Pegvisomant (Systemic)

Brand Names : Somavert

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For pegvisomant, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to pegvisomant, rubber or latex. Also tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy - Pegvisomant has not been shown to cause birth defects or other problems in humans. Before taking this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you become pregnant.

Breast-feeding - It is not known whether pegvisomant passes into breast milk. Although most medicines pass into breast milk in small amounts, many of them may be used safely while breast-feeding. Mothers who are taking this medicine and who wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their doctor.

Children - Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of pegvisomant in children with use in other age groups.

Older adults - Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use of pegvisomant in the elderly with use in other age groups.

Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking pegvisomant, it is especially important that your doctor and pharmacist know if you are taking any of the following:

• Hypoglycemic agents (e.g., Glyburide), or
• Insulin (e.g., Humulin, Novolin, Iletin) - Pegvisomant may cause low blood sugar; your doctor may need to change the dose of your diabetes medicine

• Narcotic pain medicine (e.g., Demerol, Morphine) - Your doctor may need to change your dose of pegvisomant if you use any of these medicines.

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of pegvisomant. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes) - Pegvisomant may cause low blood sugar; your doctor may need to change the dose of your diabetes medicine

• Kidney disease, or
• Liver disease - If you have this condition, pegvisomant may remain in the body longer than normal; your doctor may need to change the dose of your medicine