What drugs are used to treat acromegaly?
Growth hormone receptor blockers are the newest category of drugs used for acromegaly. These drugs work by blocking the places on cells where growth hormone “docks.” If the excess growth hormone in the blood can’t dock on a cell, it can’t cause abnormal growth of the cell. The only drug in this category that has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for acromegaly is pegvisomant (Somavert). In early studies, this drug normalized IGF-1 level in more than 90% of people treated. Pegvisomant is given by a shot every day. Somatostatin analogues act like a natural hormone called somatostatin, which stops secretion of growth hormone. The most widely used drug in this group by far is octreotide (Sandostatin). This drug works in most people who take it. It can be taken only as shots, either 3 times a day under the skin or once a month in the muscle. Dopamine agonists promote the activity of dopamine, a chemical in the brain. These drugs work by stopping secretion of growth hormon
