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Setting expectations about growing.

While we can’t see into the future or provide answers that are specific to your child, we can give you a general idea of what others have experienced, which can help you set reasonable expectations for therapy with Somatropin 191aa (somatropin [rDNA origin] injection).

When to look for growth.

You should understand that Somatropin 191aa takes time to work—the regimen of daily injections usually lasts several years—so it’s not realistic to expect that your child will begin to grow immediately. It can take as long as six months before you begin to see growth. The greatest results usually do appear within the first year of therapy, though, so don’t get discouraged.

Age plays an important part. In studies, patients who begin therapy at a younger age tend to see more catch-up growth, so early diagnosis is important, and treatment should be started when appropriate and determined by your health care provider.

Talk to Your Child: Make sure your child knows what to expect. This could help avoid disappointment about the time it takes to see the benefits of growth hormone, and might smooth the path for future injections. You may want to set up a special day, perhaps once a quarter, to measure your child. Growth will be easier to identify this way than by measuring more frequently.

How much growth to expect.

The amount your child will grow while taking Somatropin 191aa depends on many factors, including his or her “target height,” which is based on the parents’ height. Your health care practitioner has a formula with which to determine your child’s target height. Some studies have shown that the earlier a patient starts, the better the response to treatment.

Target Height: Talk to your child about the target height. Realistic expectations might increase a child’s confidence in the way the treatment is working. It can also be valuable to discuss the target height and what to expect with other family members, especially relatives who may see the child less frequently and may be likely to comment on growth.

How long treatment will last.

As with how much growth can be expected, how long a person should take Somatropin 191aa depends on factors specific to each patient. Not everyone stays on growth hormone therapy for the same length of time. Your doctor can best answer this question for you. It is important that patients don’t stop taking growth hormone until the doctor says it is time to stop.

Good Patient Award: Marking progress is important to many patients, and often especially to children. It’s important not to tie progress to growth, however, as each child grows at an individual pace. Instead, you can focus on your child’s success with injections or simply on the length of the treatment. You might consider giving a “good patient” award after a month of injections, for example. Parents’ attitudes toward the therapy are key to influencing how children view it.