Norditropin is a drug (somatropin analogue) used to treat growth deficiency. The drug activates amino acid transport into cells, improves intracellular protein synthesis, stimulates protein synthesis in skeletal muscle, increases blood sugar levels.
Norditropin stimulates skeletal growth and also improves metabolic processes. The active substance has a pronounced anabolic effect. Somatropin helps enhance the growth processes in muscle and bone tissue. Moreover, it helps reduce the amount of fat deposits.
In general, this drug affects the tubular bones. In addition, the following target organs should be mentioned: liver, adrenal glands, sex glands, thyroid gland.
In addition to anabolic effects, Norditropin promotes fluid retention in the tissues, inhibits glucose formation, increases the excretion of calcium, and inhibits the processes of cholesterol synthesis. Somatropin induces retention of sodium, potassium and phosphorus.
Most of the effects of Norditropin are associated with insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), which is produced mainly by liver cells. The maximum concentration occurs within 3-6 hours. Somatropin penetrates into the liver and kidneys. It is excreted with bile.
What should I know about Norditropin indications?
Norditropin is used in the following cases:
- Growth retardation caused by insufficiency of growth hormone produced by pituitary gland (both in children and in adult patients);
- Growth retardation in patients with Turner syndrome;
- Growth retardation provoked by chronic renal failure;
- Congenital or acquired growth hormone deficiency in adults (as hormone replacement therapy).
Norditropin and bodybuilding
will allow you achieve certain results in bodybuilding. Norditropin has a synthetic basis. Nevertheless, it acts quite effectively: this substance helps burn subcutaneous fat cells. The following important changes in the body may also occur:
- Muscular mass growth;
- Growth of connective tissues (tendons, cartilages);
- Changes in muscle cells;
- Bone and connective tissues become stronger.
Norditropin advantages are obvious. These include: low incidence of side effects, no negative effects on the function of the genital organs, no pronounced androgenic effect, etc.
As for beginners, the initial Norditropin course can be started both by men and women. As for more experienced bodybuilders, combined courses are recommended (additional steroids are included in the system with this hormone).
Norditropin in combination with other steroids can significantly increase muscle mass and elasticity. Thus, growth hormone can be used in bodybuilding to improve muscular tissue. No dangerous side effects are observed if you adhere to the recommended dose. In general, athletes do not need post cycle therapy when using Norditropin.
What should I know about Norditropin contraindications?
Norditropin is contraindicated in the following cases:
- Hypersensitivity to the drug;
- Diabetic retinopathy;
- Lactation and pregnancy;
- Surgical intervention, trauma and other severe conditions.
Norditropin relative contraindications: hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, intracranial hyperesthesia.
Norditropin should not be used in case of tumor growth. Start the therapy only after the completion of antitumor therapy. Treatment with Norditropin should be discontinued if certain symptoms increase suspicion of tumor growth.
Due to the diabetic effect of growth hormone, Norditropin should be used with caution in diabetic patients.
It is impossible to use Norditropin during pregnancy. Breastfeeding should be discontinued as well.
What should I know about Norditropin dosage?
Norditropin is used once a day, preferably before going to bed. Patients should periodically change the injection sites during treatment, as long-term therapy is associated with lipodystrophy.
The dosage is determined by the degree of hgh deficiency and the diagnosis. Thus, in case of hgh deficiency, the usual dose from 25 to 35 mcg per kg of body weight is prescribed. The dose may be increased in severe cases.
Turner syndrome, as well as patients with renal failure: the usual dose is 50 mcg per kg of body weight.
Hormone replacement therapy in adults: it is recommended to begin treatment with low doses of the drug (0.45-0.9 IU per day) and gradually increase the dose every month.
It is important to remember that Norditropin overdose may cause weakness, tremor, sweating, as well as some other manifestations of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels). Chronic overdose can lead to acromegaly and gigantism.
What should I know about Norditropin side effects?
Norditropin therapy can lead to the following negative consequences: muscle and joint pain, increased intracranial pressure, numbness of the limbs, pain at the injection site, abdominal pain, visual disturbances, gynecomastia, scoliosis. Adults may suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome. As a rule, these symptoms are dose-dependent.
Topical reactions may occur during the treatment with Norditropin: numbness, hyperemia, swelling, lipoatrophy, pruritus.
The following side effects have been also associated with Norditropin therapy: weakness, fatigue, edema of the optic nerve (observed during the first 8 weeks of treatment, most often in patients with Turner syndrome), pancreatitis (abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting), otitis media and hearing impairment (in patients with Turner syndrome), edema in children (pain in the thigh and knee), leukemoid reactions, progression of scoliosis (in patients with rapid growth).
Allergic reactions: skin rash, itching.
Interaction with other drugs
Concomitant glucocorticoid therapy can block the growth effect of Norditropin. This drug should not be used with other hormones (for example, anabolic steroids, gonadotropins, estrogens and thyroid hormones).
Patients receiving insulin treatment may change the dose of insulin.
What should I know about Norditropin warnings?
Do not use the drug if the solution is not transparent.
Doctors should regularly monitor the condition of patients using Norditropin.
Treatment with Norditropin should be discontinued in children with chronic renal failure (in case of kidney transplantation).
Somatropin may affect carbohydrate metabolism. Therefore, patients should be also tested for glucose tolerance impairment.
Hypothyroidism may develop in some patients treated with Norditropin. Patients with Turner syndrome have an increased risk of primary hypothyroidism associated with anti-thyroid antibodies. Such patients should regularly examine the thyroid function.
Regular examinations should be performed in case of secondary growth hormone deficiency due to the presence of intracranial neoplasm (in order to identify signs of progression of the disease). A small number of patients with growth hormone deficiency had signs of leukemia.
Patients with endocrine diseases may suffer from pain in the knee. Treatment with growth hormone should be discontinued in the presence of severe headaches, visual disturbances, nausea or vomiting (if benign intracranial hypertension is confirmed). At present, careful monitoring of symptoms of intracranial hypertension is recommended.
Norditropin is prescribed to adults in case of HGH insufficiency or significant decrease in the production of growth hormone associated with diseases of the hypothalamic-pituitary region. Adults with growth hormone deficiency undergoing substitution treatment with Norditropin should be under constant medical supervision.
Adult growth hormone deficiency requires appropriate treatment. However, there is insufficient experience on the treatment of patients older than 60 years.
Norditropin should be protected from direct sunlight and freezing.
