A to Z / Approved medicine
Octreotide
Also known as Sandostatin, somatostatin analogue.
Best known for The somatostatin analogue for acromegaly and hormone-secreting tumours
Evidence★★★★★
Safety dataWell characterised
Route subcutaneous or intramuscular injection; long-acting depot formulations exist
United StatesFDA approved
AustraliaSchedule 4: prescription only
as at 16 September 2026
What it is and what it does
Octreotide is a synthetic analogue of somatostatin, the hormone that inhibits growth hormone release. It is a fully approved, long-established medicine, used to suppress excess growth hormone in acromegaly, and to control symptoms from hormone-secreting tumours.
What the full entry covers
The book carries the rest of this entry:
- Where the research stands, with every claim cited
- What people commonly ask, and what the research shows so far
- Dosing in four labelled bands, described and not recommended
- Side effects, serious risks, cautions and interactions
- Questions to discuss with your doctor
- How it compares with Somatropin, Leuprolide, CJC-1295 (with DAC)
Related entries
A certificate of analysis tells you what is in a vial. The evidence rating above tells you whether the compound has been shown to work in humans. Neither answers the other's question. How to read a certificate of analysis.
This page describes what is known and not known about Octreotide. It is not medical advice and not a recommendation to use it.