Octreotide

Octreotide is a laboratory-made copy of a natural body chemical called somatostatin, which is a hormone that slows down many other hormones in the body. It belongs to a group of medicines made from small chains of building blocks called peptides. Doctors use it for people whose bodies make too much of certain hormones. This includes people with a growth condition called acromegaly and people with rare tumors that release hormones.

Octreotide works by attaching to the same spots on cells that the natural hormone uses. When it locks onto these spots, it tells the body to make less growth hormone and less of the hormones that control the gut. This can lower swelling, slow down gut fluids, and ease symptoms caused by hormone-releasing tumors. It is also useful in finding certain tumors, because the spots it attaches to sit on the surface of many tumor cells.

Like any strong medicine, octreotide has limits. The evidence for its main uses comes from many years of clinical practice in hospitals, but how well it works can differ from person to person. It can cause stomach problems like gas, loose stools, and discomfort. Because it is a prescription drug given by a doctor, people should never use it on their own or buy it from unclear sources. Anyone thinking about it should talk with a licensed medical provider first.