This leaflet answers some common questions about SciTropin A.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks using SciTropin A against the benefits they expect it will have for you or your child.
It contains the active ingredient somatropin. Somatropin is a biosynthetic human growth hormone which is a protein molecule occurring naturally in humans.
SciTropin A is identical to the body's own growth hormone.
any of other ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet under Product description.
active tumours or evidence of tumour growth.
close epiphyses if you are a child (this means that the growth area of the bones is unable to grow anymore).
are currently being treated for cancer.
Do not give this medicine to child under the age of 3 years.
If you are not sure if you or your child should start using this medicine, talk to your doctor.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding. Your doctor can discuss the risks and benefits involved.
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell him/her before you start using SciTropin A.
medicines used to treat Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) deficiency, such as hydrocortisone.
hormone therapy e.g. hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for oestrogen deficiency, menopause or osteoporosis (bone thinning), testosterone for hormone deficiency in men, or other hormone therapy for contraception ("the Pill"), endometriosis or some cancers.
These medicines may be affected by SciTropin A or may affect how well it works. You may need different amounts of your medicine, or you may need to take different medicines.
The dose of SciTropin A is different for each person. Your doctor will tell you what the right dose for you or your child is.
If you use the wrong dose, SciTropin A may not work as well and your problem may not improve.
After taking SciTropin A out of the refrigerator allow the glass cartridge to reach room temperature (about 30 minutes) prior to injection.
Reconstitution is not required for SciTropin A Solution for Injection. This medicine is ready-to-use.
Put the glass cartridge containing the SciTropin A solution in the injector pen. Follow the instructions that come with the pen.
SciTropin A is usually injected once a day in the evening.
If it is almost time for the next injection, skip the dose you missed and inject the next dose when you are meant to.
Do not inject a double dose to make up for the dose that you missed. This may increase the change of you getting an unwanted side effect.
Immediately telephone your doctor or Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26) for advice, or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital, if you think that you or anyone else may have used too much SciTropin A. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention.
If you are about to be started on any new medicine, remind your doctor and pharmacist that you are using SciTropin A.
Do not use SciTropin A to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to.
Because growth hormone may interfere with your body's use of insulin, you will have to be watchful of glucose intolerance during therapy. Symptoms of glucose intolerance include increased thirst and need to pass urine.
Follow the instructions for administration of SciTropin A carefully. Not following instructions might decrease the activity of your medicine or lead to a broken pen injector or cartridge.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are using SciTropin A.
These are mild side effects of the medicine that usually only occur at the beginning of therapy but also depend on dose.
The above list includes serious side effects. You or your child may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation. Serious side effects are very rare.
Keep your medicine in its original container. If you take it out of its original container it may not keep well.
Keep your medicine in the refrigerator at 2°C to 8°C. Do not freeze.
If you are using SciTropin A 5mg/1.5mL discard the cartridge 21 days after injecting the first dose.
If you are using SciTropin A 10mg/1.5mL discard the cartridge 28 days after injecting the first dose.
Used needles and the empty cartridges should be disposed of in a sharps container or a container composed of hard plastic or glass.
SciTropin A Solution for Injection is a clear to colourless solution.
Each pack of SciTropin A 5mg/1.5mL Solution for Injection contains 1 or 2 cartridges.
Each pack of SciTropin A 10mg/1.5mL Solution for Injection contains 1 or 2 cartridges.