The world of medicine is full of terms and names that can make it difficult for patients to truly understand their specific treatment. From medication names to dosage measurements, it can be incredibly difficult to know exactly what is going on.
The story doesn’t get any better within the world of hormone replacement therapy. While it’d be nice if all the hormone injections were simply labeled the hormone they contained, this isn’t always the case. If you are currently in the process of hormone treatment or are planning to, you may have heard of Omnitrope.
Below is a closer look at Omnitrope, including its uses, benefits, and potential side effects. Understanding what Omnitrope is through and through can enable you to be an informed patient who can more thoroughly understand your treatment or potential treatment options.
What Is Omnitrope?
Omnitrope is an HGH medication that aims to increase serum human growth hormone in the body. Omnitrope is more specifically a somatropin injection that contains a synthetic form of the human growth hormone that is secreted by the pituitary gland. When taken, Omnitrope can effectively increase HGH levels in the body.
What Are the Benefits of Omnitrope?
The benefits of Omnitrope can be immense if you are experiencing an HGH deficiency. Reestablishing healthy growth hormone levels in the body may help increase lean muscle mass, decrease body fat, restore sexual interest, improve sleep quality, improve memory, and rebuild strength and stamina.
You may notice that the benefits are all very similar to the regular functioning of growth hormone in the body. This is because Omnitrope contains somatropin, which can help your body to function at its optimal potential.
One of the most notable benefits of Omnitrope is its ability to help boost muscle growth. Growth hormone is made to boost body mass growth, so it can be especially helpful if you have experienced a decrease in muscle mass after a deficiency. Boosting muscle is never the primary use of Omnitrope, but it sure is a nice added benefit.
What Are the Side Effects of Omnitrope?
Like any medication, Omnitrope comes with its fair share of potential side effects. As a potent chemical messenger in the body, altering levels consists of a complicated balancing act, and increasing levels through supplementation may result in some side effects.
Common side effects may include:
- Bone or muscle pain
- Hair loss
- Pain and swelling at the injection site
Many other side effects can occur while on Omnitrope. With the delicate nature of hormone balance, it is important to have an honest conversation with your physician and weigh out the potential benefits versus the potential side effects.
Who Should Take Omnitrope?
Omnitrope is a somatotropic injection that can help establish healthy levels of HGH in situations where they are lower than normal. FDA-approved use for HGH includes the treatment of growth hormone deficiency, Prader-Willi syndrome, small for gestational age, Turner syndrome, and idiopathic short stature.
Hormone deficiency is something that can affect people of all ages, but it typically becomes more prevalent with older age. Low HGH levels can place your well-being at a disadvantage. Low levels of HGH can lead to body fat accumulation, feelings of anxiety or depression, a decline in sexual function, and even declined energy levels.
Taking supplemental HGH in the form of Omnitrope can increase levels within your body and provide you with a higher standard of wellbeing.
Who Should Not Take Omnitrope?
While the benefits of HGH are large, it is important to note that these benefits are only provided to individuals that have a deficiency. Omnitrope is a potent drug that causes system-wide changes throughout the body and should only be taken under the supervision of a physician.
Those that do not have a deficiency should not take HGH as it may lead to a number of different unwanted side effects. Additionally, those with naturally high HGH should not take Omnitrope. HGH hypersensitivity should also be considered as Omitrope would elevate HGH levels.
Other contraindications of HGH include patients with suspected cancer, acute critical illness, obese pediatric Prader-Willi syndrome individuals, and those with diabetic retinopathy.
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding you will need to discuss with your doctor how this may impact you. This is not generally recommended since adequate studies have not been completed to understand the safety and effectiveness in this population.
What Is the Common Dose of Omnitrope?
Dosing will be different for each person, but there are some general dosing guidelines that healthcare providers generally follow.
For adults with a growth hormone deficiency, the general guideline is no more than 0.04 mg per kg per week. This max dosage will then be divided into daily doses.
After you are taking the medication for a while your doctor may increase the medication to no more than 0.08 mg/kg/week. This increase must be done slowly in 1-2 month intervals. Dosing by weight is the most accurate way to dose since it is personalized to your size, but there are other ways to dose that consider other influences as well.
You should always work with your doctor to determine the best dose of medication for you. You should never adjust your medication dosage on your own as this can be unsafe. Over time your doses may be changed and this is based on several factors such as how you are responding to the treatment program.
Is Omnitrope an Injection or a Pill?
Omnitrope is an injectable medication that is administered into the fatty tissue beneath the skin called the subcutaneous tissue. The areas of the body where these medications may be injected are spots that have extra fat like the belly and back of the arms.
Omnitrope is a little bit different than traditional medications where you just pull them out from the vial. Instead, Omnitrope comes in two vials: one with the powder medication and another with a solution of bacteriostatic water. The medication must be reconstituted then pulled up into the syringe.
The steps will be as follows:
- Gather your supplies:
- Vial of Omnitrope
- Vial of diluent
- A syringe and needle for injection
- A syringe and needle for preparation
- Two alcohol swabs
- Wash your hands. Then, take the lids off of the two vials and clean the tops with an alcohol swab. Pull back about 1 mL of air into the syringe. Inject the air into the vial with the diluent. Flip the vial (and syringe) upside down and pull all of the diluent from the vial. Flip it back right side up and remove the full syringe.
- Next, insert the syringe of diluent into the Omnitrope vial and inject the diluent slowly and with control. Instead of pushing the diluent in the center of the vial aim it toward the wall to prevent bubbling. Take the syringe out and put it in the sharps container.
- Place the full vial in between your palms and gently roll the vial between your palms until the powder and diluent are mixed. Do not shake it.
- Use the syringe for injection and insert it into the vial. Flip it upside down and remove the proper dose from the vial. Flip it back to a neutral position and remove the needle.
- Select an appropriate location for injection and cleanse it with an alcohol swab. Pinch the skin and swiftly insert the needle into the skin at a 90-degree angle. Inject the medication.
- Remove the needle from the skin and release the pinch from the skin.
- Place the needle, syringe, and any single-dose vials into the sharps container. If the vial of medication can be used for multiple doses, store it appropriately.
Conclusion
Omnitrope is an injectable form of somatotropin that is utilized to increase the levels of human growth hormone within your body. If you have lower than ideal natural HGH levels, Omnitrope can help to reestablish healthy hormone levels and get your life back on track.
Understanding the ins and outs of your HGH treatment, including your prescribed medication, can allow you to make better-informed decisions about your health. With the detailed look at Omnitrope provided above, you can feel more confident about your hormone replacement treatment plan.
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