Genotropin (somatropin) is a prescription drug that’s used to treat certain growth problems. Genotropin comes as an injection you’ll take under your skin.
Genotropin is used in adults and certain children to treat growth hormone deficiency (GHD). It can also be used in children who have other conditions that may affect growth, such as:
- Prader-Willi syndrome
- a lower body weight than is typical after birth
- Turner syndrome
- a shorter height for their age with an unknown cause
To learn more about Genotropin’s uses, see the “What is Genotropin used for?” section below.
Genotropin basics
Genotropin contains the active ingredient somatropin.
Genotropin is a biologic medication. A biologic is made from parts of living organisms. Genotropin is available only as a brand-name drug. It isn’t available in a biosimilar form.
Biosimilars are like generic drugs. But unlike generics, which are made for non-biologic drugs, biosimilars are made for biologic drugs.
Biosimilars will have the same active ingredient core name as the brand-name drug. But they’ll have unique suffixes. This is why “-abcd” appears at the end of the name of the active ingredient. This is to show that it’s distinct from biosimilars that may be created in the future.
Find answers to some commonly asked questions about Genotropin.
How does Genotropin compare with Norditropin or Omnitrope?
Genotropin, Norditropin, and Omnitrope all contain the same active ingredient, somatropin. These drugs are used in adults and certain children who have growth hormone deficiency.
All these drugs are also taken as an injection under your skin. But the forms and strengths of each drug are different.
Talk with your doctor to learn about the drug, dosage, and form that’s best for you.
Is Genotropin used for bodybuilding?
No, Genotropin is not approved for bodybuilding.
Genotropin is a growth hormone. Growth hormone helps muscles grow, and some bodybuilders may use growth hormone supplements to reach their athletic goals.
However, Genotropin should be taken only as prescribed by your doctor. If you have questions about how and when to take Genotropin, talk with your doctor.
Is Genotropin used for weight loss?
No. Genotropin’s studies show that the drug may reduce body fat, but the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved the use of Genotropin for weight loss.
To learn more about treatment options for weight loss, talk with your doctor.
Your doctor will recommend the dosage of Genotropin that’s right for you. Below are commonly used dosages, but always take the dosage your doctor prescribes.
Forms and strengths
Genotropin has two forms. Each form has different strengths.
- Multiuse pens have cartridges that come in two strengths:
- 5 milligrams (mg)
- 12 mg
- Single-use Mini-Quick devices come in 10 strengths:
- 0.2 mg
- 0.4 mg
- 0.6 mg
- 0.8 mg
- 1.0 mg
- 1.2 mg
- 1.4 mg
- 1.6 mg
- 1.8 mg
- 2.0 mg
Recommended dosages
Genotropin may be used for GHD and other conditions that affect growth. See below for dosage details.
Dosage for adults
For the treatment of GHD in adults, your doctor may or may not use your body weight to prescribe your dosage.
If your doctor does not use your body weight, you’ll likely be prescribed a starting dose of 0.2 mg/day.
If your doctor uses your body weight, you’ll likely be prescribed a starting dose of 0.04 mg per kilogram (kg) of body weight per week. For reference, 1 kg is around 2.2 pounds.
Your weekly dose will be divided into six or seven injections. Your doctor will explain how to divide your doses.
Depending on how your body responds to the drug, your doctor may gradually increase your dose every 1 to 2 months. If you experience side effects, they may reduce your dose.
If you’re 65 years old or older, your doctor may start Genotropin with a lower dosage and increase it more gradually to reduce your risk of side effects. Your doctor will decide the dosage that’s best for you.
Dosage for children
The dosage of Genotropin in children depends on the condition being treated. As with adults, dosages in children are based on body weight in kg.
Each weekly dosage in the table below is divided into six or seven injections during the week. Your child’s doctor can tell you how much Genotropin should be injected for each dose.
| Condition | Recommended dosage |
|---|---|
| GHD | 0.16–0.24 mg per kg every week |
| Prader-Willi syndrome | 0.24 mg per kg every week |
| Turner syndrome | 0.33 mg per kg every week |
| short stature | up to 0.47 mg per kg every week |
| lower body weight than is typical after birth | up to 0.48 mg per kg every week |
If you have questions about your child’s dosage of Genotropin, talk with their doctor.
How to take
Your doctor will explain how and when you should take Genotropin. Be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions.
You’ll take each Genotropin dose as an injection under your skin. You should inject Genotropin into your thighs, belly, or buttocks, changing the location for each dose. If you’re injecting into the same area, make sure to inject your next dose at least 1 inch away from your last one.
Genotropin is available as multiuse pens or single-use Mini-Quick devices. Your doctor will choose the form of Genotropin that is best for you.
Both forms of Genotropin should be stored in the refrigerator. It’s best to keep them in their original packaging. When you’re preparing each dose, don’t shake Genotropin. This could make the drug not work as well.
Genotropin’s manufacturer provides step-by-step instructions for using the multiuse pens and Mini-Quick devices on its website. You can also check out the drug’s prescribing information for more details.
Questions about taking Genotropin
Below are some common questions about taking Genotropin.
- Is there a best time of day to take Genotropin? You’ll take a dose of Genotropin 6 or 7 days each week. Your doctor will explain how to take each dose based on the specific regimen you’re prescribed. But it is recommended to inject Genotropin in the evening.
- What if I miss a dose of Genotropin? If you miss a dose of Genotropin, take it as soon as you remember. Then take your next dose at its usual time. If you have questions on how to handle a missed dose, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
- Will I need to use Genotropin long term? Genotropin may be used as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that it’s safe and effective for your condition, you may use it long term.
- How long does Genotropin take to work? Genotropin begins to work after you take your first dose. But because the drug affects growth hormone, you likely won’t feel it working in your body. Your doctor will order tests and may measure your height throughout your treatment to check whether Genotropin is working to treat your condition.
Overdose
Do not take more Genotropin than your doctor prescribes, as this can lead to harmful effects.
Symptoms of overdose
Symptoms caused by a short-term overdose can include:
- low or high blood sugar
- retention of more fluid than usual
Symptoms caused by a long-term overdose can include:
What to do in case you take too much Genotropin
Call your doctor if you think you’ve taken too much Genotropin. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach America’s Poison Centers or use its online resource. But if you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number. Or go to the nearest emergency room.
Like most drugs, Genotropin may cause mild to serious side effects. The lists below contain some of the more common side effects that Genotropin may cause. Side effects may differ slightly depending on the condition you’re using Genotropin to treat. These lists don’t include all possible side effects.
Keep in mind that side effects of a drug can depend on:
- your age
- other health conditions you have
- other medications you take
- the form and dosage of the drug you’re prescribed
Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of Genotropin. They can also suggest ways to help reduce side effects.
Mild side effects
Here’s a list of some of the mild side effects that Genotropin can cause. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or read Genotropin’s prescribing information.
Mild side effects of Genotropin that have been reported include:
- headache
- injection site reactions, such as loss of fat under the skin
- muscle or joint pain
- retention of more fluid than usual, such as peripheral edema
- mild high blood sugar
- numbness, tingling, stiffness, pain, or loss of sensation in the arms or legs
Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Serious side effects
Serious side effects from Genotropin can occur, but they aren’t common. If you have serious side effects from Genotropin, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, you should call 911 or your local emergency number.
Serious side effects of Genotropin that have been reported include:
- higher pressure in the fluid surrounding the brain
- pancreatitis
Allergic reactionBased on the drug’s studies, Genotropin can cause an allergic reaction for some people.
In general, symptoms of allergic reaction can be mild or serious. You can learn more about possible symptoms in this article.
What might help
If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms and can determine whether you should keep taking Genotropin.
If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.
If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Genotropin, they may have you switch to a different treatment.
Whether you have health insurance or not, cost may be a factor when you’re considering Genotropin. What you’ll pay for Genotropin may depend on several things, such as your treatment plan and the pharmacy you use. You may also need to buy needles, depending on the form you’re prescribed.
If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. A program called the Genotropin Copay Program may also be available.
You can check out this article to learn more about saving money on prescriptions.
Genotropin is used to treat growth hormone deficiency (GHD) in certain adults and children.
Specifically in adults, Genotropin can be prescribed for GHD that started in adulthood or childhood. Adult-onset GHD may start on its own or be related to other factors, such as hormone problems, radiation therapy, and pituitary gland disorders. Childhood-onset GHD can be inherited or related to an unknown cause.
Growth hormone is made in the pituitary gland in your brain. It influences your height and affects the growth of your bones and muscles. If you have GHD, your pituitary gland doesn’t make enough growth hormone. This can weaken your bones and cause you to become tired more easily.
Genotropin provides your body with growth hormone. In this way, Genotropin helps increase growth hormone levels and relieve symptoms of GHD and conditions that may affect growth.
Genotropin can also be used in children who have other conditions that may affect growth, including certain genetic conditions such as Prader-Willi syndrome and Turner syndrome. Additionally, it can be used in children who have a lower body weight than is typical after birth or have a shorter height for their age with an unknown cause.
These conditions that may affect growth can cause a child to grow at a slower rate than is typical for their age. Symptoms vary depending on the condition.
Below is important information you should consider before taking Genotropin.
Interactions
Taking a drug with certain medications, vaccines, foods, and other things can affect how the drug works. These effects are called interactions.
Genotropin can interact with several other medications.
Before starting Genotropin treatment, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also, tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you take. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.
If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Drug interactions
Below is a list of medications that can interact with Genotropin. This list does not contain all drugs that may interact with Genotropin. If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
| Drug group or drug name | Drug examples |
|---|---|
| corticosteroids | • prednisone (Rayos) • methylprednisolone (Medrol, Depo-Medrol, Solu-Medrol) |
| oral estrogens | • conjugated estrogens (Premarin) • estradiol (Estrace, Evamist, Estring, Estrogel, others) |
| — | cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune) |
| certain diabetes drugs | • insulin (Lantus, Novolog, Apidra, others) • glimepiride (Amaryl) |
| certain anticonvulsants | • phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek) • carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Equetro, Tegretol, Teril, Epitol) |
Genotropin and alcohol
Alcohol is not known to interact with Genotropin, based on studies. But consuming alcohol while taking Genotropin may worsen some of the drug’s side effects, such as headache and tiredness. Talk with your doctor to determine whether it’s safe for you to consume alcohol during Genotropin treatment.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
It’s not known whether it’s safe to take Genotropin during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. If you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant or to breastfeed, talk with your doctor before starting Genotropin treatment.
Warnings
Genotropin can sometimes cause harmful effects in people who have certain conditions. This is known as a drug-condition interaction. Other factors may also affect whether Genotropin is a good treatment option for you.
Talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Genotropin. Be sure to tell them if any of the following factors apply to you:
- a serious health condition, especially after open heart surgery or other trauma
- respiratory failure
- cancer
- a history of receiving radiation to your head as a childhood cancer treatment
- new or worsening diabetes, including certain eye conditions related to diabetes (diabetic retinopathy)
- new or worsening hypothyroidism
- adrenal glands that produce lower amounts of certain hormones than normal, such as cortisol (adrenal insufficiency)
- ear or hearing problems
- heart conditions, such as high blood pressure or stroke
- previous allergic reaction to Genotropin or any of its ingredients
- pregnancy
- breastfeeding
The following factors should also be discussed if they apply to your child:
- scoliosis
- closed growth plates
- damaged growth plate in the leg
- obesity or serious lung problems (if your child also has Prader-Willi syndrome)
Other drugs are available that can treat your condition. If you’d like to explore an alternative to Genotropin, talk with your doctor. They can tell you about other medications that might work well for you.
The following drugs also contain somatropin, the active ingredient in Genotropin:
- Humatrope
- Norditropin
- Nutropin
- Omnitrope
- Saizen
- Serostim
- Zomacton
Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.