About Somatropin

For parents of children with growth deficiencies, or for adults suffering from bone loss due to diseases such as HIV/AIDs, living with the loss of mass or the weakness it can cause does not have to be the only option. Doctors are now prescribing treatments utilizing Somatropin, a human growth hormone that can stimulate bone growth, among other things. But like most medical treatments, Somatropin does come with its own set of risks.

Function

• Somatropin is a growth hormone that can help people who suffer from growth failure, growth deficiencies or weight loss attributed to diseases such as HIV/AIDS.

History

• As early as the 1920s scientists were trying to utilize growth hormones. In those first trials they attempted to use bovine growth hormone to treat insulin-dependent human diabetics, but this treatment proved unsuccessful because of a difference in the molecular structure of human and bovine growth hormone. It wasn't until 1958 that a 17-year-old boy received the first successful human growth hormone treatment to treat a GH-deficiency. This was done utilizing human growth hormone from a cadaver and became known as cadaver-GH. Cadaver-GH treatment continued until around 2003 but was discontinued when patients who had been treated with it were found to have Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (an incurable neurological disorder) that was linked to the cadaver-GH. Cadaver-GH was no longer the only form of growth hormone treatment available at that point, however, as in the early '80s a synthetic human growth hormone was developed. This became, through several processes and incarnations, Somatropin.

Effects

• Human growth hormone can work in many ways on the body. It can increase cardiac output, lower blood pressure, increase immune system function, enhance libido, reduce body fat, remove wrinkles and tighten the skin, and, of course, it can strengthen bones.

Features

• Somatropin is injected into the muscle or under the skin. These injections can be made by a doctor or nurse, or in some cases can be given by yourself at home if you are fully trained in how to do so. While taking Somatropin treatments your blood and growth progress will be checked regularly to make sure that it is not only working properly but that you are not suffering any extreme negative side effects. Those who are taking Somatropin injections to help with short bowel syndrome also may be placed on a diet plan by their doctor. Several different brands of Somatropin injections are available, and how you take the injections and how you store the medication all will depend on which brand you are using.

Considerations

• Somatropin is not a medication that should be taken if you are pregnant or nursing. There are certain over-the-counter medications that can react negatively with Somatropin injections, so you should check with your physician before taking them if you are on any other kinds of medication at the same time.

Warning

• Human growth hormone treatments can cause several side effects, including hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), acromeglia (which is a disease that causes abnormal bone growth), carpal tunnel syndrome (which can lead to loss of hand movement), and joint pain (which is usually caused by body growth and is most often temporary). Basic side effects of the injections can include headaches, weakness, dizziness and nausea.