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A long-acting analogue of somatostatin, a hormone that is produced in the brain, gastrointestinal tract, and pancreas and inhibits the release of growth hormone. It is used for the short-term treatment of patients awaiting surgery for acromegaly (a condition due to excessive secretion of growth hormone by a tumour of the pituitary gland) and for the long-term treatment of acromegaly that does not respond to surgery, Mopamine receptor antagonists, or radiotherapy. It can also be used as an interim treatment until radiotherapy has been effective in reducing concentrations of growth hormone. Lanreotide is also used
to inhibit the secretions (and thus relieve the symptoms) of hormone-secreting tumours of the gastrointestinal tract. It is available as an injection on prescription only.
Side effects: include pain, stinging, and swelling at the injection site, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain; gallstones may develop with long-term treatment.
Precautions: lanreotide should not be given to women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Diabetic patients may need to reduce their dosage of insulin or oral antidiabetic drugs. Gall-bladder function should be
monitored. Lanreotide should be withdrawn gradually at the end of treatment.
Interactions with other drugs:
Antidiabetic drugs: doses of these may need to be reduced.
Cyclosporin: lanreotide reduces the absorption of cyclosporin.
Proprietary preparation: Somatuline LA.

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