AGHD: A Treatment Option
Nutropin® [somatropin (rDNA origin) for injection] and Nutropin AQ® [somatropin (rDNA origin) injection] are human growth hormone, available by prescription only. Doctors prescribe Nutropin for adults who have growth hormone deficiency that started either in childhood or as an adult due to brain surgery, radiation therapy, trauma, or diseases of the pituitary gland or the hypothalamus
Doctors may prescribe Nutropin AQ and Nutropin for adults who do not make enough growth hormone (GH) on their own. For most adults with adult growth hormone deficiency (AGHD), treatment means taking regular GH injections under the ongoing supervision of a doctor.
Learn about:
- Getting your prescription
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When it’s time to start on GH therapy, ask your doctor or nurse how therapy may work for you. It may help to know:
- About Nutropin and your safety
- How other adults with AGHD deal with GH therapy
- What injection devices are available, how they differ, and which one is right for you
- The basics about storing your GH, preparing the dose, and what kinds of training and support are available
- How treatment happens, day by day—and how others cope
- Why filling your prescription on time is so important
Discuss devices with your doctor. Ask your doctor about the different ways you can take Nutropin. Together, you can decide what form of Nutropin and which delivery device fits your situation best. You should also discuss Nutropin and your safety.
- Getting your insurance company on board
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The next step is getting your doctor’s office to notify the insurance company and get the paperwork started. Nutropin GPS™ is there to help you with insurance questions.
When you or your doctor’s office calls Nutropin GPS, we will connect you with one of our dedicated case managers whose only job is to work with you to try to get the help you need to cover the cost of your medicine.
You may have a private health insurance plan or be covered by Medicare or Medicaid. We can try to help you with issues that include:
- What your health insurance plan covers (known as “benefits investigation”)
- Whether your insurer must approve use of a specific Genentech medicine before your treatment begins (known as “prior authorization”)
- What happens if the insurer decides you are not covered for a specific Genentech medicine (known as a “denial,” which may be appealed)
Regardless of your insurance status, we can try to:
- Help you find out if your health plan pays for your medicine
- Guide you through the reimbursement process
- Connect you with programs to help you with out-of-pocket costs
- Give you and your doctor’s office personal help from a member of our support team
If you have no insurance and you are eligible, we can try to help you get your medicine free of charge.
To learn more about how we may be able to help you or a loved one, call 1-866-NUTROPIN (1-866-688-7674), Monday–Friday, 6 am–5 pm PT, and speak live with one of our case managers or visit NutropinGPS.com.
- Starting Nutropin therapy
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If you’re just starting therapy, you have something to look forward to. Although it may take a while, by continuing Nutropin therapy, you could start to see a difference.
What now?
- Start with a positive attitude
- Whatever your issue, your nurse has probably seen it before—so ask for advice
- Get the training you need to take Nutropin—injections and all—with confidence
- Ask questions—and keep asking until you get the answers you need
- Call 1-866-NUTROPIN (1-866-688-7674) and get your therapy questions answered live via our Nurse Hotline
Nutropin and your safety
WHO IS NUTROPIN FOR?
Nutropin® [somatropin (rDNA origin) for injection] and Nutropin AQ® [somatropin (rDNA origin) injection] are human growth hormone, available by prescription only.
Doctors prescribe Nutropin for children and teenagers with growth failure who:
- Do not make enough growth hormone on their own
- Have chronic renal insufficiency—a slow loss of kidney function—and have not had a transplant
- Have Turner syndrome
- Are not likely to grow to their potential adult height, as determined by a doctor, and whose bones are still able to grow
Doctors prescribe Nutropin for adults who:
- Have growth hormone deficiency that started either in childhood or as an adult due to brain surgery, radiation therapy, trauma, or diseases of the pituitary gland or the hypothalamus
Your doctor will test to see if growth hormone is right for you.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Nutropin and your safety:
Please read this important safety information carefully. Then, if you have any questions, talk with your doctor.
Nutropin is NOT for:
- Children and teenagers whose bones have finished growing
- Patients who have certain types of eye disease caused by diabetes
- Patients who have active cancer or any brain tumors
- Patients who are critically ill after open heart surgery or abdominal (stomach) surgery, are severely hurt, or have severe breathing problems
- Children and teenagers who have Prader-Willi syndrome and are very overweight or have trouble breathing
- Patients with a known sensitivity to benzyl alcohol, an ingredient in the liquid used to mix Nutropin Injection. Sterile water should be used when mixing Nutropin for newborns.
If any of these apply, talk to your doctor before you start taking Nutropin.
If you are about to start taking Nutropin, or are already taking it, be sure to tell the doctor who prescribed it:
- About ALL of the medications you are taking, including supplements
- If you have or develop a brain tumor
- If you are given any new medication, especially glucocorticoid steroids like hydrocortisone or prednisone
- If you are pregnant or if you become pregnant
- About ANY other condition or illness you have or develop
What are the possible side effects of Nutropin?
You may experience discomfort, soreness, or redness where Nutropin is injected.
Contact your doctor immediately if you experience:
- Ongoing injection site discomfort
- Curvature of the spine (scoliosis)
- Joint pain
- Puffy hands and/or feet (caused by fluid retention)
- Changes in vision, a bad headache, or nausea with or without vomiting
- Hip or knee pain
- A need to limp when you walk
- Pain in wrist (carpal tunnel)
- Allergic reaction
Be sure to inject Nutropin at a different recommended place on your body each time. Your doctor or nurse should supervise the first injection and provide training and instruction.
Your doctor is your primary source of information about your treatment.
Please see the full Prescribing Information for Nutropin and Nutropin AQ, available from your pharmacy and at www.nutropin.com, for more about Nutropin and safety.
Questions? Call the Nurse Hotline at 1-866-NUTROPIN (1-866-688-7674).
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Related Tools & Resources
Nutropin AQ NuSpin
It’s here: Nutropin AQ
NuSpin—liquid GH from a prefilled, automatic device
Important Safety Information
WHO IS NUTROPIN FOR?
Nutropin® [somatropin (rDNA origin) for injection] and Nutropin AQ® [somatropin (rDNA origin) injection] are human growth hormone, available by prescription only.
Doctors prescribe Nutropin for children and teenagers with growth failure who:
- Do not make enough growth hormone on their own
- Have chronic renal insufficiency—a slow loss of kidney function—and have not had a transplant
- Have Turner syndrome
- Are not likely to grow to their potential adult height, as determined by a doctor, and whose bones are still able to grow
Doctors prescribe Nutropin for adults who:
- Have growth hormone deficiency that started either in childhood or as an adult due to brain surgery, radiation therapy, trauma, or diseases of the pituitary gland or the hypothalamus
Your doctor will test to see if growth hormone is right for you.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Nutropin and your safety:
Please read this important safety information carefully. Then, if you have any questions, talk with your doctor.
Nutropin is NOT for:
- Children and teenagers whose bones have finished growing
- Patients who have certain types of eye disease caused by diabetes
- Patients who have active cancer or any brain tumors
- Patients who are critically ill after open heart surgery or abdominal (stomach) surgery, are severely hurt, or have severe breathing problems
- Children and teenagers who have Prader-Willi syndrome and are very overweight or have trouble breathing
- Patients with a known sensitivity to benzyl alcohol, an ingredient in the liquid used to mix Nutropin Injection. Sterile water should be used when mixing Nutropin for newborns.
If any of these apply, talk to your doctor before you start taking Nutropin.
If you are about to start taking Nutropin, or are already taking it, be sure to tell the doctor who prescribed it:
- About ALL of the medications you are taking, including supplements
- If you have or develop a brain tumor
- If you are given any new medication, especially glucocorticoid steroids like hydrocortisone or prednisone
- If you are pregnant or if you become pregnant
- About ANY other condition or illness you have or develop
What are the possible side effects of Nutropin?
You may experience discomfort, soreness, or redness where Nutropin is injected.
Contact your doctor immediately if you experience:
- Ongoing injection site discomfort
- Curvature of the spine (scoliosis)
- Joint pain
- Puffy hands and/or feet (caused by fluid retention)
- Changes in vision, a bad headache, or nausea with or without vomiting
- Hip or knee pain
- A need to limp when you walk
- Pain in wrist (carpal tunnel)
- Allergic reaction
Be sure to inject Nutropin at a different recommended place on your body each time. Your doctor or nurse should supervise the first injection and provide training and instruction.
Your doctor is your primary source of information about your treatment.
Please see the full Prescribing Information for Nutropin and Nutropin AQ, available from your pharmacy and at www.nutropin.com, for more about Nutropin and safety.
Questions? Call the Nurse Hotline at 1-866-NUTROPIN (1-866-688-7674).