Octreotide Side Effects
Octreotide Somatostatin LAR
It is given every 28 days deep intramuscular by injection.
I have been taking octreotide 40 mg to reduce my polycystic liver disease. Both researchers and
friends have said I look unusually thin and appear to be getting thinner. Initially I had severe episodes of watery diarrhea.
With my first doses my bleeding time became prolonged and generalized bruising increased. The doctors thought this was due to
malabsorption, a known side effect of octreotide. They dropped my octreotide dose by half for a month.
Octreotide interferes with many of the enzymes utilized by the body. Additionally octreotide has hormone receptor site blockers that block
not only hormones, but also blood sugar regulating hormones, pancreatic enzymes, gastrin, and much more. This is one reason octreotide has been
useful for diminishing breast cancers, liver cysts, neuroendocrine tumors and other tumors that contain hormone receptors triggering their growth.
Lump and pain at injection site
Bring everything to room temperature: dilutant, powder, needles, syringes. Use an alcohol wipe to clean the top of the powder. For better visualization, remove all stickers from the powder bottle. Insert a large bore needle into the dilutant liquid. Without inverting the bottle, draw up the liquid and inject it into the powder. Allow it to soak the octreotide powder for a full 5 minutes undisturbed. Then gently whirl the contents of dilutant and powder together, being careful to not allow the mixture to come into contact with the top of the bottle. Do NOT turn the bottle mixture upside down. By inverting the bottle the tiny little timed release ball like polymers can break. This prolongs the absorption of octreotide over 28 days, much like the little colored beads that can be seen in certain time released medications. When the mixture appears to be dissolved, carefully swirl once again and fill the syringe. Prick the skin quickly and place the injection needle all the way to the hub of needle deep within the tissue. Give the injection and massage the area for a bit. Repeat on the other side. Massaging helps the medication to absorb rather than staying just locally. Use a Band-Aid over the site, in case of bleeding.
Rapid bowel transit time
Three (3) patients in the initial Italian trial had severe watery diarrhea that resolved after the first dose If this should occur, try eating blackberries or a small amount of cheese. Blackberries and cheese are two foods I have noticed that tend to be binding.
Bruising or prolonged bleeding time
To correct any increase in bleeding time, I tried the following dietary modifications for one month: 3 cups of steamed broccoli for breakfast (drizzled with lemon juice one day and finely chopped garlic another day); increase leafy greens; 1 ounce of low fat cheese; a half cup of plain yogurt with added acidophilus powder. To correct a low vitamin K, try a poached egg yolk twice a week, continue with these modifications then re-test your bleeding time at the one month mark. The fat soluble vitamins are not well absorbed with malabsorption. Vitamin K is manufactured in the intestines.Leg cramps
Stretch at night by pressing my heels downward and pointing my toes upward to prevent Charlie Horse like cramps. This too has not been a problem since the diarrhea stopped and I started taking vitamin E about twice a week at night just before bed.
True vertigo, dizziness, room spinning
Avoid eating gummy bears, jelly like candy, dots, jujubes, fruit roll ups, fruity candies that are chewy. I experienced one severe episode where the room was spinning. I was sitting still. I had to crawl to the bathroom on all fours because I became extremely nauseated and vomited until there was nothing left but the dry heaves. Eventually this passed. The vertigo episode has not been repeated. I don't know if it is associated with jelly candies. It occurred after I had eaten this.
Increasing tiredness with grumpiness
I drink the juice of one lemon each morning or some mornings dilute lemon juice in water to make a quarter cup. I take one drop of solé in a full glass of mineral water daily. I try to get essential amino acids daily by drinking freshly pressed cabbage juice. I try to get all my essential fatty acids by taking either hemp seed oil capsules or chia seed oil capsules or eating purslane. Because of my cystic liver I cannot take flax or fish oil. It increases my liver growth. Sometimes I take vitamin B complex and folic acid. I do not take vitamins after 2 p.m. as these seem to prevent me from getting a full night's sleep. If I am especially restless and unable to sleep, I will take a hot bath, and calcium citrate (citrate exerts a slight alkalinity) at night or one ounce of grape juice diluted with two ounces of mineral water. This seems to activate my own precursor to melatonin, tryptophan. Sometimes I just take naps in the afternoon. I try to walk or go to the gym in the mornings when I seem to have my most energy. As the sun goes down so do I. My husband notices that immediately or for about 3 days following my injections I am really tired and require afternoon naps. He thinks this has been increasing. When I get tired I become very cranky.
Tremors
Sometimes if I forget to eat, I get slight tremors of my hands, they develop a fine shake or tembling. This might be related in part to aging. I drink or eat carrot juice or carrots and this seems to help. It is a feeling that I do not welcome.
