Proper Use

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

A nurse or other trained health professional may give you this medicine. This medicine is given as a shot under your skin in the stomach, buttock, upper arms, or thigh area. Somatrogon-ghla injection may sometimes be given at home to patients who do not need to be in the hospital. If you are using this medicine at home, your doctor will teach you how to prepare and inject the medicine. Be sure that you understand exactly how the medicine is prepared and injected.

This medicine comes with a patient information leaflet and patient instructions. Read and follow the instructions in the insert carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

Always check the label before use, to make sure you have the correct dose.

This medicine is available in prefilled pens. Read all instructions carefully to be sure you know how to use your device.

You will be shown the body areas where this shot can be given. Use a different body area each time you give yourself a shot. Keep track of where you give each shot to make sure you rotate body areas. This will help prevent skin problems from the injections.

You may use the pen straight from the refrigerator. You may also allow the medicine to warm at room temperature for 30 minutes before use.

Do not inject into bony areas, skin areas that are bruised, red, sore or hard, or has scars or skin conditions.

The medicine should be colorless to slightly light yellow. Do not use the medicine if it is cloudy or dark yellow, or has flakes or particles in it.

To use the prefilled pen:

  • Wash your hands with soap and water.
  • Place the needle straight on the pen. Prime the pen by removing the air from the needle. Select 0.4 units when turning the dose knob.
  • Hold the pen with the needle pointing up, then gently tap the cartridge holder to collect the air bubbles at the top.
  • Press the injection button until it stops. You should see a "0" in the dose window.
  • You should see the liquid at the needle tip. If you do not see the liquid, repeat the priming steps but not more than 5 times. If there is still no liquid, do not use the pen.
  • Turn the dose selector, be careful not to press the injection button. If the dose is more than 12 milligrams (mg), you will need to split the dose into more than 1 injection.
  • Insert the needle into your skin and press the injection button all the way in for at least 10 seconds. Keep pressing until the needle has been pulled out from the skin. This will make sure that you have received the full dose.
  • Use a new needle each time you inject your medicine. Always remove and throw the needle after each injection. Do not use the pen if it is frozen, exposed to heat, dropped, or looks broken or damaged. Do not shake the pen.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

  • For injection dosage form (solution):
    • For treatment of growth failure caused by growth hormone deficiency:
      • Children 3 years of age and older—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The dose is usually 0.66 milligrams (mg) per kg of body weight injected under the skin once a week on the same day, at any time of the day.
      • Children younger than 3 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed Dose

This medicine needs to be given on a fixed schedule. If you miss a dose or forget to use your medicine, call your doctor or pharmacist for instructions.

If you miss a dose, use it as soon as possible within 3 days after the missed dose. However, if it is more than 3 days, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule.

Storage

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Store in the refrigerator. Do not freeze.

Store opened pen in the refrigerator for up to 28 days. Throw away opened pen after 28 days.

Throw away used needles in a hard, closed container that the needles cannot poke through. Keep this container away from children and pets.

Portions of this document last updated: Feb. 01, 2024

Copyright: © Merative US L.P. 1973, 2024. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.