Omnitrope (somatropin) has potential interactions with other medications. For example, Omnitrope can interact with corticosteroids and certain diabetes medications.
Doctors prescribe Omnitrope for adults to treat growth hormone deficiency (GHD). They also prescribe it for children who have problems with growth or inadequate growth due to one of the following conditions:
- GHD
- Prader-Willi syndrome
- body weight after birth that is lower than expected
- Turner syndrome
- short stature without a clear cause
An interaction can occur because one substance causes another substance to have a different effect than expected. Interactions also can occur if you have certain health conditions.
Keep reading to learn about Omnitrope’s possible interactions.
Before you start treatment with Omnitrope, tell your doctor and pharmacist about any prescription, over-the-counter (OTC), or other drugs you take. Sharing this information with them may help prevent possible interactions.
The following table lists drugs that may interact with Omnitrope. Keep in mind that this table does not include all drugs that may interact with Omnitrope. For more information about some of these interactions, see the “Drug interactions explained” section.
| Drug group or drug name | Drug examples | What can happen |
|---|---|---|
| corticosteroids | • prednisone (Rayos) • hydrocortisone • others | can make Omnitrope less effective |
| drugs that are broken down by CYP450 liver enzymes (a type of protein) | • simvastatin (Zocor) • cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune, others) | can make the drug broken down by CYP450 liver enzymes less effective |
| oral estrogens (a type of hormone) | • estradiol (Estrace) • ethinyl estradiol, which is present in many birth control pills | can make Omnitrope less effective |
| insulin | • insulin glargine (Lantus, Toujeo, others) • insulin lispro (Humalog, Lyumjev, others) • others | can make insulin less effective |
| oral diabetes drugs | • metformin (Glumetza, Riomet, others) • glyburide (Micronase, Diabeta, others) | can make the diabetes drug less effective |
If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
To learn whether Omnitrope interacts with herbs, vitamins, or supplements, see the “Are there other interactions with Omnitrope?” section.
Certain health conditions or other factors could raise your risk of harm if you use Omnitrope. In such cases, your doctor may not prescribe Omnitrope for you. These are known as contraindications. The following list includes contraindications of Omnitrope.
If you have a sudden critical illness: If you have a sudden critical illness, such as a serious injury or complex surgery, using Omnitrope can lead to serious complications. These could include death. Due to this risk, your doctor likely won’t prescribe Omnitrope if you have a sudden critical illness.
If your child has Prader-Willi syndrome: If your child has Prader-Willi syndrome and certain medical conditions, their doctor likely won’t prescribe Omnitrope. These conditions include:
- severe obesity
- sleep apnea
- serious lung or breathing problems
Using the drug can increase the risk of death in children who have Prader-Willi syndrome and one of these conditions.
If you have active cancer: If you have an active tumor, especially an intracranial (brain) tumor, your doctor likely won’t prescribe Omnitrope. Using Omnitrope while having active cancer can sometimes increase the risk of a new cancer.
If you’ve had an allergic reaction: If you’ve ever had an allergic reaction to Omnitrope or any of its ingredients, your doctor likely won’t prescribe Omnitrope for you. This is because using the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask your doctor about other treatments that may be better options for you.
If you have diabetic retinopathy: If you have diabetic retinopathy, using Omnitrope can worsen this condition. Due to this risk, your doctor likely won’t prescribe Omnitrope if you have diabetic retinopathy.
If your child has stopped growing: If your child has stopped growing taller, which is also known as having closed growth plates, their doctor likely won’t prescribe Omnitrope. This is because the drug may not work properly to promote growth if your child has closed growth plates.
Before you or your child start using Omnitrope, talk with your doctor or your child’s doctor if any of the factors mentioned here apply to you. Your doctor can determine whether Omnitrope is safe for you or your child to use.
Omnitrope is not known to interact with alcohol. Omnitrope and alcohol can cause some similar side effects, such as fatigue (low energy) and headache. So you may be more likely to experience these side effects if you drink alcohol during your Omnitrope treatment.
If you have questions about consuming alcohol during Omnitrope treatment, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Learn more about certain drug interactions that can occur with Omnitrope.
Interaction with corticosteroids
Using Omnitrope with corticosteroids can make Omnitrope less effective. This is because corticosteroids can slow bone growth, which blocks Omnitrope’s promotion of growth.
Some corticosteroids that may interact with Omnitrope are:
- prednisone (Rayos)
- cortisone
- dexamethasone (Decadron, others)
- hydrocortisone
- methylprednisolone (Solu-Medrol, others)
What you can do
If you use Omnitrope with a corticosteroid, your doctor may adjust the dosage of your corticosteroid. You should not take a dose of either medication that’s higher than what your doctor prescribes.
If you have questions about using Omnitrope with a corticosteroid, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Interaction with drugs that are broken down by CYP450 liver enzymes
The CYP450 liver enzymes metabolize, or break down, certain drugs. Using Omnitrope with these particular drugs can make them less effective. This is because Omnitrope can make your body break down these other drugs faster than usual. In turn, this can lead to lower levels of them in your system, which makes them less effective.
Examples of drugs that CYP450 breaks down that may interact with Omnitrope are:
- simvastatin (Zocor)
- cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune, others)
- carbamazepine (Tegretol, others)
- fluoxetine (Prozac)
- phenytoin (Dilantin)
What you can do
If you use Omnitrope with a drug that CYP450 breaks down, your doctor may adjust your dosage of the other drug. Specifically, they may prescribe a higher-than-usual dosage of the drug that CYP450 breaks down. You should not take a dose of either medication that’s higher than your doctor prescribes. They will likely also monitor you more closely to make sure each medication is working properly.
If you have questions about using Omnitrope with a drug that CYP450 breaks down, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Interaction with insulin
Using insulin during Omnitrope treatment can make insulin less effective. This is because Omnitrope can make your body less sensitive to insulin, which can interfere with your blood sugar level.
Some insulins that may interact with Omnitrope are:
What you can do
If you use Omnitrope with insulin medication, your doctor may prescribe a dosage of the insulin that’s higher than usual. You should not take a dose of either medication higher than what your doctor prescribes.
If you use Omnitrope and insulin together, tell your doctor right away if your blood sugar level is higher than usual.
Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about using Omnitrope with insulin.
Omnitrope may have other interactions. They could occur with supplements, foods, vaccines, or even lab tests.
The discussion here does not include a full list of all other interactions possible with Omnitrope.
Does Omnitrope interact with supplements or foods?
Before you start using Omnitrope, talk with your doctor and pharmacist about any herbs, vitamins, or supplements you take. Sharing this information with them may help you avoid possible interactions.
If you have questions about foods that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Omnitrope and herbs, vitamins, and foods
Omnitrope currently has no reports of interacting with herbs, vitamins, or foods. But this doesn’t mean that interactions with herbs, vitamins, or food won’t be recognized in the future.
For this reason, it’s important to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking herbs and vitamins while using Omnitrope. Similarly, if you have questions about eating certain foods during your treatment with Omnitrope, talk with your doctor.
Does Omnitrope interact with vaccines?
Omnitrope currently has no reports of interacting with vaccines. If you have questions about getting certain vaccines during your Omnitrope treatment, talk with your doctor.
Does Omnitrope interact with lab tests?
Currently, Omnitrope has no reports of interacting with lab tests. But certain lab levels can increase due to Omnitrope treatment. These include levels of:
- phosphorus
- alkaline phosphatase (a type of liver enzyme)
- parathyroid hormone
- insulin-like growth factor-1 (a type of hormone)
If you have questions about having certain lab tests during your treatment with Omnitrope, talk with the healthcare professional ordering the test.
Does Omnitrope interact with cannabis or CBD?Currently, Omnitrope has no reports of interacting with cannabis (commonly called marijuana) or cannabis products such as cannabidiol (CBD). But as with any drug or supplement, talk with your doctor before using cannabis with Omnitrope.
Note: Cannabis is illegal at a federal level but is legal in many states to varying degrees.
Certain medical conditions or other health factors may raise the risk of interactions with Omnitrope. Before using Omnitrope, talk with your doctor about your health history. They’ll determine whether Omnitrope is right for you.
Health conditions or other factors that may interact with Omnitrope include:
Diabetic retinopathy: If you have diabetic retinopathy, using Omnitrope can worsen it. To learn more, see the “When should I avoid Omnitrope?” section.
Prader-Willi syndrome in children who also have obesity or severe lung problems: If your child has Prader-Willi syndrome and certain medical conditions, their doctor likely won’t prescribe Omnitrope. These conditions include:
- severe obesity
- sleep apnea
- serious lung or breathing problems
For more information, see the “When should I avoid Omnitrope?” section.
Stopped growth in children: If your child has stopped growing taller, which is also known as having closed growth plates, their doctor likely won’t prescribe Omnitrope. To learn more, see the “When should I avoid Omnitrope?” section.
Sudden critical illness: If you have a sudden critical illness, such as a serious injury or complicated surgery, using Omnitrope can lead to serious complications. These could include death. To learn more, see the “When should I avoid Omnitrope?” section.
Active cancer: If you have an active tumor, especially an intracranial (brain) tumor, your doctor likely won’t prescribe Omnitrope. Using Omnitrope while having active cancer can sometimes increase the risk of a new cancer. For more information, see the “When should I avoid Omnitrope?” section.
Hypothyroidism: If you have hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid), your body may not respond appropriately to Omnitrope. Due to this risk, your doctor will likely monitor your thyroid levels occasionally during Omnitrope treatment. If you have a history of hypothyroidism, ask your doctor if Omnitrope is right for you.
Turner syndrome in children who have middle ear infections or heart problems: If your child has Turner syndrome with ear infections or heart problems, using Omnitrope can increase certain risks. These risks are recurrent ear infections and serious heart problems. You can ask your child’s doctor whether Omnitrope is right for your child.
Diabetes or impaired glucose (sugar) tolerance: Omnitrope can make your body less sensitive to insulin. This can cause your glucose levels to increase. If you have diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance, tell your doctor. They can help determine whether it’s safe for you to start Omnitrope.
Scoliosis: Omnitrope can worsen scoliosis (curved spine) because the drug increases growth rate. If you or your child has scoliosis, tell your doctor. They can discuss whether it’s safe to use Omnitrope or another more appropriate treatment.
Adrenal insufficiency: Treatment with Omnitrope can reveal or worsen adrenal insufficiency (a condition where your adrenal glands don’t make enough of certain hormones). This can lead to serious complications. If you have adrenal insufficiency, let your doctor know. They can help determine whether Omnitrope is right for you.
History of radiation treatment to the head or neck: If you or your child has had radiation to the brain or head, using Omnitrope can increase the risk of a recurrent tumor. Your doctor can discuss whether Omnitrope is safe to use.
Use of other medications with benzyl alcohol: Omnitrope contains benzyl alcohol, which has been linked to serious side effects and death, especially in children. Using Omnitrope with other medications that contain benzyl alcohol can increase these risks. Because of this, it’s important to tell your doctor about all the medications and supplements you take. These include prescription and OTC medications, herbs, vitamins, and supplements.
Pregnancy: It’s not known whether Omnitrope is safe to use during pregnancy. If you’re pregnant or may become pregnant, talk with your doctor before using Omnitrope.
Breastfeeding: It’s not known whether it’s safe to use Omnitrope while breastfeeding. Researchers don’t know whether the drug passes into breast milk or whether it may cause side effects in a child who is breastfed. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed, talk with your doctor about your options.
Allergic reaction: If you’ve ever had an allergic reaction to Omnitrope or any of its ingredients, your doctor likely won’t prescribe Omnitrope. This is because using the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask your doctor about other treatments that may be better for you.
Taking certain steps can help you avoid interactions with Omnitrope. Before starting treatment, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Things to discuss with them include:
- whether you drink alcohol or use cannabis
- the
medications you take, as well as any vitamins, supplements, and herbs - what to do if you start taking a new drug during your Omnitrope treatment
It’s also important to understand Omnitrope’s
If you didn’t receive paperwork with Omnitrope, ask your pharmacist to print a copy for you. If you have difficulty reading or understanding this information, your doctor or pharmacist can help.
Using Omnitrope exactly as prescribed can also help prevent interactions.
Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.