Humatrope: Dosage, side effects, uses, interactions, cost, and more

Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Humatrope to treat growth hormone deficiency (GHD) in adults. It’s also approved to treat growth failure or short stature in certain children.

Humatrope is a brand-name biologic drug. It isn’t available in a biosimilar form.

Biologics are made using parts of living cells, while traditional drugs are made using chemicals. This allows traditional drugs to have generics that are exact copies of the brand-name drug. However, biologics have biosimilars instead of generics because they cannot be copied exactly.

As with generics, biosimilars are considered as safe and effective as the original brand-name drug but tend to cost less.

For reference, 1 kg is about 2.2 pounds (lb).

The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

Humatrope comes as a powder that’s mixed with liquid to form a solution. The liquid used for mixing is provided in a prefilled syringe that comes with the drug. For detailed instructions on how to mix and prepare Humatrope, see the drug’s instructions for use.

For adults with growth hormone deficiency (GHD), doctors will decide if your Humatrope dose should be based on your body weight.

If your dosage is based on body weight. The usual starting dosage of Humatrope is 0.006 mg per kg of body weight each day. For example, a person weighing 75 kg (about 165 lb) would inject 0.45 mg per day.

Your doctor may increase the dosage every 1 to 2 months, up to a maximum of 0.0125 mg per kg of body weight each day. Your ongoing dosage will depend on how your condition responds to treatment.

If your dosage is not based on body weight. The usual starting dosage of Humatrope is 0.15–0.3 mg each day. Your doctor will tell you the exact amount of Humatrope to inject for each dose.

Your doctor may increase the dosage every 1 to 2 months, depending on how your condition responds to treatment. They can also advise you on the maximum recommended dosage when body weight is not used to guide dosing.

Humatrope is prescribed to treat growth failure or short stature in children of any age with certain conditions. (For details about the conditions Humatrope is prescribed for, see the “Humatrope uses” section.)

Each weekly dosage of Humatrope is divided into 6 or 7 injections. Your child’s doctor will tell you how many days to inject Humatrope each week and how much to inject for each dose.

Humatrope is given as a subcutaneous injection under the skin of your upper arm, abdomen, thigh, or buttocks. Your doctor or another healthcare professional will show you or a caregiver how to give the injections at home.

If you have questions about how to use Humatrope, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You can also visit the drug manufacturer’s website for more information.

Using more than the recommended dosage of Humatrope can lead to serious side effects. Do not use more Humatrope than your doctor recommends.

Symptoms of an overdose can include low blood sugar, high blood sugar, or fluid buildup in the body.

Repeated overdoses or using too much Humatrope over time can cause effects similar to having too much natural growth hormone. Examples include:

If you think you’ve taken too much of this drug, call your doctor. You can also call America’s Poison Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. However, if your symptoms are severe, call 911 or your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency room right away.

Humatrope can cause mild or serious side effects. The following lists contain some of the key side effects that may occur while taking Humatrope. These lists do not include all possible side effects.

For more information about the possible side effects of Humatrope, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can give you tips on how to manage any side effects that may be concerning or bothersome.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medications safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect while taking Humatrope and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

Here is a partial list of mild side effects of Humatrope. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or view Humatrope’s prescribing information.

Most of these side effects may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. However, if they become more severe or don’t go away, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Serious side effects from Humatrope aren’t common, but they can occur. Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 or your local emergency phone number if your symptoms feel life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency.

Humatrope is prescribed to treat growth failure or short stature in certain children.

In clinical trials, most side effects observed in children were similar to those reported in adults. (See the “Mild side effects” and “Serious side effects” sections.) However, pancreatitis may occur more often in children than in adults.

A hip problem called slipped capital femoral epiphysis has also been reported in some children taking somatropin (the active ingredient in Humatrope).

If you have questions about the side effects of Humatrope in children, talk with your child’s doctor or pharmacist.

For some people, Humatrope can cause an allergic reaction. But this side effect wasn’t reported in the drug’s clinical trials.

In general, symptoms of an allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.

For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to x drug, your doctor may recommend a different medication instead.

The following information describes the FDA-approved uses for Humatrope.

Humatrope is approved to treat growth hormone deficiency (GHD) in adults.

With GHD, the pituitary gland does not produce enough growth hormone. This can lead to symptoms such as low energy, reduced muscle mass, and weakened bones.

To learn more about Humatrope for GHD, talk with your doctor.

Humatrope is approved to treat growth failure or short stature in children of any age with certain conditions.

With growth failure, a child grows more slowly than expected for their age. With short stature, a child’s height is below the typical range for their age group. Symptoms can vary depending on the underlying cause.

To learn more about Humatrope for growth failure or short stature in children, talk with your doctor.

Humatrope can interact with several other medications. However, the drug is not known to interact with any supplements or foods.

Before taking Humatrope, 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 use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.

Here is a list of medications that can interact with Humatrope. This list does not contain all drugs that may interact with Humatrope. If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Medications that can interact with Humatrope include:

Alcohol is not known to interact with Humatrope. If you have questions about whether alcohol is safe to drink while taking Humatrope, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

As with all medications, the cost of Humatrope can vary. The actual price you’ll pay depends on your insurance plan, your location, and the pharmacy you use.

Financial and insurance assistance: If you need financial support to pay for Humatrope or help understanding your insurance coverage, help is available. A Humatrope Savings Card Program is available for Humatrope. For more information and to find out if you’re eligible for support, call 866-923-1953 or visit the program website.

Generic version: Humatrope is not available in a biosimilar form. It’s a brand-name biologic drug made from parts of living cells. Biosimilars tend to cost less than brand-name biologic drugs. See the “Humatrope generic or biosimilar” section for more details.

Other growth hormone injections are available that can treat your condition. Some may be a better fit for you than others. If you’re interested in finding an alternative to Humatrope, talk with your doctor. They can tell you about other medications that may work well for you.

The active ingredient in Humatrope is somatropin. Other growth hormone products, such as Genotropin and Omnitrope, have the same active ingredient. Doctors may prescribe these drugs for some of the same conditions treated with Humatrope.

If you can become pregnant, consider the following information about pregnancy and breastfeeding.

It’s not known whether Humatrope should be taken during pregnancy. If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.

It’s not known whether Humatrope should be taken while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.

Before taking Humatrope, discuss your health history with your doctor. Humatrope may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. Be sure to talk with your doctor if any of the following apply to you:

Note: For more information about the potential negative effects of Humatrope, see the “Humatrope side effects” section.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today 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.