Proper Use

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

This medicine is given as a shot under your skin in the stomach, buttock, or thigh area. Somatropin 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 doctor will teach you how to prepare and inject the medicine. Be sure that you understand exactly how the medicine is prepared and injected.

This medicine comes with a patient instructions. Read and follow the instructions in the insert carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

Use the Skytrofa™ cartridge with the Skytrofa™ autoinjector only. Make sure your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist instructs you on how to prepare and administer this medication. Also, read all instructions carefully to be sure you know how to use your device.

You will be shown the body areas where this shot can be given. Use a different body area each time you give yourself a shot. Keep track of where you give each shot to make sure you rotate body areas. This will help prevent skin problems from the injections.

Use a new needle and cartridge each time you inject your medicine.

If refrigerated, allow the medicine to warm at room temperature for 15 minutes before use.

This medicine should be clear and colorless. Do not use the medicine if the liquid is cloudy, discolored, or has particles in it.

To use the autoinjector:

  • Place the needle straight on the cartridge by turning clockwise until tight. Do not remove the needle cover.
  • Press and release the green button to turn on. You will hear a humming sound with the battery icon and 3 other icons above will light up. Then all of the icons will turn off, except the battery icon. The autoinjector is ready to use if you will hear 2 loud beeps and the green top will start flashing.
  • Push the cartridge straight down with the needle cover still on into the flashing green top. Once you hear a click sound, the green top will stop flashing and mixing icon will light up. You may remove your finger from the cartridge.
  • Wait for 4 to 8 minutes for the autoinjector to mix the medicine. Once finished, you will hear 2 loud beeps.
  • Mix the autoinjector up and down by hand, you will hear a tick sound. Turn it 5 to 10 times until you hear 2 loud beeps. Keep it upright until you hear another 2 loud beeps.
  • Pull the needle cover, a green eye icon will light up.
  • Wash your hands with soap and water. Clean the injection site with an alcohol wipe.
  • Press and hold the green top against the injection site for 10 to 15 seconds until you hear 2 loud beeps and green top will flash 2 times. Remove the autoinjector from the skin.
  • Press the needle cover back into the flashing green top. Press it down to release the cartridge.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine 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 this medicine. 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 injection dosage form (powder for solution):
    • For treatment of growth failure caused by growth hormone deficiency:
      • Children 1 year of age and older weighing at least 11.5 kilograms (kg)—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The dose is usually 0.24 milligrams (mg) per kg of body weight injected under the skin once a week.
        • Weighing 85 to 100 kg—22 mg (two 11 mg cartridges) injected under the skin once a week. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed.
        • Weighing 70 to 84.9 kg—18.2 mg (two 9.1 mg cartridges) injected under the skin once a week. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed.
        • Weighing 60.5 to 69.9 kg—15.2 mg (two 7.6 mg cartridges) injected under the skin once a week. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed.
        • Weighing 51 to 60.4 kg—13.3 mg injected under the skin once a week. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed.
        • Weighing 42 to 50.9 kg—11.1 mg injected under the skin once a week. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed.
        • Weighing 35 to 41.9 kg—9.1 mg injected under the skin once a week. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed.
        • Weighing 29 to 34.9 kg—7.6 mg injected under the skin once a week. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed.
        • Weighing 24 to 28.9 kg—6.3 mg injected under the skin once a week. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed.
        • Weighing 20 to 23.9 kg—5.2 mg injected under the skin once a week. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed.
        • Weighing 16.5 to 19.9 kg—4.3 mg injected under the skin once a week. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed.
        • Weighing 14 to 16.4 kg—3.6 mg injected under the skin once a week. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed.
        • Weighing 11.5 to 13.9 kg—3 mg injected under the skin once a week. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed.
      • Children younger than 1 year of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed Dose

This medicine needs to be given on a fixed schedule. If you miss a dose or forget to use your medicine, call your doctor or pharmacist for instructions.

If you miss a dose, use it as soon as possible. However, if it is more than 2 days, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. To avoid missed doses, this medicine can be used 2 days before or 2 days after the scheduled dose. At least 5 days should pass between doses.

Storage

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Store in the refrigerator. Do not freeze.

Unopened cartridge: You may keep blistered cartridges at room temperature for up to 6 months and store back in the refrigerator within 6 months. Throw away any unused medicine up to expiration date or 6 months after it was first removed from the refrigerator, whichever is earlier.

Mixed medicine: Use it within 4 hours. Throw away any mixed medicine that has not been used after 4 hours.

Throw away used needles in a hard, closed container that the needles cannot poke through. Keep this container away from children and pets.

Portions of this document last updated: Feb. 01, 2024

Copyright: © Merative US L.P. 1973, 2024. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.