Here is what specialty pharmacists can do for growth hormone therapy patients and what they should know about the conditions associated with it:
- Counsel patients on potential side effects, therapy considerations, and potential drug—drug interactions.
- Become familiar with the various delivery devices specific to different growth hormone therapies in order to provide...
Full Answer
What is growth hormone therapy?
Growth Hormone Therapy. A Growth Hormone Therapy is one of the most common forms of treatment for children and adults who face a deficiency in the growth hormone produced in the body. This is given via injections to the body.
What is the best treatment for growth hormone deficiency?
If you are suffering from growth hormone deficiency, or GHD, the safest and most effective treatment is growth hormone replacement therapy. However, the only way to start on actual growth hormone therapy is if it is prescribed to you by your doctor.
Can a doctor write a prescription for growth hormone therapy?
However, any medical doctor can write a prescription for growth hormone It is best that you seek growth hormone therapy from a doctor or facility that specializes in hormone replacement therapies for men and women.
What are the side effects of growth hormone treatment?
GH treatment has few side effects. GH treatment is a safe, effective way to treat growth hormone deficiency, Turner Syndrome, and a few other conditions associated with short stature. How Growth Hormone Treatment Works
Who can prescribe growth hormones?
A doctor specializing in endocrinology is in the best position to advise you if HGH is a form of therapy to consider. If your doctor notices a deficiency, he or she may recommend treatment. For those using HGH to slow premature aging, you may begin as early as your mid to late 30's.
How can I get my growth hormone prescribed?
It will be prescribed by a doctor. HGH treatments can be self-administered or given by a doctor. Treatments are often given for several years. Patients will see their doctor every month or so to check their condition.
Do you need a prescription for growth hormone?
The use of HGH for anti-aging is not FDA-approved. Nevertheless, some people obtain injectable HGH from doctors who prescribe it for off-label purposes (uses for which it was not approved by the FDA) and through Internet pharmacies, anti-aging clinics, and web sites.
What is a growth hormone doctor called?
If your child has growth failure or short stature, even without any other signs or symptoms, your doctor might send you to a pediatric endocrinologist. This is a doctor who specializes in children's growth and hormones. The endocrinologist will ask about your child's growth and will do a careful exam.
How much do growth hormones cost?
The price of treatment ranges from $10,000 to $60,000 annually. That works out to a cost of about $52,000 an inch. And insurance coverage for the shots varies.
What age is best for growth hormone treatment?
GH treatment is indicated for children who were born SGA, who have persistent short stature (less than or equal to –2 SDS for sex and population), and who are growing at a subnormal rate at the age of 3–4 years [45].
Can a 16 year old take growth hormones?
“It can start from birth, and you can be treated until you're done growing,” he says. Many children are referred to endocrinologists at around 11 years old, and the end of puberty generally marks the end of a person's growth, about 17 for boys and age 15 for girls.
Can HGH injections increase height?
This is due to the fact that after puberty our growth plates begin to fuse with the bones they are associated with. When this fusion takes place there is no place for human growth hormone to stimulate new bone to be added. At this point in time, when the growth plates are closed, HGH therapy will not increase height.
Does growth hormone make you taller?
This is because it is impossible for an adult to grow taller using synthetic growth hormone. The ends of the long bones (epiphyses) in the mature skeleton are fused in adults. High doses of growth hormone can only thicken the person's bones rather than lengthen them.
What is the cost of HGH injections in India?
The cost of injections vary from about Rs. 1,500 to about Rs. 15,000 with consultation fees ranging from Rs. 400 to Rs.
Which doctor should I consult for height increase?
You should consult with endocrinologist because growth hormone is responsible for increasing growth. At this age height increasing possible so start regular physical and streching exercises.
What foods increase growth hormone naturally?
Healthy food keeps the HGH production rate to an optimum, by keeping track of your body fat and insulin levels. To maintain a normal range of human growth hormones in the blood, foods rich in melatonin, such as eggs, fish, mustard seeds, tomatoes, nuts, grapes, and raspberries are highly recommended by experts.
What conditions require growth hormone injections?
The FDA currently recognizes only two conditions of “medical need,” that require growth hormone injection therapy: one is for growth hormone deficiencies , and the other is for the “muscle wasting” that occurs in HIV/AIDS patients.
How to get a growth hormone injection kit?
The only way to obtain a growth hormone injection kit, is with a prescription from a doctor. Genuine HGH is only given as an injection. Before any doctor can give you a prescription for growth hormone injections, you must have your HGH levels tested.
How to treat GHD in children?
GHD in children can be a very serious condition, and is best treated by getting a prescription for growth hormone injections from an endocrinologist or some other type of doctor who specializes in growth hormone therapies.
What is the medical term for the treatment of growth hormone deficiencies in children?
Growth hormone deficiencies in children are almost always diagnosed and treated by an endocrinologist. Endocrinology is the medical practice that specializes in diseases or defects of the endocrine system. Growth hormone is produced by the pituitary gland.
Can you be deficient in growth hormone?
If you are suffering from a growth hormone deficiency, there is a good chance that you may be deficient in other critical hormones such as testosterone. Many people who are given a prescription for growth hormone injections, are also prescribed testosterone therapy, and benefit greatly from the combined therapies.
Can you buy growth hormone without a prescription?
Any product being sold online, that can be purchased without a prescription, that claims to be “HGH,” or to contain HGH, or growth hormone, cannot by law, contain any human growth hormone. Furthermore, real growth hormone therapy is only prescribed as HGH daily injections.
Can you get real growth hormone online?
Authentic growth hormone therapy is only administered via prescription HGH injections. You cannot get real growth hormone online, or order it from an ad in a magazine, or purchase HGH in a vitamin store. Legitimate HGH can only be obtained with a doctor’s prescription and is only give as a daily growth hormone injection.
What is growth hormone therapy?
A Growth Hormone Therapy is one of the most common forms of treatment for children and adults who face a deficiency in the growth hormone produced in the body. This is given via injections to the body.
Why is growth hormone important?
Growth Hormone improves the density of the bones and stops excess weight gain. Growth hormone is as important for a female body as other hormones like melatonin, estrogen, oxytocin, progesterone and prefnenolone. It is said to prevent cardio disorders. It increases the life expectancy.
What are the side effects of growth hormone injections?
Although the injections of growth hormone are considered safe, some people do face some side effects. The risks or side effects of growth hormone are: 1 Numbness 2 Swelling 3 Joint and muscle aches 4 Fluid Retention 5 Carpel tunnel syndrome 6 Blood sugar regulations
What hormone is injected into the pituitary gland?
Growth hormone is also known as Somatotropin. It can be injected by the patient themselves or by a family member. Normally produced in the pituitary gland, sometimes this hormone is not sufficient for the body. When administered via injections, this hormone stimulates the cell reproduction and growth in the body.
Which gland is responsible for the growth of a person from a child to an adult?
This gland is located in the brain. Pituitary gland is the master gland in the body and it also manages the production of all the hormones in the body. This hormone is called growth hormone because it is responsible for the overall growth of a person from a child to an adult.
How much does growth hormone therapy cost?
Growth Hormone Therapy Cost. Before a few years, the cost of growth hormone therapy was too much at about $1000 per month. This price has now come down to $500 per month and that too depending upon the dosage. This hormone is required in fewer doses in men than in women.
Does growth hormone help with growth?
Adults who face a growth hormone deficiency benefit a lot with growth hormone replacement .
What is the treatment for growth hormone deficiency?
The Most Common Growth Hormone Deficiency Treatment. The most common treatment for growth hormone deficiency in both children and adults is growth hormone therapy —injections of growth hormone into the body. Growth hormone—known as somatotropin —can be injected by the patient or a family member (if it's a child with growth hormone deficiency).
What are the side effects of growth hormone?
Swelling, numbness, and joint and muscle aches and pains are the most common side effects. You may experience these side effects if you're getting more growth hormone than you need. If you have these symptoms, talk to your doctor immediately. He or she will adjust the amount of growth hormone you're taking.
How often should I see a doctor for growth hormone?
However, depending on the severity of your condition, you may need growth hormone injections more often. Usually, you'll need to see your doctor every 4 to 8 weeks throughout your treatment so that your doctor can monitor your condition.
Where is growth hormone produced?
This hormone, which is normally produced in the pituitary gland, stimulates growth and cell reproduction in the body. Once your doctor prescribes you with growth hormone therapy, you'll typically need daily doses of growth hormone. However, depending on the severity of your condition, you may need growth hormone injections more often.
Can you take growth hormone if you have cancer?
There are some people who shouldn't take growth hormone injections, such as people who have tumors or cancer. People who are seriously ill, have multiple injuries from a trauma, or severe breathing problems should also not take growth hormone injections. Other Treatments for Growth Hormone Deficiency. In addition to growth hormone therapy, you may ...
Can growth hormone cause high cholesterol?
Untreated growth hormone deficiency can lead to high cholesterol and osteoporosis. There are also special considerations for children. Kids who take growth hormone injections typically grow 4 or more inches over the first year of treatment, and over the next 2 years, they can grow 3 or more inches. However, after that, the rate ...
Why is it important to give GH injections to children?
Parents should give the injections to younger children. Because natural growth hormone is released mainly during sleep in children, GH treatment is more effective when taken at bedtime.
What are the symptoms of GH treatment?
Hip, knee, or other joint pain. Headache. Progression of spine curvature in patients with scoliosis. Temporary increase in blood sugar levels, which stops when the GH treatment stops. If the headache is persistent or severe, however, call the Endocrinology Fellow on call immediately.
How is GH given?
GH is given through a subcutaneous (sub-Q-TAIN-ee-us) injection, which means that it goes into the fatty tissue just beneath the surface of the skin. GH can be given by a special injection device that looks like a pen. Because it is such a shallow injection, the needle is very small and does not hurt much at all.
What tests are needed to confirm GH deficiency?
These tests may include stimulation tests, MRIs, and x-rays. GH treatment has few side effects. GH treatment is a safe, effective way to treat growth hormone deficiency, Turner Syndrome, ...
Is GH treatment safe?
GH treatment has few side effects. GH treatment is a safe, effective way to treat growth hormone deficiency, Turner Syndrome, and a few other conditions associated with short stature.
Is GH the same as a prescription?
GH is sold under a number of different prescription brand names, but all of them contain the same medication. Which brand name your child will use, and the shape and color of the pen that delivers the medication, will depend upon your medical insurance.
Who should attend GH training?
Your child and both parents or guardians should attend the training sessions before your child can begin GH treatment. At the training session, the nurse consultant will teach you and your child how to: Care for the medication. Recognize the side effects.
What is the transition period for GH?
For adolescent patients, the period of transition is generally defined as beginning late in puberty and ending in their early to mid 20s. 34 The continuation of GH therapy during the transition period is advocated by healthcare providers for treatment of patients with GHD and PWS. 13,35,36 However, GH treatment is currently FDA approved for adult patients with either childhood-onset or adult-onset GHD. 4 The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists published guidelines in 2009 that stressed the need for and use of GH for continued treatment of persistently GH-deficient transition and adult patients. 7 Most recently, the Endocrine Society published clinical practice guidelines (
What causes GHD in children?
GHD should be suspected in a child with a subnormal growth rate and no other identifiable causes such as hypothyroidism, chronic illness, malnutrition, or genetic disorder. 4 In children, failure to respond to at least 2 GH stimulation tests (GHSTs) must be used to establish the diagnosis of GHD. Commonly used GHST agents include clonidine, ...
Is GH therapy safe?
GH therapy is a safe and well-established management strategy for a number of disorders of growth failure or short stature among pediatric patients. For transition and adult patients with persistent GHD, guidelines for the continued use of GH have been based primarily on clinical expert consensus but also on emerging data from clinical studies.
Does GH therapy reverse CVD?
GH therapy has been shown to reverse many of the negative trends in biomarkers associated with the risk of CVD. As described for transition patients, the continuation of GH therapy after completion of linear growth (Figures 1 and 2) has multiple positive effects on bone, body composition, and blood chemistries.
Does managed care cover GH?
Many managed care providers do not cover GH treatment for some indications that are approved by the FDA. As more clinical data become available, MCO policies should be reviewed and adjusted to conform to the latest clinical guidelines to optimize outcomes for those individuals who are covered by a healthcare plan.