How does Octreotide (Sandostatin) work?
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. In plain terms, Octreotide (Sandostatin) is 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. Mechanistic detail like this comes largely from preclinical and early research, the human picture is limited.
What people use it for
- Acromegaly patients under endocrine care
- Carcinoid / neuroendocrine tumor patients
- Educational reference for somatostatin pathway
References
- Octreotide therapy for acromegaly, long term outcome — Mercado M et al., JCEM, 2014
- Sandostatin LAR Depot (octreotide acetate) - FDA Label — FDA / DailyMed (Novartis Pharmaceuticals)
- Preoperative somatostatin analogues versus direct transsphenoidal surgery for newly-diagnosed acromegaly patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis using the GRADE system — Nunes VS et al., Pituitary, 2015
Pepdex is an editorial reference, not medical advice. Peptides vary in legal and approval status by country, many are research compounds without full human safety data. Talk to a qualified clinician before starting anything.
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Last updated 2026-06-06.