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What Is Sandostatin?

Sandostatin is a prescription medication containing octreotide acetate, a synthetic somatostatin analogue. Sandostatin Injection is approved to reduce growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor 1 levels in selected patients with acromegaly and to relieve severe diarrhea or flushing associated with certain hormone-secreting tumors. It can be administered by subcutaneous or intravenous injection. Sandostatin Injection is different from Sandostatin LAR Depot, a long-acting intramuscular formulation with separate administration instructions. Octreotide reduces the release of selected hormones and gastrointestinal peptides. Treatment requires monitoring for gallbladder disorders, blood glucose changes, thyroid function, and certain cardiac effects.

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What Is Sandostatin?

Sandostatin is a prescription medication containing octreotide acetate, a synthetic somatostatin analogue. Sandostatin Injection is approved to reduce growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor 1 levels in selected patients with acromegaly and to relieve severe diarrhea or flushing associated with certain hormone-secreting tumors. It can be administered by subcutaneous or intravenous injection. Sandostatin Injection is different from Sandostatin LAR Depot, a long-acting intramuscular formulation with separate administration instructions. Octreotide reduces the release of selected hormones and gastrointestinal peptides. Treatment requires monitoring for gallbladder disorders, blood glucose changes, thyroid function, and certain cardiac effects.

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How Does Sandostatin Work?

Sandostatin contains octreotide, which binds to somatostatin receptors and mimics some of the actions of the natural hormone somatostatin. These actions reduce the secretion of several hormones and gastrointestinal substances, including growth hormone, serotonin-related peptides, and vasoactive intestinal peptide. In acromegaly, decreased growth hormone secretion can reduce insulin-like growth factor 1 levels. In certain hormone-secreting tumors, reduced peptide release can relieve severe diarrhea and flushing. Octreotide also affects gastrointestinal motility and gallbladder contraction. Its symptom-controlling effects do not necessarily mean that tumor growth has stopped or that the underlying condition has been cured.

What Conditions Does Sandostatin Treat?

Sandostatin Injection is approved to reduce growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor 1 levels in patients with acromegaly who have not responded adequately to or cannot receive certain other treatments, including surgery or pituitary irradiation. It is also approved for severe diarrhea and flushing associated with metastatic carcinoid tumors and for profuse watery diarrhea caused by vasoactive intestinal peptide-secreting tumors, called VIPomas. Its cancer-related indications focus on controlling hormone-related symptoms rather than demonstrating reduced tumor size or improved survival. An endocrinologist or oncologist assesses hormone levels, symptoms, tumor characteristics, and previous treatments before prescribing the medication.

How Is Sandostatin Administered?

Sandostatin Injection is administered subcutaneously or intravenously, with doses depending on the diagnosis and clinical response. For acromegaly, a common initial regimen is 50 mcg three times daily for the first two weeks, with maintenance doses generally ranging from 100 mcg to 500 mcg three times daily. For carcinoid tumors, initial total daily doses commonly range from 100 mcg to 600 mcg in two to four divided doses. For VIPomas, initial total daily doses commonly range from 200 mcg to 300 mcg in divided doses. Hormone levels and symptoms guide adjustments. Sandostatin LAR Depot uses a different long-acting intramuscular schedule and must not be substituted using the same dosing instructions.

What Are the Side Effects and Warnings of Sandostatin?

Common adverse effects include abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, nausea, headache, and injection-site pain. Sandostatin can reduce gallbladder contractions, increasing the risk of gallstones and related complications. It can also cause high or low blood sugar, changes in thyroid function, and reduced absorption of dietary fats. Serious cardiac effects include slow heart rate, conduction abnormalities, and arrhythmias. Pancreatitis and vitamin deficiencies may occur in susceptible patients. Clinicians monitor blood glucose, thyroid function, gallbladder symptoms, and cardiac health when indicated. Severe abdominal pain, fainting, persistent diarrhea, or significant changes in heart rhythm require prompt medical evaluation.

Common Questions About Sandostatin

Is Sandostatin the same as octreotide?

Yes. Sandostatin contains octreotide acetate, a somatostatin analogue used for selected hormone-related conditions.

Is Sandostatin the same as Sandostatin LAR Depot?

No. Sandostatin Injection is a short-acting formulation administered subcutaneously or intravenously. Sandostatin LAR Depot is a long-acting intramuscular formulation with a different schedule.

Can Sandostatin treat acromegaly?

Yes. Sandostatin Injection is approved to reduce growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor 1 levels in selected patients with acromegaly.

Can Sandostatin cause gallstones?

Yes. Octreotide can reduce gallbladder contractions and increase the risk of gallstones. Persistent or severe abdominal pain should be evaluated by a clinician.

References

DailyMed - SANDOSTATIN (octreotide acetate) injection, solution. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=4e2c9856-1836-49f0-9472-4dbeeb408f39. Date Accessed November 6, 2026.

Octreotide. LiverTox. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK547947/. Date Accessed November 6, 2026.

Octreotide. PubChem. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Octreotide. Date Accessed November 6, 2026.

Octreotide Injection. MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a693049.html. Date Accessed November 6, 2026.

SANDOSTATIN Injection Prescribing Information. DailyMed. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/fda/fdaDrugXsl.cfm?setid=4e2c9856-1836-49f0-9472-4dbeeb408f39. Date Accessed November 6, 2026.