Norditropin: Safety & Side Effects

Norditropin is a form of liquid growth hormone used to treat human growth hormone deficiency in children and adults. It has a good safety profile, but like any drug, it has some risks and potential side effects.

Norditropin is a synthetic form of human growth hormone. It is primarily prescribed for children with growth failure or those with a poor growth response.

In addition to children with subnormal growth rates, it is also often prescribed for adults with growth hormone issues related to aging.

Norditropin is available in several doses, all of which are given via subcutaneous injection. It can be administered using standard disposable needles or the proprietary Norditropin NordiFlex cartridge pen.nordiflex_pen

The most common Norditropin side effects or adverse reactions are the same for all synthetic human growth hormone forms. These include headache, nausea, joint pain, swelling, muscle pain, and injection site reactions such as redness or itching. More serious side effects include increased intracranial pressure, increased blood pressure, hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), and potential adrenal gland issues in patients with a history of malignancy or other adrenal issues. Other possible effects include fluid retention, leading to swelling and carpal tunnel syndrome.

Many potential side effects of liquid growth hormones occur because of taking the wrong dose. The specialized dosage selector on the Norditropin NordFlex pen makes incorrect dosing much less likely. With proper training, you will learn how to turn the dose selector clockwise to your correct dose.

Let’s look at some of the side effects and safety concerns of Norditropin human growth hormone in greater detail.

Side Effects of Norditropin in Adults

Human growth hormone injections like Norditropin are the preferred treatment for growth hormone deficiency. However, liquid growth hormone does have some common and less-than-common side effects.

More common – According to the manufacturer, the most common side effects of Norditropin® are:

  • Injection site reactions and rashes
  • Headaches
  • Abdominal pain
  • Anaphylactic reactions

Less common Norditropin side effects in adults – some of the potentially severe, though less common side effects in adults include:

  • High risk of death in people who have critical illnesses because of heart or stomach surgery, trauma, or serious breathing (respiratory) problems
  • Increased risk of growth of cancer or a tumor that is already present and increased risk of the return of cancer or a tumor in people who were treated with radiation to the brain or head as children and who developed low growth hormone problems.
  • Parents should be aware of complaints of hip or knee pain in children.
  • Sudden Death in Prader-Willi Syndrome: In pediatric patients with Prader-Willi Syndrome who have severe obesity, sleep apnea, or respiratory issues, there is a heightened risk of sudden death. Norditropin should not be used in these patients unless they are closely monitored.
  • New or worsening high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) or diabetes
  • Increase in pressure in the skull (intracranial hypertension)
  • Serious allergic reactions. Get medical help right away if you or your child has the following symptoms:
    • swelling of your face, lips, mouth, or tongue
    • trouble breathing
    • wheezing
    • severe itching
    • skin rashes, redness, or swelling
    • dizziness or fainting
    • fast heartbeat or pounding in your chest
    • sweating
  • Your body holding too much fluid (fluid retention), such as swelling in the hands and feet, pain in your joints or muscles or nerve problems that cause pain, burning or tingling in the hands, arms, legs, and feet
  • Hip and knee pain or a limp in children (slipped capital femoral epiphysis)
  • Severe fatigue
  • Worsening of curvature of the spine (scoliosis)

See your medication’s insert for a complete list of potential side effects.

Your prescription for HGH injections will be tailored to meet your particular goals and lifestyle best. You will be carefully monitored over the course of your treatment with Norditropin, so any chance of side effects should be kept to a minimum. Tell your doctor if you are experiencing any of these or other side effects while taking Norditropin.

Can You Overdose on Norditropin?

norditropin_dosage

As long as you follow the proper medical advice regarding dosage, overdosing on Norditropin is an exceedingly rare occurrence. However, accidental overdose can occur.

Overdose of Norditropin could lead to hypoglycemia and, subsequently, to hyperglycemia. Overdose can also result in fluid retention. Long-term over-dosage could result in signs and symptoms of gigantism and/or acromegaly consistent with the known effects of excess growth hormone.

As with any medication, in case of accidental overdose, seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help Line at 1-800-222-1222. Keep Norditropin and all prescription medications out of the reach of children.

Always take your prescribed dose. The convenient Norditropin NordiFlex pen with its dose selector makes accidental overdose of Norditropin even less likely.

Norditropin Safety: Warnings and Contraindications for Somatropin Therapy

Before initiating treatment with Norditropin, it is important to know its warnings, risks, and contraindications.

According to its manufacturer, Norditropin® should not be used if:

  • You have a critical illness caused by certain types of heart or stomach surgery, trauma, respiratory failure, or respiratory infection.
  • You are a child with Prader-Willi syndrome who is severely obese or has breathing problems, including sleep apnea.
  • You have had recent heart surgery or plan to have heart surgery.
  • You have cancer or other tumors
  • You have sleep apnea
  • You are allergic to somatropin or any of the ingredients in Norditropin® (see the Prescribing Information for a complete list of ingredients in Norditropin®)
  • Your healthcare provider tells you that you have certain types of eye problems caused by diabetes (diabetic retinopathy)
  • You are a child with closed bone growth plates (epiphyses)

Warnings for Somatropin Therapy

norditropin_administration

Before accepting a prescription for Norditropin®, tell your doctor if you:

  • Have had heart or stomach surgery, trauma, or serious breathing (respiratory) problems
  • Have had a history of problems breathing while you sleep (sleep apnea)
  • Have or have had cancer or any tumor
  • Have diabetes
  • Are you pregnant or plan to become pregnant? It is not known if Norditropin® will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
  • Are you breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed? It is not known if Norditropin® passes into your breast milk.

In addition, tell your healthcare provider about any prescription medicine you are taking, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Norditropin may affect how other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how Norditropin works.

See your medication’s insert for a complete list of potential drug interactions.

Handle needles and pens carefully to avoid the risk of needle sticks.

Discard the pen or syringe if any particulate matter is present, if the solution appears cloudy, or if it contains any air bubbles.

Tell your doctor if you experience symptoms of influenza-like illness after taking this medication.

Children with congenital heart disease should not take this medication.

Tell your doctor about nausea, pain, or other forms of stomach distress, as this can be a sign of pancreatitis.

Always take your exact dose. Never take larger doses or doses other than what you have been prescribed.

Care should be taken when prescribed for patients with severe obesity.

Do Norditropin Side Effects Ever Go Away?

All synthetic human growth hormone forms like Norditropin are the same drug known as somatropin. If you are taking your somatropin treatment as directed, most, if any, side effects or adverse effects you may be experiencing should go away within the first four to six weeks of your program of growth hormone replacement therapy. It does take some time for your body to adjust to the increased presence of HGH, and once it does, any minor side effects you were experiencing should fade. For this reason, human growth hormone therapy is designed to be titrated until you reach your maximum dose for optimal response.

Be sure to tell your doctor immediately about any side effects you may be experiencing; often, a simple dose adjustment or dosing schedule can correct the problem.

Long-Term Side Effects of Somatropin Therapy

Children and adults who are treated with this medication should be carefully monitored.

Most, if not all, of the side effects mentioned on these pages can be eliminated or minimized by only using this medication with proper medical supervision. Like all forms of prescription liquid growth hormone, this drug could potentially have some long-term side effects. However, these are usually associated with the abuse or misuse of this drug. Potential long-term side effects of Norditropin include:

Insulin Resistance and Diabetes

HGH can interfere with insulin action, leading to insulin resistance. Long-term HGH therapy may elevate the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, especially in individuals predisposed to the condition. Regular monitoring of blood glucose levels is recommended during therapy.

Joint and Muscle Pain

Long-term HGH use can cause chronic musculoskeletal discomfort, including joint and muscle pain. This is due to excessive growth stimulation in connective tissues, leading to pain and stiffness. Knee pain is also not uncommon.

Systemic hypersensitivity – Systemic hypersensitivity reactions have been reported with the postmarketing use of somatropin products.

Edema and Fluid Retention

Patients on prolonged HGH therapy with drugs like Norditropin may experience edema (swelling) and fluid retention in the extremities, which can be uncomfortable and potentially lead to complications like carpal tunnel syndrome.

Increased Risk of Certain Cancers

There is some evidence that long-term HGH use could increase the risk of certain cancers, especially in patients with a history of malignancies. This is due to HGH’s role in cell growth and replication, which may inadvertently promote cancer cell proliferation.

Acromegaly in Adults

Excessive HGH use can lead to a condition called acromegaly, characterized by abnormal growth of bones and tissues, resulting in enlarged hands, feet, and facial features. Though rare, this condition is typically irreversible and can cause severe health complications if not properly managed.

Hormonal Imbalances

Norditropin injections can disrupt the natural balance of hormones in the body, leading to complications such as changes in thyroid hormone levels, parathyroid hormone levels, or adrenal insufficiency, particularly when taken for extended periods or at high doses.

Gynecomastia

Prolonged use of HGH can cause gynecomastia (development of breast tissue in men) due to its effects on hormone levels and potential conversion to other growth factors.

Lipoatrophy and Lipohypertrophy

Frequent or prolonged injections at the same site can lead to lipoatrophy (loss of fat tissue) or lipohypertrophy (excessive fat accumulation), which can cause disfigurement or discomfort at injection sites.

Norditropin Safety Profile

According to the safety profile provided by the FDA, Norditropin should be administered under the supervision of a healthcare provider experienced in managing growth hormone disorders. Routine monitoring for side effects like increased intracranial pressure, changes in glucose metabolism, and signs of upper airway obstruction is recommended. Fundoscopic examinations should be performed before and periodically during treatment to monitor for intracranial hypertension. Additionally, periodic thyroid function and glucose level assessments are advised due to potential impacts on these systems.

Norditropin’s safety and efficacy profile makes it effective for treating growth hormone deficiencies. Still, it should be used cautiously and under close supervision due to its potential risks and adverse effects.

How to Safely Buy and Use Norditropin

Any risks or potential side effects of Norditropin can be mitigated or minimized by only purchasing your medication from an experienced and reputable prescriber of HGH therapy like Nexel Medical. We take a unique approach to HGH therapy for men and women that provides medical innovation with human compassion. We are one of the country’s foremost providers of medically prescribed HGH and testosterone replacement therapy programs for adult patients living in all 50 states.

Now that you know much more about the safety and side effects of Norditropin, why not Get Started today and learn more about the life-changing benefits of HGH?

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