Skip to main content

Lanreotide

Generic name: lanreotide
Brand name: Somatuline Depot
Dosage form: prolonged-release subcutaneous injection
Drug class: Somatostatin and somatostatin analogs

Medically reviewed by Philip Thornton, DipPharm. Last updated on Apr 4, 2023.

What is lanreotide?

Lanreotide is an injectable medication containing a man-made (synthetic octapeptide) version of a hormone produced by your body called somatostatin. Somatostain regulates many process in your body.

Somatostain is also called growth hormone inhibiting hormone, because it decreases the amount of other hormones that you secrete. It also inhibits the ability of some cells to grow and survive. Lanreotide is thought to work like natural somatostain.

Lanreotide is used to treat acromegaly, a hormonal disorder that causes too much growth hormone. It is also used to treat certain neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) and carcinoid syndrome, which can occur in people with NETs. NETs are a type of cancer that starts in the neuroendocrine system, which produces and releases hormones that control many functions in your body.

Lanreotide is a somatostatin analog that comes in a depot formulation for subcutaneous injection. This means that it is injected into the fatty tissue just beneath the skin and the drug is released over a prolonged period of time.

A branded version of lanreotide was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2007 and it is marketed under the brand name Somatuline Depot by Ipsen Biopharmacueticals. In 2021, a company called Cipla was also granted FDA approval for its version of lanreotide injection through the New Drug Application process (NDA).

What is lanreotide used for?

The Somatuline Depot version of lanreotide is a prescription medicine used for:

Cipla's version of lanreotide injection is approved for all of the above uses, except for carcinoid syndrome.

It is not known if lanreotide is safe and effective in children.

Who should not receive lanreotide?

Do not receive lanreotide if you are allergic to lanreotide. See below for a complete list of ingredients.

What should I tell my doctor before receiving lanreotide?

Before you receive lanreotide, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

How should I receive lanreotide?

What should I avoid while receiving lanreotide?

Lanreotide can cause dizziness. If you have dizziness, do not drive a car or operate machinery.

Dosing information

The recommended dose of lanreotide is:

What are the side effects of lanreotide?

Lanreotide may cause serious side effects, including:

The most common side effects of lanreotide in people with acromegaly include:

The most common side effects of lanreotide in people with GEP-NET include:

The most common side effects of lanreotide in people with carcinoid syndrome include:

Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have signs of an allergic reaction after receiving lanreotide, including:

These are not all the possible side effects of lanreotide. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Interactions

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Lanreotide and other medicines may affect each other, causing side effects. Lanreotide may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how lanreotide works. Your dose of lanreotide or your other medicines may need to be changed.

Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take:

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if lanreotide will harm your unborn baby

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if lanreotide passes into your breast milk. You should not breastfeed if you receive lanreotide and for 6 months after your last dose of lanreotide

Tell your doctor if you are a person who can become pregnant. Lanreotide may affect fertility in females and may affect your ability to become pregnant. Talk to your healthcare provider if this is a concern for you.

Storage

What are the ingredients in lanreotide?

Active ingredient: lanreotide acetate

Inactive ingredients: water for injection and acetic acid (for pH adjustment)

Somatuline Depot is manufactured by Ipsen Pharma Biotech, Parc d'Activities du Plateau de Signes, 83870 Signes, France.

Cipla's version of lanreotide injection is manufactured by Pharmathen International S.A., Rodopi, Greece.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.