DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION
For subcutaneous injection.
Therapy with Omnitrope® should be supervised by a physician who is experienced in the diagnosis and management of pediatric patients with short stature associated with GHD and adult patients with either childhood onset or adult onset GHD.
Dosing of Pediatric Patients
General Pediatric Dosing Information
The Omnitrope® dosage and administration schedule should be individualized based on the growth response of each patient. Serum insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) levels may be useful during dose titration.
Response to somatropin therapy in pediatric patients tends to decrease with time. However, in pediatric patients, the failure to increase growth rate, particularly during the first year of therapy, indicates the need for close assessment of compliance and evaluation for other causes of growth failure, such as hypothyroidism, undernutrition, advanced bone age and antibodies to recombinant human GH (rhGH).
Treatment with Omnitrope® for short stature should be discontinued when the epiphyses are fused.
Pediatric Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD)
Generally, a dosage of 0.16 - 0.24 mg/kg body weight/week, divided into 6 - 7 daily doses, is recommended.
Dosing of Adult Patients
Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD)
Based on the weight-based dosing utilized in clinical studies with another somatropin product, the recommended dosage at the start of therapy is not more than 0.04 mg/kg/week given as a daily subcutaneous injection. The dose may be increased at 4- to 8-week intervals according to individual patient requirements to not more than 0.08 mg/kg/week. Clinical response, side effects, and determination of age- and gender-adjusted serum IGF-I levels may be used as guidance in dose titration.
Alternatively, taking into account recent literature, a starting dose of approximately 0.2 mg/day (range, 0.15-0.30 mg/day) may be used without consideration of body weight. This dose can be increased gradually every 1-2 months by increments of approximately 0.1-0.2 mg/day, according to individual patient requirements based on the clinical response and serum IGF-I concentrations. During therapy, the dose should be decreased if required by the occurrence of adverse events and/or serum IGF-I levels above the age- and gender-specific normal range. Maintenance dosages vary considerably from person to person.
A lower starting dose and smaller dose increments should be considered for older patients, who are more prone to the adverse effects of somatropin than younger individuals. In addition, obese individuals are more likely to manifest adverse effects when treated with a weight-based regimen. In order to reach the defined treatment goal, estrogen-replete women may need higher doses than men. Oral estrogen administration may increase the dose requirements in women.
Preparation and Administration
Omnitrope® Cartridge 5 mg/1.5 mL and Cartridge 10 mg/1.5 mL
Each cartridge of Omnitrope® must be inserted into its corresponding Omnitrope® Pen 5 or Omnitrope® Pen 10 delivery system. Instructions for delivering the dosage are provided in the Omnitrope® INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE booklet enclosed with the Omnitrope® drug and the Omnitrope® Pens.
OMNITROPE® for injection 1.5 mg/vial and 5.8 mg/vial
Instructions for delivering the dosage are provided in the INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE leaflets enclosed with the Omnitrope® drug.
Once the diluent is added to the lyophilized powder, swirl gently; do not shake. Shaking may cause denaturation of the active ingredient.
Parenteral drug products should always be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration, whenever solution and container permit. Omnitrope® MUST NOT BE INJECTED if the solution is cloudy or contains particulate matter. Use it only if it is clear and colorless. Omnitrope must be refrigerated at 2° to 8°C (36° to 46°F).
Patients and caregivers who will administer OMNITROPE® in medically unsupervised situations should receive appropriate training and instruction on the proper use of OMNITROPE® from the physician or other suitably qualified health professional.
The dosage of OMNITROPE® must be adjusted for the individual patient. The dose should be given daily by subcutaneous injections (administered preferably in the evening). OMNITROPE® may be given in the thigh, buttocks, or abdomen.
Injection sites should always be rotated to avoid lipoatrophy.
DOSAGE FORMS AND STRENGTHS
Omnitrope® Cartridges and vials (for injection) are available:
- 5 mg/1.5 mL Cartridge is a prefilled sterile somatropin solution containing benzyl alcohol in a glass cartridge ready to be administered with the Omnitrope® Pen 5.
- 10 mg/1.5 mL Cartridge is a prefilled sterile somatropin solution in a glass cartridge ready to be administered with the Omnitrope® Pen 10.
- 1.5 mg/vial is supplied with two vials, one containing somatropin as a powder and the other vial containing the diluent (Sterile Water for Injection).
- 5.8 mg/vial is supplied with two vials, one containing somatropin as a powder and the other vial containing diluent (Bacteriostatic Water for Injection containing benzyl alcohol as a preservative).
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