Norditropin

Before taking this medicine

Do not use Norditropin if you: • Have an acute critical illness following open-heart surgery, abdominal surgery or multiple accidental injuries, or have acute respiratory failure, because of an increased risk of death. • Have active cancer. • Are allergic to somatropin or any of its ingredients. • Have active proliferative or severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, forms of diabetic eye disease. Norditropin must not be used in children whose growth plates have closed. It must also not be used in children with Prader-Willi syndrome who are severely obese, have a history of upper airway obstruction or sleep apnoea, or have severe breathing impairment, because of a risk of sudden death. Careful monitoring is needed in people with existing tumours or a history of childhood cancer. Additional tumours have occurred in childhood cancer survivors. Blood glucose should be checked periodically, especially in people with diabetes or at risk of developing it, because Norditropin may reduce insulin sensitivity. Increased pressure inside the skull has been reported, usually within the first eight weeks of treatment. Eye examinations are needed before and periodically during treatment. Treatment must be stopped if swelling of the optic nerve occurs. Other conditions requiring caution include fluid retention in adults, low adrenal hormone levels, an underactive thyroid and pre-existing scoliosis in children. Adrenal and thyroid function may need monitoring. A new limp or hip or knee pain in a child needs medical assessment. Abdominal pain should be assessed for possible pancreatitis, especially in children. Seek prompt medical attention if an allergic reaction occurs.