Longastatin: Full Drug Profile

Longastatin - General Information

Longastatin is the acetate salt of a cyclic octapeptide. It is a long-acting octapeptide with pharmacologic properties mimicking those of the natural hormone somatostatin.

Pharmacology of Longastatin

Longastatin exerts pharmacologic actions similar to the natural hormone, somatostatin. It is an even more potent inhibitor of growth hormone, glucagon, and insulin than somatostatin. Like somatostatin, it also suppresses leuteinizing hormone (LH) response to GnRH, decreases splanchnic blood flow, and inhibits release of serotonin, gastrin, vasoactive intestinal peptide, secretin, motilin, and pancreatic polypeptide. Longastatin has been used to treat the symptoms associated with metastatic carcinoid tumors (flushing and diarrhea), and Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (VIP) secreting adenomas (watery diarrhea). Longastatin substantially reduces and in many cases can normalize growth hormone and/or IGF-1 (somatomedin C) levels in patients with acromegaly.

Longastatin for patients

Longastatin Interactions

Octreotide has been associated with alterations in nutrient absorption, so it may have an effect on absorption of orally administered drugs. Concomitant administration of octreotide injection with cyclosporine may decrease blood levels of cyclosporine and result in transplant rejection.

Patients receiving insulin, oral hypoglycemic agents, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, or agents to control fluid and electrolyte balance, may require dose adjustments of these therapeutic agents.

Concomitant administration of octreotide and bromocriptine increases the availability of bromocriptine. Limited published data indicate that somatostatin analogs might decrease the metabolic clearance of compounds known to be metabolized by cytochrome P450 enzymes, which may be due to the suppression of growth hormones. Since it cannot be excluded that octreotide may have this effect, other drugs mainly metabolized by CYP3A4 and which have a low therapeutic index (e.g., quinidine, terfenadine) should therefore be used with caution.

No known interference exists with clinical laboratory tests, including amine or peptide determinations.

Longastatin Contraindications

Sensitivity to this drug or any of its components.

Additional information about Longastatin

Longastatin Indication: For treatment of acromegaly and reduction of side effects from cancer chemotherapy Mechanism Of Action: Longastatin binds to somatostatin receptors. These receptors are coupled via pertussis toxin sensitive G proteins which lead to inhibition of adenylyl cyclase. Longastatin binding to these receptors also stimulates phosphotyrosine phosphatase and activation of the Na(+)/H(+) exchanger via pertussis toxin insensitive G proteins. Drug Interactions: Not Available Food Interactions: Not Available Generic Name: Octreotide Synonyms: Octreotide acetate; Octreotidum [Latin]; Octreotida [Spanish]; Octrotide Drug Category: Anabolic Agents; Hormone Replacement Agents; Gastrointestinal Agents; Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal Drug Type: Biotech; Approved; Investigational Other Brand Names containing Octreotide: Sandostatin LAR (Novartis); Longastatin; Sandostatin; Sandostatin LAR; Atrigel; Absorption: Not Available Toxicity (Overdose): Not Available Protein Binding: Not Available Biotransformation: Not Available Half Life: Not Available Dosage Forms of Longastatin: Powder IntramuscularSolution Intravenous Chemical IUPAC Name: 10-(4-aminobutyl)-19-[(2-amino-3-phenylpropanoyl)amino]-N-(1,3-dihydroxybutan-2-yl)-7-(1-hydroxyethyl)-13-(1H-indol-3-ylmethyl)-6,9,12,15,18-pentaoxo-16-(phenylmethyl)-1,2-dithia-5,8,11,14,17-pentazacycloicosane-4-carboxamide Chemical Formula: C49H66N10O10S2 Octreotide on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octreotide Organisms Affected: Humans and other mammals