weight loss caused by acquired immunodeficiency disease (AIDS):
      • Adults weighing more than 121 pounds (55 kg)—6 mg injected under the skin once a day at bedtime.
      • Adults weighing 99 to 121 pounds (45 to 55 kg)—5 mg injected under the skin once a day at bedtime.
      • Adults weighing 77 to 98 pounds (35 to 44 kg)—4 mg injected under the skin once a day at bedtime.
      • Adults weighing less than 77 pounds (35 kg)—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. It is usually 0.1 mg per kg (0.045 mg per pound) of body weight injected under the skin once a day at bedtime.
      • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Storage

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Store at temperature directed by your health care professional or the manufacturer.

Portions of this document last updated: April 01, 2024

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