Why is this medication prescribed?
Somatostatin is a synthetically manufactured hormone used to treat adults for acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding resulting from gastric or duodenal ulcers, haemorrhagic gastritis or oesophagal varices. It also aids healing of intestinal and pancreatic fistulas, and is used to prevent complications after pancreatic surgery or certain endoscopic procedures.
Somatostatin acts in the liver, stomach and intestine to control abdominal blood flow and inhibits the production of pancreatic enzymes.
Properties:
Somatostatin is an oligopeptide made up of 14 amino acids, which was originally isolated in the animal hypothalamus, and which has subsequently been found in epithelial cells and nerve fibres throughout the digestive system.
It is agreed that somatostatin has a local action as a transport substance and that in this way it modulates the activity of endocrine and exocrine glands, and also the motility of the digestive tract.
Administered at pharmacological doses, somatostatin inhibits the activity of the digestive tract. It also inhibits motility and absorption.
Somatostatin rapidly and selectively reduces the blood supply to the digestive tract, without affecting the systemic blood pressure or the heart rate. It completely inhibits gastric secretions that have an anti-haemostatic effect.
Dosage and using this medicine
What special precautions should I follow?
What should I do if I forget a dose?
What side effects can this medication cause?
What storage conditions are needed for this medicine?
In case of an emergency/overdose