Pronunciation: peg-VI-soe-mant
Generic Name: Pegvisomant
Brand Name: Somavert
Pegvisomant is used for:
Treating acromegaly in patients who have not responded to surgery, radiation therapy, or other medical procedures, or who are not candidates for those treatments.
Pegvisomant is a growth hormone receptor antagonist. It works by blocking the site of action for growth hormone, which helps to block the effects of growth hormone.
Do NOT use Pegvisomant if:
- you are allergic to any ingredient in Pegvisomant, including polyethylene glycol
- you are allergic to latex
Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.
Before using Pegvisomant:
Some medical conditions may interact with Pegvisomant. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:
- if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
- if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
- if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
- if you have diabetes, a tumor or other growths, liver problems, or a history of alcohol abuse
Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Pegvisomant. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:
- Narcotic pain medicine (eg, codeine) because it may decrease Pegvisomant's effectiveness
- Insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents because the risk of their side effects may be increased by Pegvisomant
This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Pegvisomant may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.
How to use Pegvisomant:
Use Pegvisomant as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.
- An extra patient leaflet is available with Pegvisomant. Talk to your pharmacist if you have questions about this information.
- Pegvisomant is usually given as an injection at your doctor's office, hospital, or clinic. If you will be using Pegvisomant at home, a health care provider will teach you how to use it. Be sure you understand how to use Pegvisomant. Follow the procedures you are taught when you use a dose. Contact your health care provider if you have any questions.
- Do not use Pegvisomant if it contains particles, is cloudy or discolored, or if the vial is cracked or damaged.
- Use the proper technique taught to you by your doctor. Inject deep under the skin, NOT into muscle.
- Pegvisomant must be mixed before you use it. Follow your doctor's instructions on how to mix Pegvisomant.
- Do not shake Pegvisomant after mixing it. Hold the vial between the palms of both hands and gently roll it to dissolve the powder.
- Use Pegvisomant within 6 hours after mixing it. Throw away any unused medicine left in the vial after your dose. If you do not use Pegvisomant within 6 hours after you mix it, throw it away.
- Choose a different injection site each day (eg, upper arm, upper thigh, stomach area, buttocks) to help prevent lumps at the injection sites.
- Keep this product, as well as syringes and needles, out of the reach of children and pets. Do not reuse needles, syringes, or other materials. Ask your health care provider how to dispose of these materials after use. Follow all local rules for disposal.
- If you miss a dose of Pegvisomant skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not use 2 doses at once.
Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Pegvisomant.
Important safety information:
- Pegvisomant may cause dizziness. This effect may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Pegvisomant with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
- Diabetes patients - Pegvisomant may affect your blood sugar. Check blood sugar levels closely. Ask your doctor before you change the dose of your diabetes medicine.
- Pegvisomant may interfere with certain lab tests, including some growth hormone level tests. Be sure your doctor and lab personnel know you are taking Pegvisomant.
- Lab tests, including growth hormone blood levels, insulin-like growth factor blood levels, and liver function, may be performed while you use Pegvisomant. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
- Pegvisomant should be used with extreme caution in CHILDREN; safety and effectiveness in children have not been confirmed.
- PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Pegvisomant while you are pregnant. It is not known if Pegvisomant is found in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you use Pegvisomant, check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby.
Possible side effects of Pegvisomant:
All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:
Back pain; diarrhea; dizziness; flu-like symptoms (eg, mild fever or chills, muscle aches, weakness); nausea; pain, redness, or itching at the injection site; sinus inflammation.
Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:
Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); chest pain; swelling of the legs and feet; symptoms of liver problems (eg, yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, pale stools, unusual tiredness, severe or persistent nausea or stomach pain, loss of appetite); thickening of the skin or lumps at the injection site; unusual weight gain.
This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.
See also: Pegvisomant side effects (in more detail)
If OVERDOSE is suspected:
Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include increased fatigue.
Proper storage of Pegvisomant:
Before mixing, store Pegvisomant in the refrigerator between 36 and 46 degrees F (2 and 8 degrees C). Do not freeze. After mixing, Pegvisomant may be kept at room temperature for up to 6 hours. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Pegvisomant out of the reach of children and away from pets.
General information:
- If you have any questions about Pegvisomant, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
- Pegvisomant is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
- If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.
- Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.
This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Pegvisomant. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
More Pegvisomant resources
- Pegvisomant Side Effects (in more detail)
- Pegvisomant Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
- Pegvisomant Drug Interactions
- Pegvisomant Support Group
- 1 Review for Pegvisomant - Add your own review/rating
- Pegvisomant Professional Patient Advice (Wolters Kluwer)
- Pegvisomant Monograph (AHFS DI)
- pegvisomant Subcutaneous Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information
- Somavert Prescribing Information (FDA)
- Somavert Consumer Overview
Compare Pegvisomant with other medications
- Acromegaly
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