Overview Of Options For Pituitary Tumor Treatment

Somatostatin Analogs

Somatostatin is a vital substance! The body makes it naturally in the bowels, stomach, pancreas, and hypothalamus. This substance helps slow down the body's production of insulin and gut hormones. In some cases, it even stops this production! This substance is essential for stomach and bowel emptying. Somatostatin analogs are medications that create artificial versions of this substance!

Many pituitary patients will take this type of medication! It helps when the tumor causes the patient's body to make too many hormones. In many cases, these tumors trigger carcinoid syndrome. This is where this medication is helpful! It slows down how fast the patient's body produces growth hormone and serotonin. The result is more control over symptoms such as skin flushing and diarrhea. Many patients even find that this medication shrinks their pituitary tumor! Most patients receive one injection of this medication every four weeks. Nurses typically administer it. However, they will teach patients to do it themselves when necessary!

Reveal more ways to treat pituitary tumors now.