Somapacitan

Generic name: somapacitan [ SOE-ma-PAS-i-tan ]
Brand name: Sogroya
Dosage form: subcutaneous solution (beco 10 mg/1.5 mL; beco 15 mg/1.5 mL; beco 5 mg/1.5 mL)
Drug class: Growth hormones

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com on Aug 17, 2023. Written by Cerner Multum.

What is somapacitan?

Somapacitan is used to treat adults and children at least two and a half years (2 1/2 years) old who do not produce enough growth hormone.

Somapacitan may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Somapacitan side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives, difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Somapacitan may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

• changes in behavior, changes in moles, birthmarks, or skin color;

• headaches, vision problems, nausea, or vomiting;

• fluid retention--shortness of breath (even while lying down), swelling, rapid weight gain (especially in your face and midsection);

• decreased adrenal gland hormones--nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, loss of appetite, feeling tired or light-headed, muscle or joint pain, skin discoloration, craving salty foods; or

• pancreatitis--severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting.

Common side effects of somapacitan may include:

• back and joint pain;

• vomiting, heartburn;

• dizziness;

• weight gain;

• sleep problems;

• abnormal blood tests;

• pain in hands and feet;

• difficult or painful swallowing;

• fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;

• severe headache, blurred vision, pounding in your neck or ears;

• pain, bruising, swelling, or irritation where the medicine was injected; or

• pale skin, tiredness, feeling light-headed or short of breath, cold hands and feet.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Warnings

Follow all directions on the label and package. Use exactly as directed.

Before taking this medicine

You should not use somapacitan if you are allergic to it, or if you have:

• cancer;

• a critical illness caused by some types of heart or stomach surgery, trauma, or breathing problems;

• some types of eye problems caused by diabetes (diabetic retinopathy);

• you are a child with closed bone growth plates; or

• you are a child with Prader-Willi syndrome who is severely obese or has breathing problems including sleep apnea (breathing that stops during sleep).

Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had:

• cancer;

• diabetes;

• adrenal gland problems;

• thyroid gland problems;

• heart or stomach surgery, trauma, or serious breathing problems;

• are a child with worsening of curvature of the spine (scoliosis);

• are taking replacement therapy with steroids; or

• liver problems.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

How is somapacitan given?

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Your healthcare provider will show you where to inject somapacitan. Do not inject into the same place two times in a row.

Somapacitan is injected under the skin once a week.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you don't understand how to use an injection.

Prepare an injection only when you are ready to give it. Call your pharmacist if the medicine looks cloudy, has changed colors or has particles in it.

Do not reuse a needle or syringe. Place them in a puncture-proof "sharps" container and dispose of it following state or local laws. Keep out of the reach of children and pets.

Never share an injection pen, cartridge, or syringe even if you changed the needle. Sharing these devices can pass infections from person to person.

Your blood sugar will need to be checked on a regular basis, and you may need other medical tests.

Follow all storage instructions provided with your injectable medication. Your healthcare provider can provide more information about how to store somapacitan.

Related/similar drugs

Genotropin, somatropin, Omnitrope, Norditropin, Norditropin FlexPro, Sogroya

What happens if I miss a dose?

Use the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if you are more than 3 days (72 hours) late for the dose. The next dose can be started again on the regularly scheduled dosing day. Do not use two doses at one time.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. Overdose symptoms may include fluid retention, increased thirst, increased urination, dry mouth, fruity breath odor, headache, hunger, weakness, sweating, confusion, irritability, dizziness, fast heart rate, or feeling jittery.

What should I avoid while receiving somapacitan?

Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.

What other drugs will affect somapacitan?

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

• birth control pills and other hormones.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may affect somapacitan, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Somapacitan-beco Biosimilars

Biosimilar and interchangeable products are biological products that are highly similar to and have no clinically meaningful differences from the reference product.

Reference products

These are biological products that have already been approved by the FDA, against which biosimilar products are compared. There is 1 for somapacitan-beco.

Further information

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

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

Medical Disclaimer

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