About Norditropin®
Norditropin® has been studied in clinical and real-world settings
Check out our safety story.
Actor portrayal
Clinical experience: Norditropin® has demonstrated safety for over 25 years
The safety profile of Norditropin® has been established across multiple growth-related disorders, including growth hormone deficiency, small for gestational age, Turner syndrome, and Noonan syndrome.
What are the most common side effects?
As with any medication, Norditropin® may cause side effects in some patients. Common side effects in children and adult patients may include:
- injection site reactions and rashes
- headaches
See the complete list of side effects and contraindications in the Prescribing Information.
Actor portrayal
Norditropin® may also cause serious side effects, including:
- high risk of death in people who have critical illnesses because of heart or stomach surgery, trauma or serious breathing (respiratory) problems
- high risk of sudden death in children with Prader-Willi syndrome who are severely obese or have breathing problems, including sleep apnea
- increased risk of growth of cancer or a tumor that is already present and increased risk of the return of cancer or a tumor in people who were treated with radiation to the brain or head as children and who developed low growth hormone problems. Your or your child’s healthcare provider will need to monitor you or your child for a return of cancer or a tumor. Contact the healthcare provider if you or your child starts to have headaches, or have changes in behavior, changes in vision, or changes in moles, birthmarks, or the color of your skin.
- new or worsening high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) or diabetes. Your or your child’s blood sugar may need to be monitored during treatment with Norditropin®.
- increase in pressure in the skull (intracranial hypertension). If you or your child has headaches, eye problems, nausea or vomiting, contact the healthcare provider.
- serious allergic reactions. Get medical help right away if you or your child has the following symptoms:
- swelling of your face, lips, mouth, or tongue
- trouble breathing
- wheezing
- severe itching
- skin rashes, redness, or swelling
- dizziness or fainting
- fast heartbeat or pounding in your chest
- sweating
- your body holding too much fluid (fluid retention) such as swelling in the hands and feet, pain in your joints or muscles or nerve problems that cause pain, burning or tingling in the hands, arms, legs and feet. Fluid retention can happen in adults during treatment with Norditropin®. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of these signs or symptoms of fluid retention.
- decrease in a hormone called cortisol. The healthcare provider will do blood tests to check your or your child’s cortisol levels. Tell your or your child’s healthcare provider if you or your child has darkening of the skin, severe fatigue, dizziness, weakness, or weight loss.
- decrease in thyroid hormone levels. Decreased thyroid hormone levels may affect how well Norditropin® works. The healthcare provider will do blood tests to check your or your child’s thyroid hormone levels.
- hip and knee pain or a limp in children (slipped capital femoral epiphysis)
- worsening of curvature of the spine (scoliosis)
- severe and constant abdominal pain. This could be a sign of pancreatitis. Tell your or your child’s healthcare provider if you or your child has any new abdominal pain.
- loss of fat and tissue weakness in the area of skin you inject. Talk to your healthcare provider about rotating the areas where you inject Norditropin®.
- increase in phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase and parathyroid hormone levels in your blood. Your or your child’s healthcare provider will do blood tests to check this.
There are other possible side effects, too. See the complete list in the Prescribing Information.
Should anyone avoid taking Norditropin®?
You should not use Norditropin® if:
- you have a critical illness caused by certain types of heart or stomach surgery, trauma, or breathing (respiratory) problems
- you are a child with Prader-Willi syndrome who is severely obese or has breathing problems including sleep apnea
- you have cancer or other tumors
- you are allergic to somatropin or any of the ingredients in Norditropin® (see the Prescribing Information for a complete list of ingredients in Norditropin®)
- your healthcare provider tells you that you have certain types of eye problems caused by diabetes (diabetic retinopathy)
- you are a child with closed bone growth plates (epiphyses)
This is not a complete list of contraindications. See the Prescribing Information for more information.
Tell your doctor about any concerns you may have about your health, as well as any medications you’re taking and whether you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to breastfeed. Your doctor can tell you whether Norditropin® is right for you.
Norditropin® was studied in a real-world settinga
In addition to clinical trials, the safety and effectiveness of Norditropin® was evaluated in 19,847 pediatric patients in the United States in the ANSWER Program.
All patients in the study were treated with Norditropin®, with no comparison to placebo. Please note, this was not a controlled clinical trial.
No additional safety issues associated with Norditropin® were identified during the study.
Abigail (left) & William (center) born with GHD. Gigi (bottom right), born with SGA. Michael (back row), non patient.
aEffectiveness was evaluated in 12,660 of the total patients. In patients evaluated for safety, the average length of treatment with Norditropin was 2.3 years for growth hormone deficiency, 2.4 years for small for gestational age, 3.1 years for Turner syndrome, 2.1 years for idiopathic short stature, 2.7 years for Noonan syndrome, and 3.5 years for Prader-Willi syndrome.
Let’s grow. Let’s go!
What about results?
Everyone’s growth journey is different. We have insights that may help you set the right expectations about treatment and growth.
Want to see the pens?
Norditropin® (somatropin) comes in prefilled FlexPro® injection pens. Patients said they’re easy to learn to use.b
Please see Instructions for Use for complete instructions.
William, born with GHD
bIn a study, 94 people used the Norditropin® FlexPro® 30 mg pen to inject into a foam cushion, and rated it a 6.7 out of 7 (on a scale of 1 to 7, where 1 means “strongly disagree” and 7 means “strongly agree”), as “easy to learn to use.”
Important Safety Information:
Do not use Norditropin® if:
- you have a critical illness caused by certain types of heart or stomach surgery, trauma or breathing (respiratory) problems
- you are a child with Prader-Willi syndrome who is severely obese or has breathing problems including sleep apnea
- you have cancer or other tumors
- you are allergic to somatropin or any of the ingredients in Norditropin®
- your healthcare provider tells you that you have certain types of eye problems caused by diabetes (diabetic retinopathy)
- you are a child with closed bone growth plates (epiphyses)
Before taking Norditropin®, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
- have had heart or stomach surgery, trauma or serious breathing (respiratory problems)
- have had a history of problems breathing while you sleep (sleep apnea)
- have or have had cancer or any tumor
- have diabetes
- are pregnant or breastfeeding, or plan to become pregnant or breastfeed
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Norditropin® may affect how other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how Norditropin® works.
How should I use Norditropin®?
- Use Norditropin® exactly as your health care provider tells you to
- Do not share your Norditropin® pens and needles with another person even if the needle has been changed. You may give another person an infection or get an infection from them.
What are the possible side effects of Norditropin®?
Norditropin® may cause serious side effects, including:
- high risk of death in people who have critical illnesses because of heart or stomach surgery, trauma or serious breathing (respiratory) problems
- high risk of sudden death in children with Prader-Willi syndrome who are severely obese or have breathing problems including sleep apnea
- increased risk of growth of cancer or a tumor that is already present and increased risk of the return of cancer or a tumor in people who were treated with radiation to the brain or head as children and who developed low growth hormone problems. Contact the healthcare provider if you or your child start to have headaches, or have changes in behavior, changes in vision, or changes in moles, birthmarks, or the color of your skin
- new or worsening high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) or diabetes
- increase in pressure in the skull (intracranial hypertension). If you or your child has headaches, eye problems, nausea or vomiting, contact the healthcare provider
- serious allergic reactions. Get medical help right away if you or your child has the following symptoms: swelling of your face, lips, mouth or tongue, trouble breathing, wheezing, severe itching, skin rashes, redness or swelling, dizziness or fainting, fast heartbeat or pounding in your chest, or sweating
- your body holding too much fluid (fluid retention) such as swelling in the hands and feet, pain in your joints or muscles or nerve problems that cause pain, burning, or tingling in the hands, arms, legs and feet. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of these signs or symptoms of fluid retention.
- decrease in a hormone called cortisol. Tell your or your child’s healthcare provider if you or your child has darkening of the skin, severe fatigue, dizziness, weakness or weight loss
- decrease in thyroid hormone levels
- hip and knee pain or a limp in children (slipped capital femoral epiphysis)
- worsening of pre-existing curvature of the spine (scoliosis)
- severe and constant abdominal pain can be a sign of pancreatitis. Tell your or your child’s healthcare provider if you or your child has any new abdominal pain.
- loss of fat and tissue weakness in the area of skin you inject
- increase in phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, and parathyroid hormone levels in your blood
The most common side effects of Norditropin® include:
- injection site reactions and rashes, and headaches
Please click here for Norditropin® Prescribing Information.
What is Norditropin® (somatropin) injection?
Norditropin® is a prescription medicine that contains human growth hormone and is used to treat:
- children who are not growing because of low or no growth hormone
- children who are short (in stature) and who have Noonan syndrome, Turner syndrome, or were born small (small for gestational age-SGA) and have not caught-up in growth by age 2 to 4 years
- children who have Idiopathic Short Stature (ISS)
- children who are not growing who have Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS)
- adults who do not make enough growth hormone
What is Norditropin® (somatropin) injection?
Norditropin® is a prescription medicine that contains human growth hormone and is used to treat:
- children who are not growing because of low or no growth hormone
- children who are short (in stature) and who have Noonan syndrome, Turner syndrome, or were born small (small for gestational age-SGA) and have not caught-up in growth by age 2 to 4 years
- children who have Idiopathic Short Stature (ISS)
- children who are not growing who have Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS)
- adults who do not make enough growth hormone
Important Safety Information:
Do not use Norditropin® if:
- you have a critical illness caused by certain types of heart or stomach surgery, trauma or breathing (respiratory) problems
- you are a child with Prader-Willi syndrome who is severely obese or has breathing problems including sleep apnea
- you have cancer or other tumors
- you are allergic to somatropin or any of the ingredients in Norditropin®
- your healthcare provider tells you that you have certain types of eye problems caused by diabetes (diabetic retinopathy)
- you are a child with closed bone growth plates (epiphyses)
Before taking Norditropin®, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
- have had heart or stomach surgery, trauma or serious breathing (respiratory problems)
- have had a history of problems breathing while you sleep (sleep apnea)
- have or have had cancer or any tumor
- have diabetes
- are pregnant or breastfeeding, or plan to become pregnant or breastfeed
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Norditropin® may affect how other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how Norditropin® works.
How should I use Norditropin®?
- Use Norditropin® exactly as your health care provider tells you to
- Do not share your Norditropin® pens and needles with another person even if the needle has been changed. You may give another person an infection or get an infection from them.
What are the possible side effects of Norditropin®?
Norditropin® may cause serious side effects, including:
- high risk of death in people who have critical illnesses because of heart or stomach surgery, trauma or serious breathing (respiratory) problems
- high risk of sudden death in children with Prader-Willi syndrome who are severely obese or have breathing problems including sleep apnea
- increased risk of growth of cancer or a tumor that is already present and increased risk of the return of cancer or a tumor in people who were treated with radiation to the brain or head as children and who developed low growth hormone problems. Contact the healthcare provider if you or your child start to have headaches, or have changes in behavior, changes in vision, or changes in moles, birthmarks, or the color of your skin
- new or worsening high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) or diabetes
- increase in pressure in the skull (intracranial hypertension). If you or your child has headaches, eye problems, nausea or vomiting, contact the healthcare provider
- serious allergic reactions. Get medical help right away if you or your child has the following symptoms: swelling of your face, lips, mouth or tongue, trouble breathing, wheezing, severe itching, skin rashes, redness or swelling, dizziness or fainting, fast heartbeat or pounding in your chest, or sweating
- your body holding too much fluid (fluid retention) such as swelling in the hands and feet, pain in your joints or muscles or nerve problems that cause pain, burning, or tingling in the hands, arms, legs and feet. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of these signs or symptoms of fluid retention.
- decrease in a hormone called cortisol. Tell your or your child’s healthcare provider if you or your child has darkening of the skin, severe fatigue, dizziness, weakness or weight loss
- decrease in thyroid hormone levels
- hip and knee pain or a limp in children (slipped capital femoral epiphysis)
- worsening of pre-existing curvature of the spine (scoliosis)
- severe and constant abdominal pain can be a sign of pancreatitis. Tell your or your child’s healthcare provider if you or your child has any new abdominal pain.
- loss of fat and tissue weakness in the area of skin you inject
- increase in phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, and parathyroid hormone levels in your blood
The most common side effects of Norditropin® include:
- injection site reactions and rashes, and headaches
Please click here for Norditropin® Prescribing Information.
Important Safety Information:
Do not use Norditropin® if:
- you have a critical illness caused by certain types of heart or stomach surgery, trauma or breathing (respiratory) problems
- you are a child with Prader-Willi syndrome who is severely obese or has breathing problems including sleep apnea
- you have cancer or other tumors
- you are allergic to somatropin or any of the ingredients in Norditropin®
- your healthcare provider tells you that you have certain types of eye problems caused by diabetes (diabetic retinopathy)
- you are a child with closed bone growth plates (epiphyses)
Before taking Norditropin®, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
- have had heart or stomach surgery, trauma or serious breathing (respiratory problems)
- have had a history of problems breathing while you sleep (sleep apnea)
- have or have had cancer or any tumor
- have diabetes
- are pregnant or breastfeeding, or plan to become pregnant or breastfeed
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Norditropin® may affect how other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how Norditropin® works.
How should I use Norditropin®?
- Use Norditropin® exactly as your health care provider tells you to
- Do not share your Norditropin® pens and needles with another person even if the needle has been changed. You may give another person an infection or get an infection from them.
What are the possible side effects of Norditropin®?
Norditropin® may cause serious side effects, including:
- high risk of death in people who have critical illnesses because of heart or stomach surgery, trauma or serious breathing (respiratory) problems
- high risk of sudden death in children with Prader-Willi syndrome who are severely obese or have breathing problems including sleep apnea
- increased risk of growth of cancer or a tumor that is already present and increased risk of the return of cancer or a tumor in people who were treated with radiation to the brain or head as children and who developed low growth hormone problems. Contact the healthcare provider if you or your child start to have headaches, or have changes in behavior, changes in vision, or changes in moles, birthmarks, or the color of your skin
- new or worsening high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) or diabetes
- increase in pressure in the skull (intracranial hypertension). If you or your child has headaches, eye problems, nausea or vomiting, contact the healthcare provider
- serious allergic reactions. Get medical help right away if you or your child has the following symptoms: swelling of your face, lips, mouth or tongue, trouble breathing, wheezing, severe itching, skin rashes, redness or swelling, dizziness or fainting, fast heartbeat or pounding in your chest, or sweating
- your body holding too much fluid (fluid retention) such as swelling in the hands and feet, pain in your joints or muscles or nerve problems that cause pain, burning, or tingling in the hands, arms, legs and feet. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of these signs or symptoms of fluid retention.
- decrease in a hormone called cortisol. Tell your or your child’s healthcare provider if you or your child has darkening of the skin, severe fatigue, dizziness, weakness or weight loss
- decrease in thyroid hormone levels
- hip and knee pain or a limp in children (slipped capital femoral epiphysis)
- worsening of pre-existing curvature of the spine (scoliosis)
- severe and constant abdominal pain can be a sign of pancreatitis. Tell your or your child’s healthcare provider if you or your child has any new abdominal pain.
- loss of fat and tissue weakness in the area of skin you inject
- increase in phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, and parathyroid hormone levels in your blood
The most common side effects of Norditropin® include:
- injection site reactions and rashes, and headaches
Please click here for Norditropin® Prescribing Information.
What is Norditropin® (somatropin) injection?
Norditropin® is a prescription medicine that contains human growth hormone and is used to treat:
- children who are not growing because of low or no growth hormone
- children who are short (in stature) and who have Noonan syndrome, Turner syndrome, or were born small (small for gestational age-SGA) and have not caught-up in growth by age 2 to 4 years
- children who have Idiopathic Short Stature (ISS)
- children who are not growing who have Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS)
- adults who do not make enough growth hormone
