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How to set up (and stick to) an injection routine.

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How to set up (and stick to) an injection routine.

When you’re new to Norditropin®, the idea of adding an injection to your daily routine may seem a little daunting. After all, evenings are often a busy time for many families, with after-school and sports activities, homework, dinner, and bedtime and to take care of.


Getting into a consistent routine is important, because taking the medication just as your doctor prescribed it will help it work the best. We reached out to parents of children taking Norditropin® for their tips for setting up an injection routine. Here are 5 great tips they shared that may just work for your busy schedule, too:

Setting up a Norditropin® routine.

PARENT TIP 1

All together now!

Parents say that storing everything needed for the injection in a box or caddy makes things more convenient. “I like to ensure that giving Aria her injection is as hassle-free as possible,” said Shauna. “When the needles, sharps container, and alcohol swabs are stored together, I don’t have to go around the house looking for anything.”

Don’t forget that after first use, FlexPro® pens can be stored at room temperature (up to 77°F) for up to 3 weeks after initial injection.a So your pen may be able to go right in the box, too!

aAll unused Norditropin® products must be refrigerated (36°F to 46°F) prior to first use. Do not freeze and avoid direct light. After first injection, Norditropin® pens can either be stored outside of the refrigerator (up to 77°F) for use within 3 weeks, or in the refrigerator (between 36°F and 46°F) for use within 4 weeks.

PARENT TIP 2

Same place, same time.

Being consistent with the place and time for the daily injection is important to setting a routine. Some parents choose to give it in their child’s bedroom after they’ve brushed their teeth. Other kids may be more comfortable having their injection in the living room while watching TV. Parents say that no matter what works for your child, just aim for a consistent place and time to reduce the likelihood of missing a dose. “The injection is just part of what we do before bed; we try to make it a normal part of Emmy’s routine,” said Amanda.

PARENT TIP 3

Team effort.

Making your child “Team Captain” may help make injection time something to look forward to. Shauna says her daughter enjoys participating in the process by keeping track of her injection site each day and double-checking the dose counter on the FlexPro® pen after mom dials it in.

PARENT TIP 4

Check it off!

Keep track of Norditropin® injections on a calendar, with a sticker or a checkmark to mark off each day. Some parents also keep a journal of injections so they can note what’s going well and track trends. For example, “Justin is more tired on days he has soccer practice, so let's try doing his injection earlier.”

PARENT TIP 5

High fives!

Praise, hugs, or high fives are a great way to celebrate another injection completed and reinforce why it’s important. Looking for more ideas on positive reinforcement? You’ll find them here: Creative Ways to Reward Your Child.

Please see Instructions for Use for complete injection instructions and storage information.

Please note that the situations, experiences, and tips described in this article are not intended as medical advice. They are unique to the families depicted and are not necessarily the typical experiences of families with children who have growth hormone–related disorders or are being treated with Norditropin®. Talk to your health care provider regarding the treatment of growth disorders or any health concerns you have.

See all insider tips & ideas

Creative ways to reward your child.

For many kids, getting a daily injection can be tough at times. On those days when your son or daughter is less than excited about it, a little positive reinforcement can go a long way!

Read more

Overcoming obstacles.


Featuring: Colton (Child) and Amanda (Mom)
Diagnosis: Noonan syndrome

Please see Instructions for Use for complete injection instructions and storage information.

Please note that the situations, experiences, and tips described in this article are not intended as medical advice. They are unique to the families depicted and are not necessarily the typical experiences of families with children who have growth hormone–related disorders or are being treated with Norditropin®. Talk to your health care provider regarding the treatment of growth disorders or any health concerns you have.

Related links:

Watch a video on how to give an injection, step by step.

Selected Important Safety Information

Do not use Norditropin® if: you have a critical illness caused by certain types of heart or stomach surgery, trauma or breathing (respiratory) problems; you are a child with Prader-Willi syndrome who is severely obese or has breathing problems including sleep apnea; you have cancer or other tumors; you are allergic to somatropin or any of the ingredients in Norditropin®; your healthcare provider tells you that you have certain types of eye problems caused by diabetes (diabetic retinopathy); you are a child with closed bone growth plates (epiphyses).

Indications and Usage

What is Norditropin® (somatropin) injection?
 
Norditropin® is a prescription medicine that contains human growth hormone and is used to treat:
  • children who are not growing because of low or no growth hormone 
  • children who are short (in stature) and who have Noonan syndrome, Turner syndrome, or were born small (small for gestational age-SGA) and have not caught-up in growth by age 2 to 4 years 
  • children who have Idiopathic Short Stature (ISS) 
  • children who are not growing who have Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) 
  • adults who do not make enough growth hormone

Important Safety Information (cont’d)

Before taking Norditropin®, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

  • have had heart or stomach surgery, trauma or serious breathing (respiratory problems) 
  • have had a history of problems breathing while you sleep (sleep apnea) 
  • have or have had cancer or any tumor 
  • have diabetes 
  • are pregnant or breastfeeding, or plan to become pregnant or breastfeed

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Norditropin® may affect how other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how Norditropin® works.

How should I use Norditropin®?

  • Use Norditropin® exactly as your health care provider tells you to 
  • Do not share your Norditropin® pens and needles with another person even if the needle has been changed. You may give another person an infection or get an infection from them.

What are the possible side effects of Norditropin®?
Norditropin® may cause serious side effects, including:

  • high risk of death in people who have critical illnesses because of heart or stomach surgery, trauma or serious breathing (respiratory) problems 
  • high risk of sudden death in children with Prader-Willi syndrome who are severely obese or have breathing problems including sleep apnea 
  • increased risk of growth of cancer or a tumor that is already present and increased risk of the return of cancer or a tumor in people who were treated with radiation to the brain or head as children and who developed low growth hormone problems. Contact the healthcare provider if you or your child start to have headaches, or have changes in behavior, changes in vision, or changes in moles, birthmarks, or the color of your skin 
  • new or worsening high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) or diabetes 
  • increase in pressure in the skull (intracranial hypertension). If you or your child has headaches, eye problems, nausea or vomiting, contact the healthcare provider 
  • serious allergic reactions. Get medical help right away if you or your child has the following symptoms: swelling of your face, lips, mouth or tongue, trouble breathing, wheezing, severe itching, skin rashes, redness or swelling, dizziness or fainting, fast heartbeat or pounding in your chest, or sweating 
  • your body holding too much fluid (fluid retention) such as swelling in the hands and feet, pain in your joints or muscles or nerve problems that cause pain, burning, or tingling in the hands, arms, legs and feet. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of these signs or symptoms of fluid retention. 
  • decrease in a hormone called cortisol. Tell your or your child’s healthcare provider if you or your child has darkening of the skin, severe fatigue, dizziness, weakness or weight loss 
  • decrease in thyroid hormone levels 
  • hip and knee pain or a limp in children (slipped capital femoral epiphysis) 
  • worsening of pre-existing curvature of the spine (scoliosis) 
  • severe and constant abdominal pain can be a sign of pancreatitis. Tell your or your child’s healthcare provider if you or your child has any new abdominal pain. 
  • loss of fat and tissue weakness in the area of skin you inject 
  • increase in phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, and parathyroid hormone levels in your blood

The most common side effects of Norditropin® include:

  • injection site reactions and rashes, and headaches

Please click here for Norditropin® Prescribing Information.

Norditropin® is a prescription medication.

Novo Nordisk provides patient assistance for those who qualify. Please call 1-866-310-7549 to learn more about Novo Nordisk assistance programs.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800- FDA-1088.

Talk to your health care provider and find out if Norditropin® is right for you or your child.