What is Growth Hormone?

• Growth hormone is marketed under a variety of brand names and is indicated for the treatment of many conditions.
• Growth hormone can help children grow taller and help adults build muscle. It can also be used in certain patients to help with weight gain.
• The condition most commonly treated with growth hormone is growth hormone deficiency (GHD).
  • GHD can occur due to lack of production of growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) in the hypothalamus or lack of production of growth hormone in the pituitary gland.
  • Both of these conditions can be congenital (occur at birth) or acquired (occur later in life due to damage to the hypothalamus or pituitary gland). Many times the cause of GHD is unknown.
• Both of these conditions can be congenital (occur at birth) or acquired (occur later in life due to damage to the hypothalamus or pituitary gland). Many times the cause of GHD is unknown.

About Growth Hormone Treatment/Managing Side Effects

• Specific administration techniques and schedules will vary between growth hormone products, but growth hormone is always given by injection.
• Needles and syringes should be disposed of only in a sharps container.
• Some of the possible side effects of growth hormone are:
  • Joint pain
  • Muscle pain
  • Pain, swelling, redness, nodules, or bruising at the site of injection
  • Headache
  • Fluid retention/edema
  • Hair loss
• Both of these conditions can be congenital (occur at birth) or acquired (occur later in life due to damage to the hypothalamus or pituitary gland). Many times the cause of GHD is unknown.
• Growth hormone can interfere with regulation of blood sugar. Patients with diabetes mellitus who are using growth hormone therapy should monitor blood glucose levels closely.
• Growth hormone can also interfere with thyroid function. Patients taking thyroid replacement therapy may require a change in dosage.
• Growth hormone therapy can cause changes in vision in rare cases. It is important to have regular eye exams while on therapy.

Important Tips about Growth Hormone

• Some brands of growth hormone must be stored in the refrigerator while some can be stored at room temperature. Check your label or ask your pharmacist about storage of your brand.
• Support groups exist for patients/parents of patients using growth hormone therapy:
  • The Magic Foundation
    • Available at www.magicfoundation.org
  • Human Growth Foundation
    • Available at www.hgfound.org

The information provided above is educational material and is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice. You should discuss the information and how it may be applicable to you with your healthcare provider. For MedfusionRx patients if you have any questions about your medication or the side effects, please see the contact us page for your pharmacy number. For more information on dosing, precautions, warnings, interactions and contraindications for a specific medication, please refer to the product information (prescribing information) provided with your medication.