Short answer: Neither the Genotropin nor the Norditropin label gives missed-dose instructions. Both describe a weekly dose divided into 6 or 7 daily injections under the skin, and somatropin has a half-life of only a few hours. Do not double the next injection without asking. Check with your prescriber or the treatment center's nurse line for a plan.
| Situation | What the label says |
|---|---|
| Label schedule | Weekly dose divided into 6 or 7 subcutaneous injections (Genotropin 2; Norditropin 2.2) |
| Missed-dose rule | None in either label |
| Half-life after SC injection | About 3 hours (Genotropin 12.3); about 2 hours (Norditropin 12.3) |
| Site rotation | Rotate sites daily to help prevent lipoatrophy (Genotropin 2.3) |
No. We searched both full prescribing information documents, including the patient information and instructions for use, on DailyMed. Neither contains a missed-dose instruction.
Both labels set dosing by the week: Genotropin says the weekly dose should be divided into 6 or 7 subcutaneous injections (section 2), and Norditropin says to divide the weekly dose into equal doses given 6 or 7 days per week for children (section 2.2) and gives a daily dose for adults (section 2.3).
Somatropin is short-acting: the Genotropin label gives a half-life of about 3 hours after a subcutaneous injection in adults with growth hormone deficiency, and the Norditropin label about 2 hours in healthy adults. Each injection acts on its own day; a missed injection is not "carried" into the next one.
Because the labels are written around a weekly total split over 6 or 7 days, some schedules already include a day off. Your prescriber can tell you whether a missed day should simply be skipped.
The labels do not describe catch-up doses. The Genotropin label lists fluid retention as a common side effect that may need a lower dose (section 5.7), one reason not to stack doses. Ask before changing the amount.
Yes. Once in use, cartridges and pens have their own storage time limits in each label's instructions for use, and skipped days do not extend them. Check the dates on your pen when a few doses have been missed.
This page summarizes FDA labeling. It is not personalized medical advice; confirm what to do with your prescriber or pharmacist.