Serostim

Serostim injection is a man-made version of human growth hormone that can be used to stimulate growth in children who have certain conditions that prevent normal growth, such as growth failure caused by growth hormone deficiency, chronic kidney disease, idiopathic short stature, or Turner syndrome.

Serostim can be used to treat growth failure in children or adults caused lack of natural growth hormone, which can be caused by conditions such as chronic kidney failure, Noonan syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, and having been born with short-stature  with no catch-up growth, and to treat severe weight loss in patients with AIDS and short bowel syndrome.

Serostim is an injectable drug and requires a prescription. Serostim is available under several brand names, which have different concentrations, indications and storage instructions. 

Serostim is known to interact with several medical conditions and drugs, so only use it with doctor’s supervision.

Health conditions where Serostim is contraindicated

You cannot use Serostim if you have the following health problems:

• Cancer
• Have allergy to Serostim
• Have retinopathy or other eye problems caused by diabetes
• Have Prader-Willi syndrome with severe obesity or difficulty breathing problems like sleep apnea
• Have any serious illness
• Lung failure
• Have sustained complications due to surgery or injuries

You must tell all your health problems to the doctor before receiving Serostim. The doctor needs tro know if you have the following disorders:

• Diabetes
• Any health problem affecting the pituitary gland
• Scoliosis
• Underactive thyroid
• History of injuries to the head
• History of brain tumor
• History of brain cancer during childhood and radiation treatment

Pregnancy

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant before receiving Serostim. Serostim is an FDA pregnancy category C crug, which means it might cause harm to the fetus when given to pregnant patients. 

Breastfeeding

Do not breastfeed while receiving Serostim. Serostim maybe expressed in breastmilk and can harm the nursing child. 

Serostim is an injectable drug. It is injected under your skin (subcutaneous route) or into a muscle (intramuscular route). The doctor bases the dose of Serostim according to your body weight. Serostim is available in several different preparations, so make sure to use only the preparation prescribed to you by the doctor.

Serostim is usually injected once a day. Your doctor or another health professional will teach you to inject Serostim by yourself so you can take the drug at home. Inject Serostim at different places at each injection to avoid skin problems. Just do not inject more or less Serostim than prescribed.

You have to be regularly seen by the doctor when you are taking Serostim. The doctor may have to change your Serotim dose frequently for the best effect. In some conditions, like in short bowel syndrome and obesity, you have to stick to a prescribed diet plan along with treatment with Serostim.

If you missed a dose of Serostim, inject as soon as you remember. If it almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to original dosing.

Do not inject too much Serostim  Overdosing on Serostim can be dangerous because it cause drastic changes to blood sugar levels. Symptoms of Serostim overdose includes tremors, shaking, cold sweats, increased hunger, headache, weakness, drowsiness, rapid heartbeat, and nausea. If you injected too much Serostim, seek emergency medical services right away. 

Make sure to keep Serostim, syringes, and needles out of reach of children. The expiration date and storage instructions of Serostim depend on the type of preparation prescribed to you. Immediately dispose of expired Serostim preparations so you will not inject them by mistake. 

You need to be monitored by your doctor when you are receiving Serostim. Make sure to visit your doctor and keep up with lab appointments.

Always inspect Serostim first before injection. Do not use it if the liquid has changed colors or has any particles. Never shake the Serostim vial as doing so will render it unusable. Only prepare Serostim once you are ready to inject the drug, and make sure to inject it properly. If you are confused or do not fully understand what to do, call your doctor right away.

In injecting Serostim, use syringe and needle only once. Syringes and needles are hazardous, so make sure to dispose of them properly preferably by packing them inside a puncture-proof ‘sharps’ container.

Follow doctor’s orders in avoiding items like alcohol, fruit juices or sodas (for short bowel syndrome) while receiving Serostim. Alcohol may irritate the stomach and worsen symptoms.

If you became pregnant or breastfeed while having Serostim, call your doctor right away. 

Serostim may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor if you experienced any of the following symptoms:

• Serious allergic reaction symptoms such as hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of the lips, mouth, tongue or, throat.
• Symptoms of high blood sugar levels such as increased thirst, hunger and urination, dryness of the mouth, fruity odor of breath, drowsiness, dry skin, blurring of vision and losing weight.
• Severe pain in the upper stomach that spreads to the back, coupled with nausea and vomiting, and rapid heartbeat.
• Sudden and severe pain behind the eyes, nausea and vomiting, and changes in vision.
• Difficulty breathing, with or without shortness of breath, coughing or increased snoring
• Any pain, swelling or discharge in the ear.
• Numbness or tingling sensation in the wrist, hands or fingers.
• Walking with a limp, or pain in the knees or hips.

Serostim may cause minor side effects such as:

• Swelling
• Rapid weight gain
• Pain in the muscle or joints
• Headache
• Pain, itching or skin changes at the injection site.