Pasireotide - Stepwards

Page Contents

1 WHAT IS IT?
2 WHEN DO WE USE IT?
3 WHEN DO WE AVOID USING IT?
4 HOW IS IT ADMINISTERED?
5 WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS/TOXICITY?
6 ANYTHING ELSE TO KEEP IN MIND?
7 FURTHER READING

WHAT IS IT?

Pasireotide (Signifor) is a somatostatin analog that is more potent then some of the others that are medically available.

Somatostatin is a GI related hormone that is produced in the D cells of the GI mucosa, and it acts to:

Inhibit secretion of growth hormone (GH) and thyroid stimulating hormone TSH
Decrease gastric acid and pepsinogen secretion
Decreased pancreatic/small intestine fluid secretoin
Decrease gall bladder contraction
Decrease insulin and glucagon release

**Pasireotide suppresses corticotropin (ACTH) secretion and lowers cortisol levels that are released by the adrenals (which is why it is used in Cushing disease)

WHEN DO WE USE IT?

Acromegaly, Cushing disease (when surgery is contraindicated or not corrective)

WHEN DO WE AVOID USING IT?

When surgery can be used to effectively treat Cushing disease.

HOW IS IT ADMINISTERED?

This medication is administered sub-cutaneously. Eliminated mainly via the liver.

WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS/TOXICITY?

Diarrhea, nausea, hyperglycemia, cholelithiasis, headache, abdominal pain, fatigue, diabetes mellitus.

ANYTHING ELSE TO KEEP IN MIND?

Half life approximately 12 hours.