Somatostatin Analogues: Medicine Overviews
Octreotide and lanreotide are lab-made versions of the hormone somatostatin. What the US labels approve them for, the trial evidence, and the main safety information.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
What they are
Somatostatin is a natural hormone that inhibits the release of several other hormones. [1] Octreotide (brand Sandostatin) and lanreotide (brand Somatuline Depot) are synthetic analogues, meaning lab-made, modified versions. The Sandostatin label says octreotide acts like the natural hormone, and is an even more potent inhibitor of growth hormone (GH), glucagon and insulin than somatostatin. [1] The Somatuline label describes lanreotide as an octapeptide analogue of natural somatostatin that binds somatostatin receptors 2 and 5 with high affinity; activity at those two receptors is believed to be the main way it lowers GH. [2]What the evidence shows
Acromegaly. Acromegaly is a condition of too much growth hormone. The Somatuline label states that the treatment goal is to bring GH and IGF-1 levels to normal. [2] That makes hormone levels part of the definition of success here, which is unusual; most other peptide uses should not be judged by a hormone number alone. See biomarker changes vs meaningful outcomes.GEP-NET tumors. The Somatuline label reports a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 204 patients (101 on lanreotide, 103 on placebo) whose main outcome was progression-free survival, meaning time to tumor progression on scans or death. [2] Progression or death occurred in 32 (31.7%) on lanreotide and 60 (58.3%) on placebo; median progression-free survival was 16.6 months on placebo and had not been reached at 22 months on lanreotide, hazard ratio 0.47 (95% CI 0.30 to 0.73). [2] Label: approved medicine; established for progression-free survival in that trial population. Overall survival is not reported in the excerpts read.
Carcinoid syndrome. Lanreotide, when used, reduces how often short-acting somatostatin analogue rescue therapy is needed. [2]
Octreotide limits. The Sandostatin label states that improvement in clinical signs and symptoms, or reduction in tumor size or growth rate, was not shown in its clinical trials, which were not designed to detect it. [1] The approval for carcinoid tumors is for symptoms (diarrhea and flushing). [1]
Professional-care context
The lanreotide label says the depot is intended for administration by a healthcare provider. [2] Monitoring (hormone levels, glucose, thyroid, gallbladder, heart rate) is described in the labels; schedules and dose changes belong to the prescriber, and this page offers none.Off-label and promoted use
The labels read approve these medicines for the named tumors and hormone conditions only. Proper evidence not found in the labels read for uses as general anti-aging, weight or "growth hormone lowering" products, and none of them is a supplement. For related hormone biology, see growth hormone and IGF-1 signaling.Frequently asked questions
Is octreotide the same as lanreotide?
No. They are different molecules, both somatostatin analogues; octreotide is the ingredient in Sandostatin and Mycapssa, lanreotide in Somatuline Depot. [1][2]
Do these drugs shrink tumors?
The octreotide label says reduction in tumor size or growth rate was not shown in its trials. [1] The lanreotide label reports longer progression-free survival than placebo in GEP-NETs. [2]
Is there an oral form?
Mycapssa is an octreotide capsule approved in the US for acromegaly maintenance in people who already responded to octreotide or lanreotide. [4]
What are the main side effects to know?
Gallstones, blood sugar changes, heart rhythm changes and fat malabsorption are listed warnings. [1][2]
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
How to read the evidence labels
Labels used on this page: approved medicine (a regulator has approved it for a named use), established (backed by labeled randomized trials), and insufficient evidence. "Octreotide," "Sandostatin," "Sandostatin LAR Depot" and "Mycapssa" are related but not interchangeable: they share an ingredient but differ in formulation and labeled use. See why.
Approved uses in the United States (FDA labels, read 2026-10-22)
| Product | Uses named on the label |
|---|---|
| Sandostatin Injection (octreotide) | Acromegaly (to reduce GH and IGF-1 when other treatment was inadequate or not possible); severe diarrhea and flushing from metastatic carcinoid tumors; profuse watery diarrhea from VIP-secreting tumors (VIPomas). [1] |
| Sandostatin LAR Depot (octreotide) | The same three conditions, for patients in whom the injection has already been shown effective and tolerated. [3] |
| Mycapssa (octreotide capsules) | Long-term maintenance in acromegaly for patients who responded to and tolerated octreotide or lanreotide. [4] |
| Somatuline Depot (lanreotide) | Long-term acromegaly treatment; unresectable gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) to improve progression-free survival; carcinoid syndrome. [2] |
Major safety information from the labels
- Gallstones. Both labels list gallstones and their complications and call for monitoring. [1][2]
- Blood sugar. Hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia can occur; glucose monitoring is recommended and diabetes treatment may need adjustment. [1][2]
- Heart. Octreotide carries an increased risk of higher-degree atrioventricular block; lanreotide can slow the heart rate, so caution is advised in people at risk. [1][2]
- Thyroid. Hypothyroidism can occur with octreotide, and thyroid levels should be monitored periodically. [1]
- Fat absorption. New steatorrhea (fatty stools) and malabsorption of dietary fats are listed warnings. [1]
- Allergy. Lanreotide is contraindicated in people with a history of hypersensitivity to it. [2]
References
- FDA label (DailyMed): Sandostatin Injection (octreotide acetate), Novartis. Read 2026-10-22.
- FDA label (DailyMed): Somatuline Depot (lanreotide), Ipsen. Read 2026-10-22.
- FDA label (DailyMed): Sandostatin LAR Depot (octreotide acetate), Novartis. Read 2026-10-22.
- FDA label (DailyMed): Mycapssa (octreotide) delayed-release capsules, Chiesi. Read 2026-10-22.