Omnitrope

Generic name:somatropin [ soe-ma-TROE-pin ]
Drug class:Growth hormones

Medically reviewed by Philip Thornton, DipPharm. Last updated on Apr 5, 2022.

What is Omnitrope?

Omnitrope is a form of human growth hormone important for the growth of bones and muscles.

Omnitrope is used to treat growth failure in children and adults who lack natural growth hormone. This includes people with with Turner syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, short stature at birth with no catch-up growth, and other causes.

Omnitrope may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Warnings

You should not use Omnitrope if you have cancer, eye problems caused by diabetes, or if you are being treated for Prader-Willi syndrome and you are overweight or have severe breathing problems. You should not use Omnitrope if you have a serious illness due to lung failure or complications from recent surgery, injury, or medical trauma.

Before you receive Omnitrope, tell your doctor about all your past and present medical conditions, especially allergies, trauma, surgery, diabetes, cancer, breathing problems, liver or kidney disease, scoliosis, high blood pressure, pancreas disorder, underactive thyroid, or a brain tumor.

Also tell your doctor about all other medications you use, especially steroids or diabetes medications. Your dosages of these medicines may need to be changed when you start using Omnitrope. Do not stop using a steroid suddenly or change any of your medication doses without your doctor's advice.

Call your doctor at once if you have sudden and severe pain in your upper stomach with nausea and vomiting, fast heartbeat, increased thirst or urination, weight loss, or vision changes and sudden, severe pain behind your eyes.

Before taking this medicine

You should not use Omnitrope if you are allergic to somatropin or benzyl alcohol, or if you have:

• a serious illness due to lung failure or complications from recent surgery, injury, or medical trauma;

• closed epiphyses;

• active cancer;

• eye problems caused by diabetes (diabetic retinopathy); or

• if you are being treated for Prader-Willi syndrome and you are overweight or have severe breathing problems (including sleep apnea).

To make sure Omnitrope is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

• cancer (especially during childhood);

• diabetes;

• breathing problems, sleep apnea (breathing stops during sleep);

• a pituitary gland disorder;

• abnormal curvature of the spine (scoliosis);

• underactive thyroid;

• a head injury or brain tumor; or

• childhood brain cancer and radiation treatment.

It is not known whether Omnitrope will cause harm to an unborn baby when used by a pregnant woman.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

It may not be safe to breast-feed a baby while you are using this medicine. Ask your doctor about any risks.

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