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What Is Octreotide?

Octreotide is a prescription medication classified as a somatostatin analog. It acts like somatostatin, a hormone that regulates the release of several other hormones and digestive secretions. Octreotide is used to treat acromegaly and certain symptoms associated with metastatic carcinoid tumors and vasoactive intestinal peptide-secreting tumors, also called VIPomas. It is available in short-acting injectable and long-acting formulations, with product-specific administration instructions and approved uses.

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What Is Octreotide?

Octreotide is a prescription medication classified as a somatostatin analog. It acts like somatostatin, a hormone that regulates the release of several other hormones and digestive secretions. Octreotide is used to treat acromegaly and certain symptoms associated with metastatic carcinoid tumors and vasoactive intestinal peptide-secreting tumors, also called VIPomas. It is available in short-acting injectable and long-acting formulations, with product-specific administration instructions and approved uses.

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How Does Octreotide Work?

Octreotide binds to somatostatin receptors and suppresses the secretion of several hormones and signaling substances. It reduces growth hormone release, helping lower insulin-like growth factor 1 levels in patients with acromegaly. In certain neuroendocrine tumors, it decreases substances responsible for severe diarrhea and flushing. Octreotide also affects digestive secretions, gallbladder function, and blood glucose regulation. Its clinical effects depend on the treated condition and prescribed formulation.

What Conditions Does Octreotide Treat?

Short-acting octreotide injection is approved for selected patients with acromegaly who cannot undergo or have not responded adequately to certain other treatments. It also treats severe diarrhea and flushing associated with metastatic carcinoid tumors and profuse watery diarrhea caused by VIPomas. Some long-acting octreotide formulations have additional or different approved indications. Healthcare professionals also use octreotide for selected conditions outside its FDA-approved indications. Treatment selection depends on the diagnosis, hormone levels, symptoms, and formulation.

How Is Octreotide Administered?

Short-acting octreotide acetate can be administered by subcutaneous or intravenous injection. For acromegaly, a common initial subcutaneous regimen is 50 micrograms three times daily, followed by adjustments based on hormone measurements and response. Dosing for carcinoid symptoms and VIPomas follows separate schedules. Long-acting injectable formulations are administered at longer intervals by healthcare professionals. Patients should follow the specific product instructions because short-acting and long-acting preparations are not directly interchangeable.

What Are the Side Effects and Warnings of Octreotide?

Common side effects include abdominal discomfort, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and injection-site reactions. Octreotide can cause gallstones or other gallbladder problems, changes in blood glucose, slow heart rate, and thyroid function abnormalities. Long-term use can affect nutrient absorption, including vitamin B12 levels. Clinicians monitor hormone response, blood sugar, and other findings according to the treated condition. Severe abdominal pain, fainting, or significant changes in blood glucose require medical attention.

Common Questions About Octreotide

Is octreotide a hormone medication?

Octreotide is a synthetic analog of somatostatin, a natural hormone that regulates the release of several other hormones and digestive secretions.

Can octreotide treat acromegaly?

Yes. Certain octreotide formulations are approved to treat acromegaly by reducing growth hormone and IGF-1 levels in eligible patients.

Does octreotide treat carcinoid tumors?

Octreotide is used to control symptoms such as flushing and severe diarrhea associated with metastatic carcinoid tumors. Symptom relief does not necessarily mean tumor shrinkage.

Can octreotide affect blood sugar?

Yes. Octreotide can cause high or low blood glucose by changing the release of hormones involved in glucose regulation.

References

DailyMed - OCTREOTIDE ACETATE injection, solution. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=01962c67-e551-47b6-a276-e1ae1860d2a4. Date Accessed October 22, 2026.

DailyMed - SANDOSTATIN LAR DEPOT (octreotide acetate) injectable