Somatropin (rhGH)

Is Somatropin (rhGH) safe?

Warnings on cancer, critical illness, diabetes

The label warns against use in several groups. They are people with active cancer or diabetic retinopathy. They also include people with acute critical illness, such as after open heart surgery or major trauma. The label also warns against use in children with Prader-Willi syndrome who are severely obese or have breathing problems. Deaths occurred in that group. Common effects are fluid retention with swelling, and joint or muscle pain. Others are carpal tunnel symptoms and headache. Blood glucose can rise and may progress to diabetes. In children, doctors watch for slipped hip growth plates, worse scoliosis and raised pressure in the skull. A long-running concern is whether growth hormone raises cancer risk through IGF-1. Large registries of treated children have been mostly reassuring about the original tumor coming back. But they have raised questions about second cancers after childhood cancer treatment. The label advises monitoring. Black-market growth hormone adds more hazards. The product may be fake, and no doctor sets the dose. ³

Fluid retention, joint pain, carpal tunnel symptoms and raised blood sugar are the common ones. The label warns against use in active cancer and critical illness. It also warns against use in severely obese children with Prader-Willi syndrome. Registries still monitor whether long-term treatment raises cancer risk through IGF-1. ³

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Reference information only, not medical advice. Drawn from the Somatropin (rhGH) article, fact-checked against the cited sources. No dosing anywhere on this site.