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№ 059

Octreotide (Sandostatin)

A drug that shuts down the body's overproduction of growth hormone, used for conditions like acromegaly. A synthetic somatostatin analog, FDA-approved in 1988 for acromegaly, carcinoid syndrome, and VIPomas; it suppresses GH and IGF-1, the mechanistic opposite of Tesamorelin.

GH-axis
Evidence: Strong

Octreotide (Sandostatin): A drug that shuts down the body's overproduction of growth hormone, used for conditions like acromegaly. A synthetic somatostatin analog, FDA-approved in 1988 for acromegaly, carcinoid syndrome, and VIPomas; it suppresses GH and IGF-1, the mechanistic opposite of Tesamorelin. Octreotide is a synthetic copy of somatostatin, the hormone your body uses to *suppress* growth hormone.

FDA ⓘ
Approved
WADA
Not banned
Typical dose
IR: 50-200 mcg sub-q TID
Half-life ⓘ
~1.7 hours (immediate-release); LAR depot dosed every 4 weeks
Route ⓘ
Subcutaneous (IR) or intramuscular (LAR)
Schedule
TID for IR; once monthly for LAR
In plain English

Octreotide is a synthetic copy of somatostatin, the hormone your body uses to *suppress* growth hormone. It's the opposite of Tesamorelin. Used clinically for acromegaly (too much GH disease), carcinoid tumors, and certain neuroendocrine cancers. FDA-approved since 1988.

Status & legalityWhat do these mean? →
Natty? ⓘ
Considered natty

Suppresses GH/IGF-1 rather than enhancing performance. Federations don't address GH-suppressors.

FDA ⓘ
Approved

Approved as Sandostatin (1988) for acromegaly, carcinoid syndrome, and VIPomas. Available in immediate-release sub-q and long-acting (LAR) IM depot.

Compounding ⓘ
Approved drug

Available as an FDA-approved drug, not a compounded peptide.

WADA ⓘ
Not listed
Prescribed ⓘ

Yes, endocrinology and oncology providers prescribe for the approved indications.

Who it's for

  • →Acromegaly patients under endocrine care
  • →Carcinoid / neuroendocrine tumor patients
  • →Educational reference for somatostatin pathway

What to expect

  1. Week 1

    Acromegaly users: GH and IGF-1 markers begin dropping. Carcinoid users: flushing and diarrhea reduce.

  2. Week 4

    Hormone normalization in responders.

  3. Week 8

    Steady-state effect on tumor secretion in NET patients.

Looking at Octreotide (Sandostatin)? Your next 3 steps

  1. 1Work out your exact dose

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  2. 2See what to stack & monitor

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How it works (mechanism)

Synthetic analog of somatostatin. Binds somatostatin receptors (SSTR2, SSTR5 mainly) on pituitary somatotrophs to *suppress* GH release, the opposite of GHRH analogs. Also suppresses gut hormones, used in carcinoid and VIPoma management.

Dosing protocol

Members only

Stacks well with

Members only

Side effects

01GI (diarrhea, abdominal cramping, steatorrhea)
02Gallstones with chronic use
03Hyperglycemia (suppresses insulin)
04Bradycardia
05Vitamin B12 deficiency long term

When NOT to use

  • ⚠Hypersensitivity to octreotide
  • ⚠Severe gallbladder disease
  • ⚠Pregnancy / nursing (limited data)

Bloodwork to monitor

  • • IGF-1 (target of therapy)
  • • Fasting glucose
  • • Vitamin B12 yearly
  • • Gallbladder ultrasound periodically

Common mistakes

  • • Treating it as a body-comp peptide (it's a hormone suppressor for medical indications)
  • • Skipping the gallbladder monitoring on long term use
  • • Not anticipating the hyperglycemic effect

Drug & supplement interactions

  • ⚠Cyclosporine: octreotide reduces cyclosporine absorption, separate dosing
  • ⚠Insulin requirements may decrease (suppresses growth hormone counter-regulation)
  • ⚠Beta-blockers: additive bradycardia
  • ⚠Bromocriptine: reduces clearance, dose adjust
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AI Coach, live sample
Members only
is 250mcg of bpc enough for a knee injury?
For a knee, 250 mcg sub-q daily is the standard working dose and a solid place to start. The trick with BPC is consistency, give it weeks, not days. Inject close to the joint, run it 4-6 weeks, and don't drop below 200 mcg, it tends to stop cracking the threshold reliably down there. If it hasn't moved at all by week 3, that's when adding TB-500 earns its place.
how much bac water for a 10mg reta vial?
3 mL is the standard play for a 10 mg reta vial. That's 3,333 mcg/mL, clean unit math across the titration: 2 mg = 60 units, 4 mg = 120 units, 6 mg = 180 units on a 100-unit insulin syringe. Run 2 mL instead if you want fewer, more concentrated shots (5,000 mcg/mL, so 2 mg = 40 units). Since most people titrate up over ~12 weeks, 3 mL keeps the numbers cleanest.
what should i track on bloodwork for tirzepatide?
Lipid panel, ALT/AST (liver enzymes), and an A1C, baseline before you start then every 3 months. If you've got metabolic-syndrome history, add fasting glucose and insulin so you can actually watch insulin sensitivity improve. You don't need a big hormone panel for a GLP-1.

Ask the Coach anything about Octreotide (Sandostatin) or your own stack. This is it working.

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Frequently asked

What is Octreotide (Sandostatin)?+
Octreotide is a synthetic copy of somatostatin, the hormone your body uses to *suppress* growth hormone. It's the opposite of Tesamorelin. Used clinically for acromegaly (too much GH disease), carcinoid tumors, and certain neuroendocrine cancers. FDA-approved since 1988.
Is Octreotide (Sandostatin) FDA approved?+
Approved as Sandostatin (1988) for acromegaly, carcinoid syndrome, and VIPomas. Available in immediate-release sub-q and long-acting (LAR) IM depot.
Is Octreotide (Sandostatin) legal?+
Octreotide (Sandostatin) is FDA-approved and legal to obtain by prescription in the US. Yes, endocrinology and oncology providers prescribe for the approved indications.
Is Octreotide (Sandostatin) banned by WADA?+
Octreotide (Sandostatin) is not currently on the WADA prohibited list.
Are you still natty after taking Octreotide (Sandostatin)?+
Octreotide (Sandostatin) is generally considered natty-compatible. Suppresses GH/IGF-1 rather than enhancing performance. Federations don't address GH-suppressors.
Do doctors prescribe Octreotide (Sandostatin)?+
Yes, endocrinology and oncology providers prescribe for the approved indications.
What's the typical dose of Octreotide (Sandostatin)?+
IR: 50-200 mcg sub-q TID. LAR: 10-30 mg IM every 4 weeks. Doses are condition-specific.
What are the side effects of Octreotide (Sandostatin)?+
Common side effects include: GI (diarrhea, abdominal cramping, steatorrhea); Gallstones with chronic use; Hyperglycemia (suppresses insulin); Bradycardia. Less common effects and full safety details are on the entry page.
How long until Octreotide (Sandostatin) starts working?+
Acromegaly users: GH and IGF-1 markers begin dropping. Carcinoid users: flushing and diarrhea reduce.
What can you stack with Octreotide (Sandostatin)?+
Common pairings: Not stacked outside specialist contexts (paired sometimes with cabergoline in acromegaly). Full stacking protocol and timing on the entry page.
Where do people get Octreotide (Sandostatin)?+
Octreotide (Sandostatin) is dispensed through licensed pharmacies with a prescription. Some compounding pharmacies and telehealth services prescribe it. Pepdex is not a vendor or pharmacy. See /coa for how to verify Certificate of Analysis on any supplier.

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