Prescription medication · Somatostatin Analog
octreotide
Also sold as Sandostatin. Octreotide is used to lower growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1 in people with acromegaly who haven't responded to other treatments.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 5,230
- FDA reportsLightly reported
- 14
- InteractionsSeveral interactions
- 4
- Recall records
What the data shows
octreotide (Sandostatin) is a prescription Somatostatin Analog, reported less often than most tracked drugs (5,230 FDA reports), with 14 documented drug interactions.
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
octreotide (Sandostatin) is a prescription Somatostatin Analog. Octreotide is used to lower growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1 in people with acromegaly who haven't responded to other treatments.
Octreotide is a drug that mimics a natural hormone in your body. It is used to treat certain conditions caused by too much of certain hormones.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$6.54/unit
Generic Available
Yes (15 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Octreotide is used to lower growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1 in people with acromegaly who haven't responded to other treatments.
Common side effects
Gallbladder problems, Slow heart rate, Diarrhea
Key warnings
Octreotide can cause heart problems, including a higher risk of certain types of heart block.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from octreotide's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
This medicine works by mimicking somatostatin, a natural hormone in your body. It reduces the amount of certain hormones, like growth hormone, that your body makes. By doing this, it helps control the symptoms caused by having too much of these hormones.
How to Take It
Octreotide is given as an injection under the skin or into a vein. Your doctor will decide the right dose for you. For acromegaly, the starting dose is usually 50 mcg three times a day. The dose may be adjusted based on your hormone levels.
This is a plain-language summary of octreotide's FDA labeling, not individualized dosing advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before changing how you take this medication.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
There is limited information about the safety of octreotide during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if octreotide passes into breast milk, so talk to your doctor about breastfeeding while using this medicine.
This is a plain-language summary of octreotide's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber about pregnancy or breastfeeding on this medication.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
This is a plain-language summary of octreotide's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber what to do about your specific missed dose.
Storage
Store octreotide vials in the refrigerator, protected from light. Once at room temperature, it is stable for 14 days if protected from light.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 5,230 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for octreotide, by number of reports
- Diarrhea
Diarrhea
526 reports
- Death
Death
375 reports
- Nausea
Nausea
345 reports
- Tiredness
Tiredness
305 reports
- Cancer getting worse
Cancer getting worse
235 reports
- Stomach pain
Stomach pain
223 reports
- Vomiting 202
Vomiting
202 reports
- Difficulty breathing 179
Difficulty breathing
179 reports
- Weight loss 176
Weight loss
176 reports
- Pain 172
Pain
172 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for octreotide each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where octreotide sits
octreotide has more FDA adverse-event reports than 26% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is octreotide; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 5,230 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2004–2025.
Total Reports
5,230
Reports Mentioning Death
870
16.6% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
2,164
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | DIARRHOEA | 526 |
| 4 | DEATH | 375 |
| 5 | NAUSEA | 345 |
| 6 | FATIGUE | 305 |
| 7 | MALIGNANT NEOPLASM PROGRESSION | 235 |
| 8 | ABDOMINAL PAIN | 223 |
| 9 | VOMITING | 202 |
| 10 | DYSPNOEA | 179 |
| 11 | WEIGHT DECREASED | 176 |
| 12 | PAIN | 172 |
| 13 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE FOR UNAPPROVED INDICATION | 171 |
| 15 | ASTHENIA | 161 |
| 16 | DISEASE PROGRESSION | 157 |
| 17 | HYPOGLYCAEMIA | 157 |
| 18 | DECREASED APPETITE | 153 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
Octreotide can cause heart problems, including a higher risk of certain types of heart block. Your doctor may monitor your heart if you receive this drug intravenously. It can also cause gallbladder problems, high or low blood sugar, and thyroid issues. Tell your doctor right away if you notice new or worsening symptoms.
Known Drug Interactions
Drugs That May Increase the Risk of Hypoglycemia Drugs: Antidiabetic agents, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blocking agents, disopyramide, fibrates, fluoxetine, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, pentoxifylline, pramlintide, salicylates, somatostatin analog (e.g., octreotide), and sulfonamide antibiotics. • Drugs that may increase the risk of hypoglycemia: antidiabetic agents, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blocking agents, disopyramide, fibrates, fluoxetine, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, pentoxifylline, pramlintide, salicylates, somatostatin analog (e.g., octreotide), and...
Mechanism: Octreotide can change how your body handles sugar and may increase the blood-sugar-lowering effects of insulin.
What to do: Be sure to monitor your blood sugar frequently while using these drugs together. Your doctor may need to lower your insulin dose to keep you safe.
Drugs That May Increase the Risk of Hypoglycemia Drugs: Antidiabetic agents, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blocking agents, disopyramide, fibrates, fluoxetine, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, pentoxifylline, pramlintide, salicylates, somatostatin analogs (e.g., octreotide), and sulfonamide antibiotics Intervention: Dosage reductions and increased frequency of glucose monitoring may be required when XULTOPHY 100/3.6 is coadministered with these drugs.
Mechanism: This medication can make your body more sensitive to insulin, which increases the risk of having low blood sugar.
What to do: Your doctor may need to lower your insulin dose, and you should check your blood sugar more frequently.
Table 6: Clinically Significant Drug Interactions with LEVEMIR Drugs That May Increase the Risk of Hypoglycemia Drugs: Antidiabetic agents, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blocking agents, disopyramide, fibrates, fluoxetine, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, pentoxifylline, pramlintide, salicylates, somatostatin analogs (e.g., octreotide), and sulfonamide antibiotics, GLP-1 receptor agonists, DPP-4 inhibitors, SGLT-2 inhibitors.
Mechanism: Octreotide can lower blood sugar, which adds to the effect of insulin and makes low blood sugar more likely.
What to do: Monitor your blood sugar closely and ask your doctor if your insulin dose needs to be adjusted.
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Table 6 includes clinically significant drug interactions with BASAGLAR Table 6: Clinically Significant Drug Interactions with BASAGLAR Drugs That May Increase the Risk of Hypoglycemia Drugs: Antidiabetic agents, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blocking agents, disopyramide, fibrates, fluoxetine, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, pentoxifylline, pramlintide, salicylates, somatostatin analogs (e.g., octreotide), and sulfonamide antibiotics. Drugs that may increase the risk of hypoglycemia: antidiabetic agents, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blocking agents,...
Mechanism: Octreotide can lower blood sugar levels, which adds to the effect of insulin and increases the risk of a dangerous drop.
What to do: Check your blood sugar levels often and consult your doctor about changing your insulin dose.
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Table 6: Clinically Significant Drug Interactions with APIDRA Drugs that May Increase the Risk of Hypoglycemia Drugs: Antidiabetic agents, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blocking agents, disopyramide, fibrates, fluoxetine, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, pentoxifylline, pramlintide, salicylates, somatostatin analog (e.g., octreotide), and sulfonamide antibiotics.
Mechanism: Octreotide can increase the risk of low blood sugar when taken with insulin.
What to do: Your doctor may need to adjust your insulin dose and you should check your blood sugar more often.
This is a plain-language summary of interactions documented in FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before combining medications.
Common Questions
How is octreotide given?
What should I do if I experience diarrhea?
Can octreotide affect my heart?
Does octreotide cure my condition?
How often will I need to see my doctor?
Can I take other medications with octreotide?
What if I have side effects?
How long will I need to take octreotide?
Can octreotide cause gallbladder problems?
Will octreotide affect my blood sugar?
What are the common side effects of octreotide?
Does octreotide interact with other medications?
What drug class is octreotide?
Is octreotide safe during pregnancy?
Has octreotide been recalled?
Active Recalls
Lack of Assurance of Sterility: Quality system deficiencies identified during a routine U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspection at the contract manufacturer.
Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc
Lack of Assurance of Sterility: Quality system deficiencies identified during a routine U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspection at the contract manufacturer.
Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc
Lack of Assurance of Sterility: Quality system deficiencies identified during a routine U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspection at the contract manufacturer.
Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc
Lack of Assurance of Sterility: Quality system deficiencies identified during a routine U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspection at the contract manufacturer.
Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc
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What the FDA Data Shows for octreotide
The FDA label for octreotide (sold under brand names such as Sandostatin) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Somatostatin Analog class. Octreotide is used to lower growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1 in people with acromegaly who haven't responded to other treatments. Official labeling lists 8 commonly reported side effects, including Gallbladder problems, Slow heart rate, Diarrhea.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 5,230 voluntary reports. The database also lists 14 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated moderate severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $6.54.
Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history (currently 4 recall records on file), and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: January 16, 2025
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled and last refreshed May 2026. See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a correction.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages