Do you often feel that your child is shorter than other children of his age? Sometimes the reason for this may be that our body does not produce enough growth hormone, which is an essential hormone for growth. In this article, we will talk about a special medicine that doctors recommend as a treatment for this condition, which can be used only once a week.
What is this medicine called Lonapegsomatropin?
Simply put, Lonapegsomatropin (often known by the brand name SKYTROFA ) is a long-acting growth hormone. It is designed to help children who are stunted due to a lack of growth hormone in their bodies grow taller.
This is given to the child as an injection under the skin. Instead of the usual daily injections of growth hormone, this is given once a week . This is a great convenience for both children and parents.
Things you need to tell your doctor before starting this medication
Before giving this medicine to your child, it is very important to give the doctor a complete description of your child's health condition. Especially if any of the following conditions are present, it is important to tell them about it.
| Health condition or problem | Description |
|---|---|
| Cancer | If the child currently has cancer or has previously been treated for cancer. |
| Diabetes | A condition of elevated blood sugar levels. |
| Prader-Willi syndrome | This is a rare genetic condition. |
| Snoring or suffocation during sleep (sleep apnea) | Especially if the child snores loudly or stops breathing for a moment during sleep. |
| Decreased function of the adrenal glands | Low adrenal gland function. |
| Low thyroid levels | Low thyroid levels. |
| Scoliosis | Having a sideways curve in the spine. |
| A recent surgery | If you had a major surgery or an accident. |
| Vision problems | If you have any vision impairment. |
| Allergies | If you have an allergy to this medicine, other growth hormones, or any other medicine or food. |
| Pregnancy or breastfeeding | If you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or breastfeeding (this may apply to young girls, as it is often given to children). |
How is this vaccine used?
This medicine is given as an injection under the skin (subcutaneously). Your doctor or nurse will show you how to give it. Remember to use only the prescribed dose exactly as instructed . Continue to use it until your doctor tells you to stop.
Very important: Never throw used needles and syringes in the trash. They should be placed in a special, thick plastic container that can be removed. If you don't have one, ask your doctor how to get one.
As for the age at which the medicine is given to a child, it can be prescribed to children as young as one year old under certain circumstances. However, only your doctor can make that decision.
What to do if you take too much medicine?
If you suspect that your child has been given more than the prescribed dose, call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital immediately . Otherwise, take your child to the nearest hospital Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) without delay.
What if I miss a dose of medication?
If you can't get the vaccine on the scheduled day of the week, don't worry. Give it as soon as you remember. But if it's almost time for your next dose, give only the dose that's scheduled for that time. Simply put, you can give this vaccine 2 days before or 2 days after the scheduled day. However, there should be a gap of at least 5 days between two doses. Never give double or extra doses just because you forgot.
Things to be careful about when using the medicine
- Regular medical check-ups: Be sure to take your child to the clinic on the days prescribed by the doctor to check on their progress. It may take some time for the effects of this medicine to be seen.
- Blood tests: During treatment, the doctor may need to check things like your child's blood sugar levels and hormone levels.
- Vision screening: Your child's vision may need to be checked before and during treatment.
- Other medications: Tell your doctor about any other medications, vitamins, and herbal remedies your child is taking. Especially medications for diabetes, hormones (such as birth control pills), and steroids (prednisone, cortisone) can interact with this medicine.
Possible side effects
Like any medication, this one can have some side effects. Some of them can be serious, so it's important to be aware of them.
| Side effects that should be reported to your doctor or ETU immediately | |
|---|---|
| Allergic reactions | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips or tongue, difficulty breathing. |
| Body swelling (Edema) | Sudden weight gain, swelling of the ankles, feet, hands, difficulty breathing. |
| Pancreatitis | Severe pain in the stomach (especially in the back), pain that worsens after eating or when the stomach is touched, fever, nausea, vomiting. |
| Increased blood sugar | Feeling more hungry, thirsty, or urinating more than usual, feeling very tired, or having blurred vision. |
| Other serious symptoms | Severe headache, vision changes, hip or knee pain, skin thickening or thinning at the injection site. |
| Side effects that usually do not require medical advice (but tell your doctor if they persist) | |
| Signs of infection | Fever, chills, cough, sore throat. |
| Muscle and joint pain | Joint pain, muscle twitching, or soreness. |
How do you store medicine properly?
Keep this medicine away from children and pets.
- Refrigeration (preferred method): Store in the refrigerator (not the freezer). Remove the vaccine from the carton about 15 minutes before injecting. The medicine should be used within 4 hours of mixing. Throw it away if it has been more than 4 hours.
- Storage at room temperature: If necessary, this medicine can be stored at room temperature (between 15-30 Celsius) for up to 6 months. However, if so, any remaining medicine should be discarded after 6 months from the date it was taken out of the refrigerator or when the expiration date has passed (whichever comes first).
- Never allow the medicine to freeze.
Take-Home Message
- Lonapegsomatropin is a special injection given once a week to children with growth hormone deficiency. It should only be used on the recommendation of a doctor.
- Before starting treatment, tell the doctor about all of your child's medical conditions and medications.
- Learn how to inject the vaccine correctly. Dispose of used needles and syringes safely in a sharps container.
- If you experience any serious side effects such as severe headache, vision changes, severe stomach pain, or body swelling, seek medical advice immediately.
- This medicine is for your child only. Never share it with anyone else.
- Store medication properly, at the correct temperature. Dispose of expired medication safely.
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න