Sandostatin (octreotide)
Also marketed as Sandostatin LAR. An approved treatment for Acromegaly.
The same compound appears under different names depending on the context. Here is how to identify Octreotide wherever you encounter it, plus the key facts at a glance.
- Generic name
- Octreotide
- Brand names
- Sandostatin, Sandostatin LAR
- Development code
- SMS 201-995
- Drug class
- Somatostatin analog
- Manufacturer
- Novartis
- How it's taken
- For acromegaly, Sandostatin is given as an injection under the skin 3 times daily, usually starting at 50 mcg per dose.
A synthetic hormone that mimics somatostatin to suppress excess growth hormone production. The long-acting (LAR) form is given as a monthly injection and has been a standard treatment for acromegaly for decades.
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Where Octreotide fits
Used for acromegaly when surgery has not worked well enough or is not an option. The monthly Sandostatin LAR Depot is for people who first responded to and tolerated the short-acting shots.
How Octreotide works
Octreotide is a man-made version of somatostatin, a natural hormone that slows down growth hormone production. In acromegaly, the pituitary gland makes too much growth hormone. Octreotide copies somatostatin and tells the pituitary to stop making so much, like adding an 'off switch' to an overactive gland.
Mechanism: Somatostatin analog that binds SSTR2 and SSTR5 receptors, suppressing growth hormone secretion from the pituitary
Side effects and safety
Common side effects include diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain, and gallstones (which may require monitoring). Some people feel lightheaded. Vitamin B12 levels may drop with long-term use. The label also warns about a slow heartbeat or other heart rhythm problems, low thyroid hormone levels (thyroid tests are checked from time to time), blood sugar that runs too high or too low, and fatty, loose stools from poor fat absorption. Tell your doctor about persistent diarrhea or severe abdominal pain.
This is not a complete list of side effects. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about what to expect and when to seek medical attention.
Taking Octreotide
For acromegaly, Sandostatin is given as an injection under the skin 3 times daily, usually starting at 50 mcg per dose. Sandostatin LAR Depot is a longer-acting formulation given as a deep muscle injection once every 4 weeks, which is more convenient. It is only for people who have already responded to and tolerated the short-acting Sandostatin shots, so people new to octreotide take the short-acting shots for at least 2 weeks first.
Availability and cost
Generic versions may be available at a lower cost. Ask your pharmacist.
Somatostatin analog available in both immediate-release and long-acting depot injection formulations. The depot formulation requires specialized microsphere manufacturing for sustained monthly release.
Help paying for Sandostatin
Pick your insurance to see which help fits. Drugmaker copay cards can't be used with Medicare, Medicaid or TRICARE; charity funds are the usual route there.
- Copay help
Novartis Oncology Universal Co-pay Program for Sandostatin LAR Depot: eligible privately insured patients may pay $25 per month; up to $15,000 per year. Not for Medicare or Medicaid.
For: private insurance · source - Free medicine program
Novartis Patient Assistance Foundation provides Sandostatin LAR Depot free to eligible patients who are uninsured or have government insurance and meet income limits.
For: no insurance, Medicare, Medicaid · source
Good to know: Applies to Sandostatin LAR Depot only; short-acting octreotide injection is widely available as a generic and is not on the foundation list. Co-pay terms: Copay.NovartisOncology.com or 1-877-577-7756. Source page is for healthcare professionals; no patient page was found.
- From a charity · TotalAssist (formerly PAN Foundation)Acromegaly fundOpen
Pays for: Out-of-pocket costs for approved medications, up to $5,000 per year. Requires Medicare, Medicaid or TRICARE.
- From a charity · The Assistance FundAcromegaly fundWaitlist
Pays for: Copays, coinsurance, deductibles and other health-related expenses.
The foundation says: “WAITLIST — Accepting Waitlist Patients. TAF is currently accepting requests to join the enrollment waitlist for this program. Waitlists a…”
How acromegaly treatments compare
Five FDA-approved medications are available for acromegaly. Your endocrinologist will recommend a treatment based on your tumor size, IGF-1 levels, symptoms, and how you respond to initial therapy. This chart summarizes the key practical differences between options.
5 FDA-approved acromegaly treatments are available: Sandostatin LAR (octreotide, approved 1998); Somatuline Depot (lanreotide, approved 2007); Signifor LAR (pasireotide, approved 2014); Somavert (pegvisomant, approved 2003); Palsonify (paltusotine, approved 2025). Sandostatin LAR is typically used as first-line medical therapy (injectable).
| Drug | How it works | How it’s given | How often | Where you get it | Typical use | FDA approved |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sandostatin LAR octreotide You are here | Somatostatin analog — mimics a hormone that tells the pituitary to release less growth hormone | Intramuscular injection (gluteal muscle) | Every 4 weeks | Clinic or infusion center | First-line medical therapy (injectable) | 1998 |
Somatuline Depot lanreotide | Somatostatin analog — same receptor target as octreotide, but given as a deep subcutaneous gel rather than an intramuscular injection | Deep subcutaneous injection (upper outer buttock) | Every 4 weeks (FDA-approved extended dosing: 120mg every 6–8 weeks for biochemically controlled patients) | Clinic (healthcare provider administration per FDA label) | First-line medical therapy (injectable) | 2007 |
Signifor LAR pasireotide | Multi-receptor somatostatin analog — targets more receptor subtypes than first-generation options | Intramuscular injection (gluteal muscle) | Every 4 weeks | Clinic or infusion center | Second-line, after first-generation somatostatin analogs | 2014 |
Somavert pegvisomant | Growth hormone receptor antagonist — blocks GH from binding to cells instead of reducing GH release | Subcutaneous injection (self-administered) | Daily | Home (self-injection) | Second-line or add-on to somatostatin analog | 2003 |
Palsonify paltusotine | Oral somatostatin agonist — activates the same SST2 receptor as injectable somatostatin analogs, taken as a pill | Oral tablet | Once daily | Home (oral, no injection needed) | First-line medical therapy, or switch from injectable somatostatin analog | 2025 |
This chart summarizes approved acromegaly treatments to help you understand the landscape. It is not medical advice. Treatment decisions depend on your individual health profile, tumor characteristics, lab results, and response to therapy. Dosing intervals shown reflect FDA labeling; your endocrinologist may adjust intervals based on your individual response. Always discuss options with your endocrinologist.
Clinical trial results
FDA approved octreotide in 1988, making it the first somatostatin analogue in the US. In the Sandostatin LAR Depot studies, people already on the short-acting shots kept growth hormone and IGF-1 at least as well controlled after switching. Among 88 people who received all 27 to 28 monthly injections, 51% had a normal average IGF-1 on the monthly shot, compared with 41% on the short-acting shots.
Development history
Octreotide was created by Sandoz scientists seeking a longer-lasting version of somatostatin, and their first report on it was published in 1982. The FDA approved Sandostatin in October 1988 and the monthly Sandostatin LAR Depot in November 1998. Sandoz merged with Ciba-Geigy to form Novartis in 1996, and Novartis markets both today.
Explore Acromegaly trials
Other Acromegaly treatments
Common questions about Octreotide
▸What is Octreotide (Sandostatin)?
A synthetic hormone that mimics somatostatin to suppress excess growth hormone production. The long-acting (LAR) form is given as a monthly injection and has been a standard treatment for acromegaly for decades.
▸How does Octreotide work?
Octreotide is a man-made version of somatostatin, a natural hormone that slows down growth hormone production. In acromegaly, the pituitary gland makes too much growth hormone. Octreotide copies somatostatin and tells the pituitary to stop making so much, like adding an 'off switch' to an overactive gland.
▸What are the side effects of Octreotide?
Common side effects include diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain, and gallstones (which may require monitoring). Some people feel lightheaded. Vitamin B12 levels may drop with long-term use. The label also warns about a slow heartbeat or other heart rhythm problems, low thyroid hormone levels (thyroid tests are checked from time to time), blood sugar that runs too high or too low, and fatty, loose stools from poor fat absorption. Tell your doctor about persistent diarrhea or severe abdominal pain.
▸How is Octreotide taken?
For acromegaly, Sandostatin is given as an injection under the skin 3 times daily, usually starting at 50 mcg per dose. Sandostatin LAR Depot is a longer-acting formulation given as a deep muscle injection once every 4 weeks, which is more convenient. It is only for people who have already responded to and tolerated the short-acting Sandostatin shots, so people new to octreotide take the short-acting shots for at least 2 weeks first.
▸Is Octreotide FDA approved?
Yes, Octreotide (Sandostatin) is FDA approved (1988) for the treatment of Acromegaly.
▸What is the difference between Sandostatin and Sandostatin LAR?
Sandostatin is the short-acting form, given as a shot under the skin 3 times a day for acromegaly. Sandostatin LAR Depot is a long-acting form that a trained healthcare provider injects into the buttock muscle every 4 weeks, and it is only for people who have already responded to and tolerated the short-acting shots.
▸How does octreotide compare to lanreotide for acromegaly?
Both are somatostatin analogs that lower growth hormone and IGF-1. Octreotide LAR (Sandostatin LAR Depot) is injected into the buttock muscle every 4 weeks, while lanreotide (Somatuline Depot) is a deep injection under the skin of the upper outer buttock every 4 weeks. The current US labels say a healthcare provider gives both. No head-to-head trial has shown one works better than the other.
▸How long has octreotide been available?
Octreotide was approved by the FDA in 1988, giving it over 35 years of clinical experience in treating acromegaly. It was one of the first somatostatin analogs and remains a cornerstone of acromegaly treatment.
▸Is generic octreotide available?
Yes. Generic short-acting octreotide injection has been sold for years, and the FDA has also approved generic versions of the monthly Sandostatin LAR Depot rated as substitutable for the brand, from Teva in December 2023 and Mylan in December 2025. Generics can lower costs, though coverage rules vary by insurance plan.
▸What are the most common side effects of octreotide?
Stomach and gut side effects are the most common. In the Sandostatin LAR Depot acromegaly studies of 261 people, 36% had diarrhea, 29% abdominal pain and 25% gas, and diarrhea, pain and nausea mostly started in the first month. New gallstones showed up in 22% of people with acromegaly, most of whom had been on the monthly shot for a year or more. Blood sugar can run too high or too low, so it is checked during treatment.
▸What patient support is available for octreotide?
For Sandostatin LAR Depot, the Novartis Patient Assistance Foundation may give the drug free to eligible people who are uninsured or on Medicare or Medicaid and meet income limits. Privately insured people may pay $25 a month through the Novartis Oncology Universal Co-pay Program, which covers up to $15,000 a year (1-877-577-7756). Novartis Patient Support is at 1-800-282-7630.