What are the side effects of Octreotide (Sandostatin)?
The most commonly reported Octreotide (Sandostatin) side effects are gI (diarrhea, abdominal cramping, steatorrhea), gallstones with chronic use, hyperglycemia (suppresses insulin). Most are mild and tend to be dose dependent. It is generally avoided with hypersensitivity to octreotide. Human clinical evidence for Octreotide (Sandostatin) is limited, so this reflects reported and observed effects, not a complete safety profile.
Reported Octreotide (Sandostatin) side effects
- GI (diarrhea, abdominal cramping, steatorrhea)
- Gallstones with chronic use
- Hyperglycemia (suppresses insulin)
- Bradycardia
- Vitamin B12 deficiency long term
Who should avoid it
- Hypersensitivity to octreotide
- Severe gallbladder disease
- Pregnancy / nursing (limited data)
Bloodwork worth tracking
- IGF-1 (target of therapy)
- Fasting glucose
- Vitamin B12 yearly
- Gallbladder ultrasound periodically
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.