Manufacturer: Merck
Pharmaceutical name: Somatropin
Pack: 1 cartridge (12 mg (8 mg/ml))
SAIZEN promotes the growth of bones, cells, and organs. Clinical research has demonstrated that it leads to a reduction in body fat along with an increase in bone development and muscle mass.
The bacteriostatic water included with SAIZEN contains the preservative benzyl alcohol, which should be avoided in newborns and individuals known to be sensitive to benzyl alcohol. For such patients, SAIZEN may be mixed with Sterile Water for Injection, USP. When reconstituted this way, it must be used immediately, and any remaining solution should be discarded. Growth hormone may induce insulin resistance and should be administered cautiously to individuals with diabetes mellitus or a familial history of diabetes mellitus. Please inform your doctor about any diabetes in the patient’s family. SAIZEN should not be administered to individuals with active cancerous or benign tumors. Close monitoring is required for patients with a history of cancer.
In clinical trials involving children with growth hormone deficiency receiving SAIZEN, the following reactions were rarely observed: pain, numbness, redness, or swelling at the injection site, hypothyroidism (low levels of thyroid hormone), hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), seizures or convulsions, fluid retention, and aggravation of pre-existing psoriasis symptoms.
Any individual with a growth hormone deficiency who does not show improvement with treatment should be evaluated for thyroid issues or the presence of antibodies against human growth hormone, as either condition can diminish the efficacy of SAIZEN.