HIGHLIGHTS OF PRESCRIBING INFORMATIONThese highlights do not include all the information needed to use GENOTROPIN safely and effectively. See full prescribing information for GENOTROPIN
GENOTROPIN® (somatropin) for injection, for subcutaneous use Initial U.S. Approval: 1987 RECENT MAJOR CHANGES Warnings and Precautions, Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis in Pediatric Patients (5.10) | 07/2025 |
INDICATIONS AND USAGEGENOTROPIN is a recombinant human growth hormone indicated for: - •
- Pediatric: Treatment of children with growth failure due to growth hormone deficiency (GHD), Prader-Willi syndrome, Small for Gestational Age, Turner syndrome, and Idiopathic Short Stature (1.1)
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- Adult: Treatment of adults with either adult onset or childhood onset GHD (1.2)
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATIONGENOTROPIN should be administered subcutaneously (2) - •
- Pediatric GHD: 0.16 to 0.24 mg/kg/week (2.1)
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- Prader-Willi Syndrome: 0.24 mg/kg/week (2.1)
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- Small for Gestational Age: Up to 0.48 mg/kg/week (2.1)
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- Turner Syndrome: 0.33 mg/kg/week (2.1)
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- Idiopathic Short Stature: up to 0.47 mg/kg/week (2.1)
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- Adult GHD: Either a non-weight based or a weight based dosing regimen may be followed, with doses adjusted based on treatment response and IGF-I concentrations (2.2)
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- Non-weight based dosing: A starting dose of approximately 0.2 mg/day (range, 0.15–0.30 mg/day) may be used without consideration of body weight, and increased gradually every 1–2 months by increments of approximately 0.1–0.2 mg/day. (2.2)
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- Weight based dosing: The recommended initial dose is not more than 0.04 mg/kg/week; the dose may be increased as tolerated to not more than 0.08 mg/kg/week at 4–8 week intervals. (2.2)
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- GENOTROPIN cartridges are color-coded to correspond to a specific GENOTROPIN PEN delivery device (2.3)
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- Injection sites should always be rotated to avoid lipoatrophy (2.3)
DOSAGE FORMS AND STRENGTHSFor injection: 5 mg or 12 mg lyophilized powder in a single‑patient‑use two‑chamber cartridge (3) For injection: 0.2 mg, 0.4 mg, 0.6 mg, 0.8 mg, 1 mg, 1.2 mg, 1.4 mg, 1.6 mg, 1.8 mg, or 2 mg lyophilized powder in a single-dose Growth Hormone Delivery Device containing a two-chamber cartridge (GENOTROPIN MINIQUICK) (3) CONTRAINDICATIONS- •
- Acute Critical Illness (4)
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- Children with Prader-Willi syndrome who are severely obese or have severe respiratory impairment – reports of sudden death (4)
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- Active Malignancy (4)
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- Hypersensitivity to somatropin or excipients (4)
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- Active Proliferative or Severe Non-Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (4)
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- Children with closed epiphyses (4)
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS- •
- Acute Critical Illness: Potential benefit of treatment continuation should be weighed against the potential risk (5.1)
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- Prader-Willi Syndrome in Children: Evaluate for signs of upper airway obstruction and sleep apnea before initiation of treatment
Discontinue treatment if these signs occur (5.2) - •
- Neoplasm: Monitor patients with preexisting tumors for progression or recurrence. Increased risk of a second neoplasm in childhood cancer survivors treated with somatropin in particular meningiomas in patients treated with radiation to the head for their first neoplasm (5.3)
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- Impaired Glucose Tolerance and Diabetes Mellitus: May be unmasked
Periodically monitor glucose levels in all patients. Doses of concurrent antihyperglycemic drugs in diabetics may require adjustment (5.4) - •
- Intracranial Hypertension: Exclude preexisting papilledema. May develop and is usually reversible after discontinuation or dose reduction (5.5)
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- Hypersensitivity: Serious hypersensitivity reactions may occur. In the event of an allergic reaction, seek prompt medical attention (5.6)
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- Fluid Retention (i.e., edema, arthralgia, carpal tunnel syndrome – especially in adults): May occur frequently. Reduce dose as necessary (5.7)
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- Hypoadrenalism: Monitor patients for reduced serum cortisol levels and/or need for glucocorticoid dose increases in those with known hypoadrenalism (5.8)
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- Hypothyroidism: May first become evident or worsen. Monitor thyroid function periodically (5.9)
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- Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis: May develop. Evaluate children with the onset of a limp or hip/knee pain (5.10)
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- Progression of Preexisting Scoliosis: Monitor any child with scoliosis for progression of the curve (5.11)
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- Pancreatitis: Consider pancreatitis in patients with persistent severe abdominal pain (5.15)
ADVERSE REACTIONSOther common somatropin-related adverse reactions include injection site reactions/rashes and lipoatrophy (6.1) and headaches (6.2). To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Pfizer Inc. at 1-800-438-1985 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. DRUG INTERACTIONSInhibition of 11ß-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1: May require the initiation of glucocorticoid replacement therapy. Patients treated with glucocorticoid replacement for previously diagnosed hypoadrenalism may require an increase in their maintenance doses (7.1, 7.2). - •
- Glucocorticoid Replacement: Should be carefully adjusted (7.2)
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- Cytochrome P450-Metabolized Drugs: Monitor carefully if used with somatropin (7.3)
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- Oral Estrogen: Larger doses of somatropin may be required in women (7.4)
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- Insulin and/or Oral/Injectable Hypoglycemic Agents: May require adjustment (7.5)
See 17 for PATIENT COUNSELING INFORMATION. Revised: 7/2025 |