Blog Post

Pharmacological properties

The active substance of Scitorpin is somatropin (synthesized growth hormone). The structure of somatropin is identical to the structure of natural human growth hormone. Hgh affects the production of other hormones (in particular insulin-like growth factor-1) and metabolic processes. Anabolic and growth-stimulating effects of somatropin are associated with insulin-like growth factor-1 to a certain extent.

The drug is excreted mainly with urine. The average half-life of somatropin in adults and children with hormone deficiency is similar to the half-life registered in healthy people. The hormone is distributed in the liver and kidneys.

Somatropin is used in medicine to treat a wide range of diseases. This is primarily dwarfism associated with pituitary insufficiency (insufficient amount of endogenous growth hormone). The drug is often given to such patients to significantly increase growth. Somatropin is also widely used in cases of growth hormone deficiency in adults, which is usually associated with pituitary cancer. It can also be prescribed to healthy people as part of anti-aging therapy. The main goal is to maintain the high level of growth hormone and thereby fight against aging. In addition, somatotropin is used in case of loss of muscle mass associated with HIV infection or other diseases, including short bowel syndrome and Prader-Willi syndrome.

Scitorpin main indications for use:

• Growth retardation in children due to insufficient endogenous production of growth hormone (for long-term treatment);
• Growth retardation in Turner syndrome;
• Growth retardation in pre-pubertal children (due to CRF);
• Insufficient production of growth hormone in childhood and adulthood.

Scitorpin effects

Somatropin stimulates growth rates in children with endogenous growth hormone deficiency. Scitorpin therapy in adults with deficiency of growth hormone leads to a reduction in adipose tissue.

The benefits demonstrated for Scitorpin include:
Tissue growth:

• Skeletal growth: Scitorpin therapy stimulates skeletal growth in children with growth hormone deficiency by affecting the epiphyseal zones of long tubular bones.
• Cell growth: treatment with Scitorpin leads to an increase in both the number and size of skeletal muscle cells.
• Scitorpin therapy helps increase the size of internal organs (including kidneys).

Protein metabolism:
Linear growth is often associated with the growth of proteins stimulated by Scitorpin. The therapy causes nitrogen retention (a decline in urinary nitrogen excretion during growth hormone treatment).

Carbohydrate metabolism:
Patients with insufficient growth hormone secretion may suffer from fasting hypoglycemia. Somatropin therapy can reduce insulin sensitivity.

Mineral metabolism:
Scitorpin has no significant effect on calcium levels. Low bone mineral density is observed in adults with growth hormone deficiency. On the other hand, the mineral density of the spine bones was higher in patients who used Scitorpin.

What are Scitorpin contraindications?

Scitorpin therapy should be avoided in patients with increased sensitivity to somatropin or any other components of the drug. The drug should be avoided in case of tumor processes (it is necessary to stop treatment with somatropin in the presence of signs of tumor growth). Furthermore, Scitorpin should not be administered in case of complications after abdominal surgery or open heart surgery, multiple injuries or acute respiratory failure.

There are currently no clinical data on the effect of Scitorpin during pregnancy. Despite the fact that there is no potential threat to pregnant women, treatment with Scitorpin should be stopped during pregnancy.

Care should be taken when using Scitorpin in patients with malignant disease, cerebral diseases.

It is necessary to monitor glucose tolerance in patients using Scitorpin. Regular monitoring of blood glucose levels is recommended if a patient has diabetes (you may need to correct the dose of insulin).

It is necessary to treat uncompensated hypothyroidism before starting Scitorpin therapy.

It is necessary to monitor the patient’s medical condition in case of visual impairment, headache, nausea or vomiting (especially during the first 8 weeks of treatment).

No studies have been conducted in patients after kidney transplantation. Therefore, Scitorpin therapy should be discontinued after such surgical interventions.

Interaction with other products

Combination therapy with GCS may reduce the effect of somatropin. Somatropin can reduce sensitivity to insulin. Therefore, it is necessary to change antidiabetic therapy in patients with diabetes mellitus.

What is the recommended dosage for Scitorpin?

The dose of Scitorpin is determined individually. 1 mg of somatropin is approximately 3 IU.

Growth retardation in children due to inadequate production of growth hormone: 0.025-0.035 mg/kg of body weight 1 time per day.

Growth retardation in Turner syndrome: doses up to 0.05 mg/kg of body weight 1 time per day.

Growth retardation in chronic renal failure: doses up to 0.05 mg/kg of body weight once a day. Treatment can be continued until the moment of kidney transplantation.

Growth hormone deficiency in adults: low initial doses of 0.15-0.3 mg. The doctor can gradually increase the dose. The final dose should not exceed 1 mg/day. It is necessary to use the drug at the lowest effective dose. Lower doses should be used in elderly patients or those with obesity.

When used for bodybuilding purposes, the usual dose is in the range of 1-6 IU per day. The drug is usually taken within 6-24 weeks. It is also recommended to take other medications, such as thyroid hormones and insulin.

What are some of Scitorpin side effects?

Scitorpin therapy may lead to the following side effects: pain, hematoma, headache and arthralgia (in one or more joints). Less common side effects: inflammation of the nose (rhinitis), upper respiratory tract infections, bronchitis, swelling, nausea, bone pain, tunnel syndrome, chest pain, depression, gynecomastia, hypothyroidism and insomnia. There are rare cases of diabetes, acromegaly. Somatropin can reduce insulin sensitivity and increase blood sugar levels.

Subcutaneous administration can be accompanied by redness, itching.

Fluid retention with a slight swelling of the hands and feet or face is often noted in adult patients with hgh deficiency. Other side effects have also been reported:

• Cardiovascular system: high blood pressure, tachycardia.
• Digestive tract: vomiting, bloating, nausea.
• Musculoskeletal system: bone pain, arthrosis, myalgia, muscle atrophy, muscle weakness.
• Genitourinary system: pain in the mammary glands, gynecomastia, bleeding during menstruation, urinary incontinence, frequent urination, hematuria.
• Metabolic disorders: increased or decreased blood glucose levels, increased levels of lipids, lipodystrophy, hypothyroidism.
• Skin: rash, skin atrophy, skin hypertrophy, urticaria, exfoliative dermatitis, hirsutism.
• Nervous system: paresthesia, insomnia, drowsiness, nystagmus, dizziness.
• Other possible side effects: asthenia, pain in the abdomen, peritonitis, ecchymosis, anemia, pancreatitis.

Some patients treated with somatropin may suffer from leukemia.

Symptoms of increased intracranial pressure (in particular, edema of the optic nerve, visual impairment, headache, nausea and vomiting) are noted in children with CRF.

Scitorpin specific guidance

Scoliosis may progress in some children. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor the signs of scoliosis in children during Scitorpin therapy. On the other hand, treatment with Scitorpin does not increase the frequency and severity of scoliosis.
Scitorpin can reduce insulin sensitivity. Patients should study the symptoms of impaired glucose tolerance. Patients with diabetes should be carefully monitored during somatropin therapy. Treatment with Scitorpin is contraindicated in diabetic patients with severe nonproliferative retinopathy.

Children using Scitorpin may suffer from pancreatitis. Therefore, it is necessary to exclude pancreatitis in children if there is pain in the abdomen.