> What is Norditropin®?

Understanding the therapy.

You probably have a lot of questions, and maybe you're a little confused. Take a deep breath...many of the answers you need are right here.

(Uses Norditropin®)

> What is Norditropin®?

Understanding the therapy.

You probably have a lot of questions, and maybe you're a little confused. Take a deep breath...many of the answers you need are right here.

(Uses Norditropin®)

Sometimes people’s bodies don’t produce enough growth hormone on their own. This is called growth hormone deficiency. When this happens, both children and adults may be treated with synthetic growth hormone called recombinant human growth hormone. This hormone is identical to the growth hormone that human bodies make.

Norditropin® is one of these therapies, and it’s often prescribed for several growth-related conditions. It’s 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 or Turner Syndrome

Children who are short (in stature) because they were born small (small for gestational age-SGA) and have not caught-up in growth by age 2 to 4 years

Children who are short (in stature) with no underlying disorder, hormonal issue, or nutritional problem (Idiopathic Short Stature)

Children who are not growing who have Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS)

Adults who do not make enough growth hormone

Learn more about growth hormone deficiency

Growth hormone has an important job.

What is growth hormone? A role of growth hormone is to tell organs, tissues, and other parts of the body to grow. Knowing exactly how it functions in the body will help you understand the mechanics of treatment with Norditropin®.

How It Works

What about safety?

The safety of your child is always foremost in your mind. The safety profile of Norditropin® has been established in many clinical studies. We’ve got the information you need on safety, side effects, and risk factors.

Safety & Side Effects

What to expect.

Of course you’re curious about what’s next — how soon you might see the therapy begin to take effect, how much growth you might expect, and how long the treatment will last. These questions will be addressed by your doctor, and the answers will vary depending on several factors specific to your family. We’ll explain what these are so you can set reasonable expectations and goals.

See Results

A proven history.

We’re no newcomer to the world of growth hormone–replacement therapy. Novo Nordisk has been helping people with growth-related hormone disorders around the world for over 40 years, and Norditropin® has been FDA-approved in the United States since 1995. Find quick facts about our history, milestones, and our commitment to the growth hormone therapy community.

Track Record

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Sign up today.

Sign up to order free charms and stickers for your pen and get updates and news about Norditropin®.

Register

Sign up today.

Sign up to order free charms and stickers for your pen and get updates and news about Norditropin®.

Register

Sign up today.

Sign up to order free charms and stickers for your pen, use the Growth Track Wizard™, and get updates and news about Norditropin®.

Register

Here to help.

Find out more about your options at NovoCare®. For questions about your prescription, please contact your health care provider.

Contact NovoCare®

Related links:

Learn more About Growth

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.