Endocrine
Octreotide
A somatostatin analogue — A hormone-blocking injection used in acromegaly, neuroendocrine tumours and certain emergencies.
Education and reference only. This is a plain-language class overview — it deliberately contains no doses. Always check the current Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC), the BNF and your local formulary before prescribing or administering any medicine.
Quick answer
What is Octreotide?
Octreotide is a manufactured version of the hormone somatostatin, given by injection. By damping down the release of several hormones and digestive secretions, it is used in acromegaly, neuroendocrine tumours, high-output gut losses and to help control variceal bleeding.
- How it works: Natural somatostatin tells the body to slow the release of many hormones (including growth hormone) and digestive juices, and reduces blood flow to the gut.
- In practice: In practice octreotide (and its longer-acting relative lanreotide) is a manufactured version of the natural hormone somatostatin, which acts as a general "off switch" for the secretion of many hormones and gut juices.
What it is
Octreotide is a manufactured version of the hormone somatostatin, given by injection. By damping down the release of several hormones and digestive secretions, it is used in acromegaly, neuroendocrine tumours, high-output gut losses and to help control variceal bleeding.
How it works
Natural somatostatin tells the body to slow the release of many hormones (including growth hormone) and digestive juices, and reduces blood flow to the gut. Octreotide mimics this broadly and for longer — which is why it can calm hormone-secreting tumours, reduce gut output and help stem variceal bleeding, while also causing gut and gallbladder effects.
In practice
In practice octreotide (and its longer-acting relative lanreotide) is a manufactured version of the natural hormone somatostatin, which acts as a general "off switch" for the secretion of many hormones and gut juices. This gives it several distinct specialist uses: controlling the excess growth hormone of acromegaly; controlling symptoms (such as flushing and diarrhoea) and slowing growth in neuroendocrine tumours including carcinoid; reducing high-output losses from the gut (for example from a stoma or fistula); and, in the acute setting, helping control bleeding from oesophageal varices in liver disease by reducing blood flow to the gut. It is given by injection — short-acting under the skin, or as a long-acting depot every few weeks. The practical themes are predictable from its hormone-blocking action: it commonly causes gut upset (bloating, loose stools, cramps), and over time promotes gallstones, so the gallbladder is monitored; it can affect blood sugar control (either way) by altering insulin and glucagon, and can slow the heart and affect thyroid and vitamin B12 over long use. It is specialist-initiated, with monitoring tailored to the condition being treated.
Examples
Practical use
How to take it & use it well
- It is given by injection, either as regular shorter-acting injections under the skin or as a longer-acting injection into a muscle given every few weeks by your team.
- It is used for several conditions, including acromegaly, certain hormone-producing tumours, heavy fluid losses from the gut, and bleeding from swollen veins in the gullet.
- If you give the shorter-acting form yourself, you will be shown how to inject it and to rotate the site to spare the skin.
- Take any anti-sickness or supportive advice on board, as tummy upset such as cramps, wind, loose stools or feeling sick is common, especially at first, and often eases.
- Because it can encourage gallstones, your gallbladder may be scanned from time to time, so attend these checks even if you feel well.
- Keep your monitoring appointments and blood tests, as it can affect your blood sugar, thyroid and, over the long term, vitamin levels.
Common uses
- Acromegaly (excess growth hormone)
- Neuroendocrine/carcinoid tumours (symptoms and growth)
- High-output gut losses; acute variceal bleeding
Monitoring
- The target hormone/tumour markers or symptom control
- Gallbladder (ultrasound over time), blood sugar and thyroid
- Heart rate and vitamin B12 with long-term use
Weighing it up
Advantages & disadvantages
Advantages
- It controls the symptoms and hormone overproduction in conditions like acromegaly and carcinoid tumours.
- It can dramatically reduce heavy fluid losses from the gut in some conditions.
- It has an emergency role in controlling bleeding from swollen veins in the gullet.
- A long-acting form means some people need only an injection every few weeks.
- It is well established, with long experience of its use in these specialist conditions.
Disadvantages
- Tummy upset such as cramps, wind, loose stools and feeling sick is common, particularly at the start.
- It promotes the formation of gallstones, so the gallbladder is monitored over time.
- It can alter blood sugar control, raising or lowering it depending on the situation.
- It can slow the heart and, over the long term, affect the thyroid and vitamin B12.
- It is an injection treatment given or supervised by a specialist team, not a simple tablet.
Key safety principles
What to watch for
- Commonly causes gut upset (bloating, cramps, loose stools), which often eases with time.
- Promotes gallstones over time — the gallbladder is monitored; can alter blood sugar control (affects insulin and glucagon).
- Can slow the heart and, with long-term use, affect thyroid and vitamin B12 — monitored according to the condition.
Key interactions
What to avoid or check alongside
- It alters the body's own insulin and glucagon, so it can change blood sugar control, which matters especially in people with diabetes whose treatment may need adjusting.
- Used with medicines that slow the heart, such as beta-blockers, it can lower the heart rate further.
- It can change how some other medicines are absorbed from the gut, so tell your team about everything you take.
- Because it promotes gallstones, regular gallbladder scans are part of long-term care even when you feel well.
- Over the long term it can affect the thyroid and vitamin B12, so these are monitored alongside your other blood tests.
Patient & carer advice
- Tummy upset and looser stools are common at first and often settle
- We will keep an eye on your gallbladder and blood sugar during treatment
- If you have diabetes, watch your sugars more closely as this can change your control
Use with
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Answers
Octreotide: frequently asked questions
What is octreotide used for?
It is an injection used for several specialist conditions, including acromegaly, certain hormone-producing tumours such as carcinoid, heavy fluid losses from the gut, and as an emergency treatment for bleeding from swollen veins in the gullet. It works by calming overactive hormone signals and reducing certain gut secretions.
Why does octreotide cause tummy problems?
By changing how the gut works, it can cause cramps, wind, loose stools and feeling sick, especially when you first start it. These effects often ease with time. Tell your team if they are troublesome, as supportive advice or adjustments can help, and try not to stop the treatment on your own.
Why is my gallbladder being checked?
Octreotide encourages the formation of gallstones, so your gallbladder may be scanned from time to time, even if you feel perfectly well. These checks pick up any stones early. Attending them is an important part of long-term treatment, so keep these appointments alongside your other monitoring.
Can octreotide affect my blood sugar?
Yes. It changes the body's own insulin and glucagon, so it can raise or lower blood sugar depending on the situation. This matters especially if you have diabetes, as your diabetes treatment may need adjusting. Your team will monitor your blood sugar and advise you on what to watch for.
How often will I need injections?
It depends on the form. The shorter-acting type is given as regular injections under the skin, sometimes by yourself after training, while a longer-acting form is given into a muscle by your team only every few weeks. Your team will choose the form and schedule that suits your condition.
Authoritative sources
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