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Condition

Acromegaly

Acromegaly is a hormone condition in which the pituitary, usually through a benign tumor, makes too much growth hormone, gradually enlarging the hands, feet, and face. The evidence is strong for pegvisomant, octreotide, and lanreotide: trials found most people on pegvisomant reached normal IGF-1, while about half to 60% reached growth hormone control on the other two. Those results track hormone levels, not symptoms.

Sources: PMID 10770982; PMID 24606084; PMID 29357081

Supplements studied
0
Medicines and peptides
4
Graded outcomes
13
No supplement studies yetWe haven’t found supplement studies for Acromegaly. The medicines and peptides studied for it are listed below.

Prescription medicines and peptides studied, for context

These are not supplements. Most need a prescription, and some are research compounds with no approved use.

4 medicines and peptides

Lanreotide (Somatuline)

Lanreotide (Somatuline): outcomes studied for Acromegaly
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Acromegaly Symptoms

Significant improvement in soft tissue swelling, headaches, joint pain, and fatigue associated with acromegaly.

Improves (the measure goes down)Moderate effect27 studies

Studies that measured acromegaly symptoms

and 24 more on the Lanreotide (Somatuline) page

GH Suppression (Acromegaly)

50-60% of patients achieve GH control (<2.5 ng/mL) with long-term lanreotide treatment. FDA-approved for acromegaly.

Improves (the measure goes down)Large effect26 studies

Studies that measured gh suppression (acromegaly)

and 23 more on the Lanreotide (Somatuline) page

IGF-1 Normalization

Approximately 50% of acromegaly patients achieve IGF-1 normalization with lanreotide depot treatment.

Changes; see studiesLarge effect18 studies

Studies that measured igf-1 normalization

and 15 more on the Lanreotide (Somatuline) page

Octreotide (Sandostatin)

Octreotide (Sandostatin): outcomes studied for Acromegaly
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
GH Suppression (Acromegaly)

Meta-analysis shows 56% achieve GH control (<2.5 μg/L). ACROINNOVA 1 showed 72% response rate for IGF-1 normalization with octreotide depot.

Improves (the measure goes down)Large effect18 studies

Studies that measured gh suppression (acromegaly)

and 15 more on the Octreotide (Sandostatin) page

Acromegaly Symptoms

Treatment reduces soft tissue swelling, headaches, and other symptoms associated with excess GH/IGF-1.

Improves (the measure goes down)Moderate effect18 studies

Studies that measured acromegaly symptoms

and 15 more on the Octreotide (Sandostatin) page

IGF-1 Normalization

55% achieve IGF-1 normalization in meta-analysis. Oral octreotide maintained response in 65% of previously controlled patients.

Changes; see studiesLarge effect12 studies

Studies that measured igf-1 normalization

and 9 more on the Octreotide (Sandostatin) page

Pasireotide (Signifor)

  • GH Suppression (Acromegaly): improves
  • IGF-1 Normalization: changes; see studies
Pasireotide (Signifor): outcomes studied for Acromegaly
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
GH Suppression (Acromegaly)

Pasireotide LAR provides GH/IGF-1 control in acromegaly patients, including some resistant to octreotide or lanreotide due to broader receptor binding.

Improves (the measure goes down)Large effect14 studies

Studies that measured gh suppression (acromegaly)

and 11 more on the Pasireotide (Signifor) page

IGF-1 Normalization

Significantly greater IGF-1 normalization rates compared to octreotide LAR in some studies, particularly in patients with inadequate control on first-generation somatostatin analogs.

Changes; see studiesLarge effect9 studies

Studies that measured igf-1 normalization

and 6 more on the Pasireotide (Signifor) page

Pegvisomant (Somavert)

  • Treatment-Resistant Acromegaly: improves
  • Acromegaly Symptoms: improves
  • IGF-1 Normalization: changes; see studies
Pegvisomant (Somavert): outcomes studied for Acromegaly
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Treatment-Resistant Acromegaly

100% IGF-1 normalization in octreotide-resistant patients. Effective after failed surgery and somatostatin analog therapy.

Improves (the measure goes down)Large effect14 studies

Studies that measured treatment-resistant acromegaly

and 11 more on the Pegvisomant (Somavert) page

Acromegaly Symptoms

Improvement in soft tissue swelling, fatigue, perspiration, and joint symptoms associated with GH/IGF-1 excess.

Improves (the measure goes down)Moderate effect14 studies

Studies that measured acromegaly symptoms

and 11 more on the Pegvisomant (Somavert) page

IGF-1 Normalization

97% achieved normal IGF-1 at 12 months in clinical trials. Phase III: 89% normalization with 20mg daily dose. Most effective medical therapy for biochemical control.

Changes; see studiesLarge effect9 studies

Studies that measured igf-1 normalization

and 6 more on the Pegvisomant (Somavert) page

Serum IGF-1 Levels

Dose-dependent reduction: 62.5% decrease with 20mg/day vs 4% with placebo. German Observational Study showed sustained reduction from 1.75x to 0.89x ULN over 24 months.

Improves (the measure goes down)Large effect9 studies

Studies that measured serum igf-1 levels

and 6 more on the Pegvisomant (Somavert) page

Glucose Metabolism

Significant decrease in serum insulin and glucose concentrations (P<0.05). Particularly beneficial in acromegaly patients with coexistent diabetes mellitus.

Improves (the measure goes down)Moderate effect9 studies

Studies that measured glucose metabolism

and 6 more on the Pegvisomant (Somavert) page

Key findings

  • Acromegaly SymptomsLanreotide (Somatuline)Improves (the measure goes down)
  • GH Suppression (Acromegaly)Lanreotide (Somatuline)Improves (the measure goes down)
  • IGF-1 NormalizationLanreotide (Somatuline)Changes; see studies

Studies cited

73 studies from PubMed

  1. Pegvisomant in managing comorbidities of acromegaly: a review.Reviews in endocrine & metabolic disorders, 2025 · PMID 41160328
  2. Medical treatment in acromegaly: a network meta-analysis.European journal of endocrinology, 2025 · PMID 41140134
  3. Personalized medicine in acromegaly: insights from the ACROFAST clinical trial.Expert review of endocrinology & metabolism, 2025 · PMID 41020777
  4. Impact of pasireotide on lipid and glucose metabolism in patients with acromegaly: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Journal of endocrinological investigation, 2025 · PMID 40622518
  5. Short- and long-term glycemic effects of pasireotide in patients with acromegaly: a comprehensive case study with review of literature.Endocrine journal, 2025 · PMID 39842795
  6. Somatostatin Versus Octreotide for Prevention of Postoperative Pancreatic Fistula: The PREFIPS Randomized Clinical Trial: A FRENCH 007-ACHBT Study.Annals of surgery, 2024 · PMID 38662619
  7. Octreotide Subcutaneous Depot for Acromegaly: A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Phase 3 Trial, ACROINNOVA 1J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 2024 · PMID 39378125
  8. Pasireotide for Refractory Hypoglycemia in Malignant Insulinoma- Case Report and Review of the Literature.Frontiers in endocrinology, 2022 · PMID 35518928
  9. Oral Octreotide: A Review of Recent Clinical Trials and Practical Recommendations for Its Use in the Treatment of Patients With AcromegalyPituitary, 2022 · PMID 35452815
  10. The use of high dose octreotide in management of neonatal chylothorax: Review.Journal of neonatal-perinatal medicine, 2021 · PMID 33843702
  11. Combined therapy of somatostatin analogues with pegvisomant for the treatment of acromegaly: a meta-analysis of prospective studies.BMC endocrine disorders, 2020 · PMID 32811475
  12. Preconception use of pegvisomant alone or as combination therapy for acromegaly: a case series and review of the literature.Pituitary, 2020 · PMID 32451986
  13. Meta-Analysis on the Effect of Pasireotide for Prevention of Postoperative Pancreatic Fistula.The American surgeon, 2020 · PMID 32870029
  14. Meta-analysis on the Effect of Pasireotide for Prevention of Postoperative Pancreatic Fistula.The American surgeon, 2020 · PMID 32684027
  15. Efficacy of Pasireotide for Prevention of Postoperative Pancreatic Fistula in Pancreatic Surgery: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.Journal of gastrointestinal surgery : official journal of the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, 2020 · PMID 32207077
  16. Cardiometabolic Risk in Acromegaly: A Review With a Focus on Pasireotide.Frontiers in endocrinology, 2020 · PMID 32117056
  17. Cell specific interaction of pasireotide: review of preclinical studies in somatotroph and corticotroph pituitary cells.Pituitary, 2019 · PMID 30483918
  18. ANNIVERSARY REVIEW: Octreotide, 40 years later.European journal of endocrinology, 2019 · PMID 31398712
  19. Health-Related Quality of Life for Long-Acting Octreotide versus Placebo in Patients with Metastatic Midgut Neuroendocrine Tumors in the Phase 3 PROMID TrialNeuroendocrinology, 2019 · PMID 30852564
  20. Octreotide SC depot in patients with acromegaly and functioning neuroendocrine tumors: a phase 2, multicenter studyCancer Chemother Pharmacol, 2019 · PMID 30535537
  21. Cost-effectiveness of acromegaly treatments: a systematic review.Pituitary, 2018 · PMID 30159696
  22. LANREOTIDE THERAPY IN CARCINOID SYNDROME: PROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF PATIENT-REPORTED SYMPTOMS IN PATIENTS RESPONSIVE TO PRIOR OCTREOTIDE THERAPY AND PATIENTS NAÏVE TO SOMATOSTATIN ANALOGUE THERAPY IN THE ELECT PHASE 3 STUDY.Endocrine practice : official journal of the American College of Endocrinology and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, 2018 · PMID 29547049
  23. Biochemical efficacy of long-acting lanreotide depot/Autogel in patients with acromegaly naïve to somatostatin-receptor ligands: analysis of three multicenter clinical trialsPituitary, 2018 · PMID 29357081
  24. Pasireotide - Mechanism of Action and Clinical ApplicationsFront Endocrinol (Lausanne), 2017 · PMID 29595102
  25. Octreotide - A Review of its Use in Treating Neuroendocrine TumoursEur Oncol Haematol, 2016 · PMID 29872467
  26. Pasireotide in Acromegaly: A Review.Drugs, 2015 · PMID 26017304
  27. Safety and efficacy of oral octreotide in acromegaly: results of a multicenter phase III trialJ Clin Endocrinol Metab, 2015 · PMID 25664604
  28. Pasireotide versus continued treatment with octreotide or lanreotide in patients with inadequately controlled acromegaly (PAOLA): a randomised, phase 3 trial.The lancet. Diabetes & endocrinology, 2014 · PMID 25260838
  29. Lanreotide autogel(®): a review of its use in the treatment of patients with acromegaly.Drugs, 2014 · PMID 25193626
  30. Acromegaly clinical trial methodology impact on reported biochemical efficacy rates of somatostatin receptor ligand treatments: a meta-analysisJ Clin Endocrinol Metab, 2014 · PMID 24606084
  31. Tumor shrinkage with lanreotide Autogel 120 mg as primary therapy in acromegaly: results of a prospective multicenter clinical trialJ Clin Endocrinol Metab, 2014 · PMID 24423301
  32. Lanreotide in metastatic enteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumorsN Engl J Med, 2014 · PMID 25014687
  33. Octreotide for primary moderate to severe acute pancreatitis: a meta-analysis.Hepato-gastroenterology, 2013 · PMID 24298575
  34. Lipodystrophy during pegvisomant therapy: a case report and review of the literature.Clinics (Sao Paulo, Brazil), 2010 · PMID 21049223
  35. Medical treatment of Cushing's disease: somatostatin analogues and pasireotideNeuroendocrinology, 2010 · PMID 20829632
  36. Rapid and sustained reduction of serum growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1 in patients with acromegaly receiving lanreotide Autogel therapy: a randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter study with a 52 week open extensionPituitary, 2010 · PMID 19639415
  37. Treatment of pituitary-dependent Cushing's disease with the multireceptor ligand somatostatin analog pasireotide (SOM230): a multicenter, phase II trialJ Clin Endocrinol Metab, 2009 · PMID 18957506
  38. Placebo-controlled, double-blind, prospective, randomized study on the effect of octreotide LAR in the control of tumor growth in patients with metastatic neuroendocrine midgut tumors: a report from the PROMID Study GroupJ Clin Oncol, 2009 · PMID 19704057
  39. Efficacy of long-term lanreotide treatment in patients with acromegalyJ Clin Endocrinol Metab, 2009 · PMID 19266287
  40. Efficacy of the new long-acting formulation of lanreotide (lanreotide Autogel) in somatostatin analogue-naive patients with acromegalyJ Endocrinol Invest, 2009 · PMID 19542735
  41. Lanreotide Autogel: a review of its use in the management of acromegaly.Drugs, 2008 · PMID 18370450
  42. Pegvisomant--growth hormone receptor antagonist in the treatment of acromegalyNeuro Endocrinol Lett, 2007 · PMID 18058736
  43. Treatment of acromegaly with the GH receptor antagonist pegvisomant in clinical practice: safety and efficacy evaluation from the German Pegvisomant Observational StudyEur J Endocrinol, 2007 · PMID 17218728
  44. Pasireotide--a somatostatin analog for the potential treatment of acromegaly, neuroendocrine tumors and Cushing's diseaseIDrugs, 2007 · PMID 18041687
  45. Effectiveness and tolerability of 3-year lanreotide Autogel treatment in patients with acromegalyClin Endocrinol (Oxf), 2006 · PMID 16430722
  46. Intravenous octreotide test predicts the long term outcome of treatment with octreotide-long-acting repeatable in active acromegalyJ Clin Endocrinol Metab, 2005 · PMID 15935982
  47. Octreotide long-acting release (LAR): a review of its use in the management of acromegaly.Drugs, 2003 · PMID 14609359
  48. Pegvisomant: an advance in clinical efficacy in acromegalyEur J Endocrinol, 2003 · PMID 12670298
  49. Improvement of left ventricular hypertrophy and arrhythmias after lanreotide-induced GH and IGF-I decrease in acromegaly. A prospective multi-center studyJ Endocrinol Invest, 2002 · PMID 12553557
  50. Clinical use of a growth hormone receptor antagonist in the treatment of acromegalyTrends Endocrinol Metab, 2001 · PMID 11595543
  51. Successful treatment of resistant acromegaly with a growth hormone receptor antagonistEur J Endocrinol, 2001 · PMID 11581004
  52. Long-term treatment of acromegaly with pegvisomant, a growth hormone receptor antagonistLancet, 2001 · PMID 11734231
  53. GH/IGF-I normalization and tumor shrinkage during long-term treatment of acromegaly by lanreotideJ Endocrinol Invest, 2001 · PMID 11383906
  54. Treatment of acromegaly with the growth hormone-receptor antagonist pegvisomantN Engl J Med, 2000 · PMID 10770982
  55. Slow-release lanreotide in the treatment of acromegaly: a study in 66 patientsJ Clin Endocrinol Metab, 2000 · PMID 11078980
  56. Efficacy and safety of prolonged-release lanreotide in patients with gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors and hormone-related symptomsJ Clin Oncol, 1999 · PMID 10561168
  57. The antitumoral effect of the long-acting somatostatin analog lanreotide in neuroendocrine tumorsActa Oncol, 1999 · PMID 11095353
  58. Octreotide long-acting release (LAR). A review of its pharmacological properties and therapeutic use in the management of acromegaly.Drugs, 1997 · PMID 9098666
  59. Clinical efficacy of octreotide in the treatment of metastatic neuroendocrine tumors. A study by the Italian Trials in Medical Oncology GroupCancer, 1996 · PMID 8625251
  60. Octreotide. A review of its pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties, and therapeutic potential in conditions associated with excessive peptide secretion.Drugs, 1989 · PMID 2689136
  61. Debut of a somatostatin analog: octreotide in review.Connecticut medicine, 1989 · PMID 2558839
  62. Prevention and Treatment of Oral Mucositis in Pediatric Patients: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.In Vivo · PMID 38688628
  63. Clinical applicability of natural products for prevention and treatment of oral mucositis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Clin Oral Investig · PMID 33409696
  64. Role of honey in preventing radiation-induced oral mucositis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Food Funct · PMID 33900311
  65. Effectiveness of honey on radiation-induced oral mucositis, time to mucositis, weight loss, and treatment interruptions among patients with head and neck malignancies: A meta-analysis and systematic review of literature.Head Neck · PMID 27028991
  66. Effects of honey use on the management of radio/chemotherapy-induced mucositis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg · PMID 27600797
  67. Effects of 9 oral care solutions on the prevention of oral mucositis: a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Medicine · PMID 32311938
  68. Prophylactic and therapeutic effects of honey on radiochemotherapy-induced mucositis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Support Care Cancer · PMID 30919153
  69. Topical application of honey in the management of chemo/radiotherapy-induced oral mucositis: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.Int J Nurs Stud · PMID 30352321
  70. The effect of zinc sulfate in the prevention of high-dose chemotherapy-induced mucositis: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled studyHematol Oncol · PMID 21692101
  71. L-theanine relieves positive, activation, and anxiety symptoms in patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder: an 8-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 2-center studyJ Clin Psychiatry · PMID 21208586
  72. Spirulina platensis Provides a Small Advantage in Vertical Jump and Sprint Performance But Does Not Improve Elite Rugby Players' Body CompositionJ Diet Suppl · PMID 33118429
  73. Skill execution and sleep deprivation: effects of acute caffeine or creatine supplementation - a randomized placebo-controlled trialJ Int Soc Sports Nutr · PMID 21324203