The main undesirable effects observed with octreotide were side effects from the digestive, nervous, hepatobiliary system, as well as metabolic disorders and malnutrition.
In clinical studies, diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, bloating, headache, gallstones, hyperglycaemia and constipation were most frequently observed with prescribing the drug. Dizziness, pain of different localization, violation of colloidal bile stability (formation of cholesterol microcrystals), thyroid dysfunction (decrease in thyroid-stimulating hormone levels, total and free thyroxin), mild consistency of the stool, decreased glucose tolerance, vomiting, asthenia and hypoglycemia were also frequently observed.
When using the drug in rare cases, there may be phenomena reminiscent of acute intestinal obstruction: progressive bloating, severe pain in the epigastric region, abdominal wall tension, muscle "defense."
Although the release of fat with feces may increase, there is no evidence to date that prolonged treatment with octreotide can lead to malnutrition due to malabsorption. It was reported that very rare cases of acute pancreatitis, which developed in the first hours or days of octreotide application and disappeared after drug withdrawal. In addition, with long-term octreotide use, cases of pancreatitis associated with cholelithiasis were noted.
According to the ECG study on the background of the drug in patients with acromegaly and carcinoid syndrome: there was an extension of the interval QT, deviation of the electrical axis of the heart, early repolarization, low-voltage ECG type, displacement of the transition zone, early tooth P and nonspecific segment changes ST and T wave. Since there are heart diseases in this category of patients, a causal relationship between the use of octreotide and the development of these undesirable phenomena has not been established.
The following criteria were used to determine the frequency of unwanted reactions found during clinical trials: very often (≥ 1/10); often (≥ 1/100, <1/10); sometimes (≥ 1/1000, <1/100); rarely (≥1/10000, <1/1000); very rarely (<1/10000), including individual messages.
From the digestive system: very often - diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, constipation, bloating; often - dyspeptic abnormalities, vomiting, feeling of filling / heaviness of the abdomen, steatorrhoea, mild consistency of the stool, discoloration of the stool, anorexia.
From the nervous system: very often - headache; often - dizziness.
From the endocrine system: very often hyperglycemia; often - hypothyroidism / thyroid dysfunction (decrease in thyroid-stimulating hormone levels, total and free thyroxin); hypoglycemia, impaired glucose tolerance.
From the hepatobiliary system: very often - cholelithiasis, i.e. formation of stones in the gallbladder; often - cholecystitis, violation of colloidal stability bile (formation of microcrystals of cholesterol), hyperbilirubinemia, increased activity of hepatic transaminases.
Dermatological reactions: often - itching, rash, hair loss.
From the respiratory system: often - shortness of breath.
From the side of the cardiovascular system: often bradycardia; sometimes - tachycardia.
General disorders and reactions at the site of administration: very often - pain at the injection site; sometimes - dehydration.
On the background of therapy with octreotide, the following undesirable phenomena were noted in clinical practice, regardless of the presence of a causal relationship with the use of the drug:
From the immune system: anaphylactic reactions, allergic reactions / hypersensitivity.
Dermatological reactions: hives.
From the hepatobiliary system: acute pancreatitis, acute hepatitis without the phenomena of cholestasis, cholestatic hepatitis, cholestasis, jaundice, cholestatic jaundice, increase in the level of alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyltransferase.
From the side of the cardiovascular system: arrhythmias.