Overview
- long-acting analogue of somatostatin
- somatostatin is released from D cells of pancreas and inhibits the release of growth hormone, glucagon and insulin
Uses
- acute treatment of variceal haemorrhage
- acromegaly
- short-term treatment before pituitary surgery or long-term treatment in those inadequately controlled by other treatment or until radiotherapy becomes fully effective
- carcinoid syndrome
- prevent complications following pancreatic surgery
- VIPomas
- refractory diarrhoea
Adverse effects
- gallstones (secondary to biliary stasis)
Indications as per BNF:
Advanced neuroendocrine tumours of the midgut, or tumours of unknown primary origin where non-midgut sites of origin have been excluded