Growth Hormone FAQ

Question: Why do some children need growth hormone therapy?
Answer: Therapy with growth hormone is given to treat children with growth retardation. Growth retardation may be due to growth hormone deficiency, when the body does not produce enough growth hormone. However, growth retardation may also be due to other disorders such as Turner syndrome or chronic renal disease, where although the body produces growth hormone its pathways are altered, leading to an imbalance of growth factors.

In both cases, treatment with growth hormone can increase a child’s height to the potential target height – as determined by the heights of the parents. Without treatment, children with growth retardation are likely to remain short during childhood and adulthood.

The causes of growth hormone deficiency are often unknown but it may be present at birth due to genetic defects or birth trauma or, it may be acquired during childhood due to a tumour in the brain or as a result of tumour radiation therapy. A severe head injury may also result in GHD.

If you lack growth hormone your physician may want to do tests to see if the pituitary gland is failing to produce other hormones as well.
 
Question: How tall will I grow?
Answer: That depends on:

• How tall your parents are. If your parents are tall, you are likely to be taller than if your parents are short. But growth hormone treatment will not cause you to become a giant. Even with treatment, you cannot grow beyond the limit set by your genes – that is based on the heights of your parents.
• How regularly you have injections. Having the injections regularly will help you grow to your full potential.
• How old you are when you start treatment. The younger you start, the taller you are likely to be. But even older children can reach their potential height with growth hormone treatment.

Question: How long should I continue to take growth hormone?
Answer: Your treatment will probably continue until you stop growing or until you reach a bone age of 15.5 years (for boys) or 13.5 years (for girls), as stated in the current Australian Guidelines for the Availability of Human Growth Hormone (hGH) as a Pharmaceutical Benefit.

Question: Are there any side-effects that you should look out for when taking growth hormone?
Answer: All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of using growth hormone against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
The following side effects are usually mild and temporary:

• Swollen hands and feet due to fluid retention.
• Redness and itching around the area you inject. Some children may develop local skin reactions at the injection site, which appear and disappear during treatment. If you inject too often in the same small area damage may occur to the fat and tissues under the skin.
• When you are growing a lot, you may get muscle and joint pains. If this continues, it is important you tell your doctor.

Other things to watch for are headaches, eye sight problems, feeling sick and vomiting.

If you are not sure whether something may be a side effect of the treatment let your Doctor or Clinic Nurse know. Also, further information can be found by looking up our Consumer Medicine Information which is available in the Products & Services section.
 
Question: While I am on growth hormone is there anything I must do?
Answer: While taking growth hormone therapy, if you experience any of the following, you must tell your doctor:

• If you get severe or recurring headaches, visual problems, nausea and vomiting.
• About all medicines you are taking, including any that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop. Some medicines may interfere with the growth effect of growth hormone.
• If you develop a limp, or experience knee or hip pain.
• If you are taking growth hormone due to growth problems associated with a kidney disease, it is important that you continue with any treatment for the kidney condition while using growth hormone.
   

Question: What should I tell the doctor before treatment is started?
Answer: Be sure to tell your physician if you have any medical conditions especially diabetes or cancer or another type of tumour, or impaired kidney function. Also, tell your physician about any medication you are taking.
 
Question: Can growth hormone therapy be taken with other medication?
Answer: Growth hormone may be taken with most other medication, but it is important to tell your doctor about all medications (i.e. those prescribed by a doctor and those available without a prescription) that you are taking, especially glucocorticoids, sex steroids, or thyroid hormone. If you have diabetes and receive insulin, the dose may have to be adjusted.

You should not stop growth hormone treatment if you have an illness such as a cold or ‘flu’, unless your physician advises otherwise.
 
Question: Are there situations when growth hormone therapy should not be given?
Answer: You should not use growth hormone if:

• You are allergic to phenol or any other ingredient in the medicine.
• You have cancer or other form of active tumour.
• You have not finished your treatment for cancer or another form of tumour.
• Your bones have stopped growing.
• You have had a kidney transplant in the last 12 months or if you have had more than one episode of acute rejection (ask your doctor if you are unsure what this means).
• Growth hormone should not be used after the expiry date printed on the pack, if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering, or if the solution is not clear or does not look right.
  

Before you start to use growth hormone, tell your doctor if you have any medical conditions, especially the following:

• Diabetes
• Cancer or any other kind of tumour
• Impaired kidney function

Question: What dose of growth hormone should I take?
Answer: Your doctor will tell you how much growth hormone you should take and how and when it should be taken. In children, the dose is based on weight or body surface area. Be sure to follow the dosing schedule given by the physician. Do not change the dose without consulting your physician.
 
Question: How will I know if the growth hormone treatment is working?
Answer: Your treatment will be closely monitored, while you are taking growth hormone.

You should visit the clinic regularly to have weight and height changes carefully measured and evaluated. The results are plotted on a growth chart so it should be very easy to observe your progress.
 
Question: Should treatment be continued if I become ill?
Answer: A common cold or minor illness should not affect growth hormone treatment; however, you should check with the doctor if you are concerned.

Question: What about taking growth hormone while travelling?
Answer: Therapy will be more effective if you consistently follow the dosing schedule given by the physician. While travelling, remember to consider the storage guidelines of your growth hormone.

Ask your nurse about the NordiPen^® FRIO Bag. This is a special bag designed to house and transport NordiPen^® and your growth hormone safely and easily, giving you greater freedom to travel.

Remember to make sure that you have access to a refrigerator to store your growth hormone in when you reach the places you are travelling to.
If travelling abroad, obtain a letter from your physician verifying that you are required to carry growth hormone and needles.