Somatostatin
About Somatostatin
Somatostatin is a specialised medicine used to treat serious conditions affecting the digestive system, such as severe bleeding from the stomach or oesophagus, pancreatic fistulas, and complications following pancreatic surgery. Somatostatin is a hormone that your body naturally produces, and this medicine works by reproducing the effects of that natural hormone. Because it is used for serious medical conditions, it is given as an injection or continuous infusion directly into a vein in a hospital under close medical supervision.
Somatostatin remains in the body for only a few minutes, so it must be given as a continuous infusion to maintain its effect throughout treatment. Your healthcare team will decide how long the infusion should continue. During treatment, you may be asked to fast (avoid eating and drinking) to allow your digestive system to rest. Once you are allowed to eat again, begin with small, bland meals and gradually return to your normal diet as advised by your healthcare team.
Most people tolerate this medicine well, although mild flushing, nausea, or a slow heart rate may occur during treatment. However, tell your healthcare team immediately if you develop severe abdominal pain, difficulty breathing, extreme dizziness, or sudden changes in your blood sugar levels.
Before starting treatment, tell your doctor if you have diabetes, kidney disease, gallbladder disease, heart rhythm or conduction problems, or if you have ever had an allergic reaction to somatostatin or similar peptide medicines. Your healthcare team will decide whether this medicine is suitable for you.
This medicine may interact with medicines that affect blood sugar levels or heart rate. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, an older adult, or have other long-term medical conditions, your doctor will carefully weigh the benefits and risks before starting treatment.
Uses of Somatostatin
Medicinal Benefits
When used as prescribed, Somatostatin may provide the following benefits:
- Helps control serious internal bleeding: Reduces blood flow to the digestive tract, helping stop severe bleeding more quickly.
- Supports healing of pancreatic fistulas: Reduces the amount of digestive fluid released by the pancreas, allowing damaged tissues to recover.
- Helps prevent complications after pancreatic surgery: Reduces pancreatic secretions that can interfere with healing.
- Supports recovery during emergencies: Helps stabilise serious gastrointestinal conditions while other treatments are provided.
Directions for Use
- Follow your doctor's instructions on the dosage and timing of this medication.
- Somatostatin is administered by the doctor or healthcare professional.
- Do not self-administer.
Storage
Side Effects of Somatostatin
Common Side Effects (Usually mild)
- Nausea or vomiting
- Flushing (a sudden feeling of warmth)
- Mild stomach discomfort, bloating, or gas
- Temporary slow heart rate (bradycardia)
Serious Side Effects (Consult your doctor right away)
- Severe pain in the upper right side of your abdomen, which may indicate gallbladder problems
- Sudden difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, severe skin rash, or difficulty breathing
- Extreme dizziness, fainting, confusion, or significant changes in blood sugar levels
Medicines Containing this Salt
View AllDrug Warnings
- Check the solution before use: Healthcare professionals should ensure the solution is clear, colourless, and free from visible particles.
- Monitoring during treatment: Your healthcare team will regularly monitor your blood sugar, heart rate, blood pressure, and, if treatment is prolonged, your thyroid function to ensure the medicine remains safe and effective.
- Tell your doctor about heart rhythm problems: Inform your healthcare team if you have a history of slow heart rate, heart block, or other heart rhythm disorders before treatment begins.
- Watch the infusion site: Tell your nurse if you notice pain, redness, swelling, or leakage around the intravenous infusion site.
- Tell your doctor if you have gallstones: This medicine may affect gallbladder function and may not be suitable for some people with gallbladder disease.
Drug Interactions
- Insulin and other diabetes medicines (i.e. metformin, gliclazide, glimepiride): Somatostatin can increase or decrease blood sugar levels, so diabetes medicines may need dose adjustments.
- Beta-blockers and other medicines that slow the heart rate (i.e. atenolol, metoprolol, diltiazem, verapamil): Taking these medicines together may increase the risk of a slow heart rate.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
consult your doctorIt is not known whether it is safe to consume alcohol with Somatostatin. Please consult your doctor if you have any concerns regarding this.
Pregnancy
consult your doctorIf you are pregnant or planning pregnancy, inform your doctor before receiving Somatostatin. Your doctor may recommend this medication if the potential benefits outweigh the potential risks.
Breast Feeding
consult your doctorIt is not known whether Somatostatin pass into breast milk. If you are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed, please consult your doctor before receiving it.
Driving
consult your doctorIt is not known whether Somatostatin alters the ability to drive. Do not drive if you experience any symptoms that affect your ability to concentrate and react.
Liver
consult your doctorPlease inform your doctor if you have liver impairment/liver disease before receiving Somatostatin.
Kidney
cautionSomatostatin should be used with caution in patients with kidney failure. Therefore, please inform your doctor if you have kidney impairment/kidney disease before receiving Somatostatin.
Children
unsafeThe safety and efficacy of Somatostatin in children and adolescents have not been established.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Follow fasting instructions: Do not eat or drink until your healthcare team tells you it is safe to do so.
- Restart eating gradually: Begin with small, bland, easy-to-digest meals when your doctor allows you to eat again.
- Avoid alcohol: Alcohol can worsen stomach irritation and pancreatic disease.
- Choose low-fat foods: Limiting fatty, spicy, and sugary foods may reduce stress on your digestive system during recovery.
- Attend all follow-up appointments: Regular monitoring helps your healthcare team assess your recovery and adjust treatment if needed.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Gastrointestinal hemorrhage: Gastrointestinal hemorrhage (gastrointestinal bleeding) refers to the blood loss from any of the several organs of the digestive system that runs from your mouth to anus. It can occur due to anal fissures, colorectal cancer, rectal ulcers, crohn's disease or diverticulosis (small pouches, called diverticula, form in the lining of the colon). Symptoms include weakness, fatigue, or pallor due to anemia, abdominal pain or cramping, black, tarry stools (melena) or fresh blood in stools (hematochezia).
Hemorrhagic gastritis: Hemorrhagic Gastritis is inflammation in the lining of your stomach. Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and dark, tarry stools because of the blood are some of the symptoms. It is caused by overuse of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or corticosteroids, infections like helicobacter pylori or other bacterial infections or excessive drinking can damage the stomach lining.
Esophageal varices: Esophageal varices are enlarged veins in the esophagus. It most often occurs in people with serious liver diseases. It is caused by liver disease-related scar tissue in the liver, commonly referred to as liver cirrhosis. Symptoms include vomiting large amounts of blood, black, tarry or bloody stools or lightheadedness due to blood loss.
FAQs
Somatostatin is used in the treatment of severe acute gastrointestinal hemorrhage (gastrointestinal bleeding) caused by gastric or duodenal ulcers, hemorrhagic gastritis (inflammation in the lining of your stomach) and esophageal varices (enlarged veins in the esophagus). It is also used to manage fistulas in the intestines, bile ducts, and pancreas, as well as to alleviate excessive secretions from gastrointestinal endocrine tumors. Additionally, it is used to prevent and treat postoperative complications following pancreatic surgery, and as coadjuvant treatment in diabetic ketoacidosis.
Somatostatin contains Somatostatin as an active ingredient, which works by inhibiting the growth hormone, thyroid stimulating hormone, insulin and glucagon secretion as well as inhibition of gastric acid secretion. Additionally, it regulates the digestive system's ability to absorb nutrients, move food through the gut, control blood flow, and maintain the health and growth of gastrointestinal tissues.
Somatostatin should be stored at a temperature of 2ºC to 8ºC. Protect from light and moisture. Keep out of reach of children.
Yes, Somatostatin can cause diarrhoea as a side effect. Avoid spicy foods and maintain a balanced diet while taking Somatostatin. However, please consult a doctor if the condition worsens.
The side effects of Somatostatin include diarrhea, abdominal pain, increased glucose level in blood, nausea, vomiting, flushing and injection site reaction. If any of these side effects persist or worsen, please consult your doctor.
Please inform your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding before receiving Somatostatin. Your doctor may recommend this medication if the potential benefits outweigh the potential risks.
Somatostatin is given as a slow injection or, more commonly, as a continuous infusion into a vein by trained healthcare professionals in a hospital. Because the medicine remains in the body for only a few minutes, a continuous infusion is usually needed to maintain its effect.
Yes. This medicine can cause both high and low blood sugar levels, so your healthcare team will monitor your blood sugar regularly during treatment, especially if you have diabetes.
Yes. Many patients are asked to avoid eating and drinking during treatment to allow the stomach and pancreas to rest. Your healthcare team will tell you when it is safe to start eating again.
Mild bloating can occur, but severe or persistent abdominal pain may indicate gallbladder problems or another complication. Tell your doctor or nurse immediately.
Information on the use of this medicine during pregnancy is limited. Your doctor will prescribe it only if the expected benefits outweigh the possible risks to you and your baby.
It is not known whether this medicine passes into breast milk. Your doctor may advise you to temporarily stop breastfeeding during treatment. If appropriate, you may wish to pump and discard your breast milk during this period to help maintain your milk supply until your doctor advises that breastfeeding can be resumed safely.
Yes. Somatostatin may temporarily slow your heart rate. Your healthcare team will monitor your heart rate and blood pressure throughout treatment, especially if you already have a heart condition.
