Norditropin® is an injectable form of human growth hormone (somatropin) prescribed to treat patients who are failing to produce adequate amounts of HGH and/or have been diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency (GHD).
Norditropin is made by Novo Nordisk. It is an FDA-approved injectable medication most often prescribed for the treatment of growth failure, growth hormone deficiency, or HIV-related weight loss or wasting. Norditropin® may also be prescribed to treat short stature in children that could be the result of Noonan syndrome, Turner syndrome, idiopathic short stature, or Prader-Willi syndrome.
Norditropin is also used for the treatment of age-related HGH decline in adults.
What is Norditropin?
Norditropin is an injectable medication, available via prescription only, used to treat children and adults who have been diagnosed with growth hormone deficiencies. This includes men who have been diagnosed with “adult-onset,” or “age-related” growth hormone deficiency.
Norditropin is made from recombinant human DNA, which means it is an exact duplicate on the molecular level of the growth hormone naturally produced by your body. As such, it is generally regarded as safe and well-tolerated. Most patients using Norditropin experience few, if any, side effects.
What Are the Reasons to Take Norditropin?
Human growth hormone, or HGH, is a vital hormone to your wellbeing. HGH is responsible for all of the biological processes that allow a child to grow into an adult of full stature.
Children who are failing to reach growth milestones for their age may be suffering from a growth hormone deficiency, GHD. Children diagnosed with GHD will be prescribed Norditropin injections to help stimulate normal growth.
Norditropin is also prescribed to mitigate the “muscle wasting” typical of HIV-AIDS patients and other muscle-deteriorating conditions such as muscular dystrophy.
There is another kind of growth hormone deficiency, known as “adult-onset” or “age-related” GHD. HGH continues to play a significant role in your energy, strength, and overall well being even once you are an adult. However, your HGH level begins a steady decline after the age of 30. This can result in “age-related” growth hormone deficiency. Norditropin injections are also used to help patients suffering from age-related HGH loss back into the more normal range.
The benefits of Norditropin when used to treat any of the above conditions include the following:
- Skeletal growth
- Cell growth
- Organ growth
- Increased protein metabolism
- Improved carbohydrate metabolism
- Improved lipid metabolism
Full Instructions for Norditropin Usage
The following information is provided for educational purposes only. Please consult with your doctor or pharmacist, or read the product insert for full instructions on the use and administration of Norditropin.
Indications for using Norditropin Novo Nordisk
Norditropin is indicated for the treatment of growth hormone deficiency and certain muscle-wasting conditions. The most common use of Norditropin is for children who are not growing normally because their bodies are not making enough growth hormone. It is also indicated for use in certain specific conditions or syndromes that can stunt a child’s growth. Norditropin injections are also indicated for use in adults who do not make enough growth hormone either due to a childhood growth hormone deficiency that has persisted into adulthood or whose HGH levels are low due to adult-onset or age-related growth hormone deficiency.
Dosage & Administration
The daily dosage of Norditropin® varies depending on the age of the patient, if you are a child, your height and weight at the time of prescribing, and the reason you are being given a Norditropin prescription. Norditropin is distributed by its manufacturer as a sterile solution in ready-to-administer prefilled injectable pens, known as FlexPro. FlexPro pens range in dose from 5 mg/1.5 mL to 30 mg/3 mL.
Overdose
According to the product information for Norditropin. Overdose could lead to hypoglycemia and/or hyperglycemia. Fluid retention is also a common sign of taking too much Norditropin. Long-term over-dosage has been known to result in gigantism and/or acromegaly, which are consistent with the known detrimental effects of taking too much HGH.
As with any medication, keep Norditropin HGH secure and away from children. In case of accidental overdose, seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
Storage
According to Novo Nordisk, its manufacturer, Norditropin must be refrigerated (36°F to 46°F) prior to first use. Norditropin should never be frozen. It should be kept out of direct light. After first use, FlexPro pens can either be kept unrefrigerated for up to 3 weeks, or remain refrigerated for use within 4 weeks.
Drug Interactions
According to its manufacturer, Norditropin® should not be taken with any of the following medications:
- Balofloxacin.
- Besifloxacin.
- Bupropion.
- Enoxacin.
- Fleroxacin.
- Flumequine.
- Lomefloxacin.
- Nadifloxacin.
Warnings & Precautions
Before accepting a prescription for Norditropin, please be sure to tell your prescriber if:
- You are a child who has Prader-Willi syndrome and is also severely overweight and/or has been diagnosed with sleep apnea
- Do not take Norditropin if you have cancer or other types of tumors, as HGH can stimulate tumor activity.
- Do not take Norditropin if you are allergic to it or any of its ingredients.
- Be sure to tell your doctor about any eye or visual issues, particularly if you have problems caused by diabetes (diabetic retinopathy).
- Do not take Norditropin if you are expecting or plan to become pregnant.
- Do not take Norditropin if you are currently breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. The ability to pass Norditropin through breastmilk, not the consequences of the same, are unknown.
Side Effects
Norditropin is FDA approved for use in treating low levels of HGH in adults and children. It has been shown to be quite safe and effective in the treatment of growth hormone deficiency and age-related HGH decline. However, as with any prescription medication, Norditropin has some possible risks. The most common side effects of Norditropin® are:
- Injection site reactions and rashes
- Headaches
Please see your product insert for a complete list of Norditropin side effects.
The risk of severe side effects with Norditropin is quite small. Most of our patients taking Norditropin go through their entire course of treatment with few, if any, side effects.
Frequently Asked Questions About Norditropin
Norditropin injections, like all growth hormone replacement therapies, take time to work. You may start to notice some benefits of Norditropin within the first month or two of starting your prescription. However, usually, you will have to be on Norditropin for a full course of at least six months before you see the most significant results.
Norditropin is most effective when you can stick to your prescribed dosage schedule. However, should you miss a dose, don’t panic. Just take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, then just skip the dose you missed and take the next dose at your regularly scheduled time, and do not worry about the skipped dose. Never “double up” on a dose without your doctor’s approval.
Both Genotropin and Norditropin, as are all forms of prescription HGH injections, are the same medication — somatropin. Somatropin is a synthetic form of HGH made from human DNA that is prescribed to raise HGH levels in patients with growth hormone deficiency. Neither Genotropin nor Norditropin is “better” than the other for treating growth hormone deficiency. They differ only in their prices, dosages available, and administration. Your doctor will decide which is best for you based on your presenting symptoms and lifestyle.
Get in touch
Please get in touch and our expert support team will answer all your questions about Norditropin therapy.
