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Signifor
Specialty Drug

Pasireotide

PASIREOTIDE is used to reduce blood levels of cortisol in patients with a condition called Cushing's disease. It is used when surgery is not an option or has not worked well enough. Compare somatostatin analogues.
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Signifor
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ampule
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What is Signifor?

Commonly Used Brand Name(s)Signifor, Signifor LAR

Pharmacologic ClassificationsSomatostatin (class)

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OverviewTOP

Pasireotide injection is used to treat Cushing's disease in adults who cannot have surgery or have failed surgery.

Pasireotide injection is also used for the treatment of acromegaly (a growth hormone disorder) in patients who cannot be treated with surgery.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Proper UseTOP

Signifor® is given as a shot under your skin, usually on the thigh or the abdomen (stomach). Signifor® LAR is given as a shot into a muscle, usually on the buttocks.

A nurse or other trained health professional may give you this medicine or this medicine may be given at home by patients who do not need to be in the hospital or clinic. If you are using this medicine at home, your doctor or nurse will teach you how to prepare and inject the medicine. Be sure that you understand how to use the medicine.

This medicine should come with a Medication Guide and patient instructions. Read and follow the instructions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

You will be shown the body areas where this shot can be given. Use a different body area each time you give yourself a shot. Keep track of where you give each shot to make sure you rotate body areas.

Use a new needle and syringe each time you inject your medicine.

You might not use all of the medicine in each ampul (glass container). Do not save an opened ampul. If the medicine in the ampul has changed color, or if you see particles in it, do not use it.

Put used needles and syringes in a puncture-resistant disposable container or dispose of them as directed by your doctor. Do not reuse needles and syringes.

DosingTOP

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

  • For injection dosage form:
    • For treatment of Cushing's disease:
      • Adults—At first, 0.6 or 0.9 milligram (mg) injected under the skin two times a day. Your doctor will adjust your dose as needed and tolerated.
      • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed DoseTOP

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Use & StorageTOP

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Before UsingTOP

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

AllergiesTOP

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

PediatricTOP

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of the pasireotide injection in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been demonstrated.

GeriatricTOP

Although appropriate studies on the relationship of age to the effects of pasireotide have not been performed in the geriatric population, geriatric-specific problems are not expected to limit the usefulness of pasireotide injection in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related kidney, liver, or heart problems, which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving pasireotide injection.

PregnancyTOP

Pregnancy CategoryExplanation
All TrimestersCAnimal studies have shown an adverse effect and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women OR no animal studies have been conducted and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women.

Breast FeedingTOP

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Drug InteractionsTOP

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Other InteractionsTOP

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical ProblemsTOP

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

  • Adrenal problems or
  • Gallstones, or history of or
  • Heart disease or
  • Heart rhythm problem (eg, QT prolongation)—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.
  • Diabetes, poorly controlled or
  • Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar)—Should be treated first before using this medicine.
  • Liver disease, moderate—Use with caution. The effects may be increased because of slower removal of the medicine from the body.

PrecautionsTOP

It is very important that your doctor check you closely while you are receiving this medicine. This is to make sure that this medicine is working properly. Blood tests, electrocardiogram (ECG), and gallbladder ultrasound may be needed to check your progress.

This medicine may cause low levels of cortisol in the blood (hypocortisolism). Tell your doctor right away if you have confusion, weakness, loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting, lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting.

This medicine may raise your blood sugar. You should check your blood sugar more often during the first 2 to 3 months you use this medicine, and then on a regular basis.

Contact your doctor right away if you have any changes to your heart rhythm. You might feel dizzy or faint, or you might have a slow, fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat. Make sure your doctor knows if you or anyone in your family has ever had a heart rhythm problem such as QT prolongation.

This medicine may cause gallstones. Check with your doctor right away if you have severe stomach pain with nausea and vomiting.

Check with your doctor right away if you have more than one of these symptoms while you are using this medicine: darkening of the skin, diarrhea, dizziness, fainting, loss of appetite, mental depression, nausea, skin rash, unusual tiredness or weakness, or vomiting.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

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