How do the medications differ?
The dopamine agonist drugs, bromocriptine, pergolide and cabergoline may improve symptoms but are not very effective, resulting in a normal hormone levels in less than 10%. Cabergoline may be more effective than the other drugs. In addition, patients more likely to respond are those in whom IGF-1 and GH levels are only slightly elevated. Octreotide-LAR and lanreotide lower growth hormone, and therefore, IGF-1 levels. Octreotide-LAR is given as an injection in the buttock every 28 days or sometimes less frequently; this is usually administered in a doctor’s office. Octreotide-LAR and lanreotide reduce growth hormone and IGF-1 levels in approximately 90% of patients. However lowering of these hormone levels to normal occurs in approximately 45% to 60% of patients. The reason is the same as that which occurs with medical treatment of prolactin producing tumors – the number of “receptors” on which the medication can act. Short acting octreotide must be given at least every 8 hours by a sub
