Listing of Pharmaceutical Benefits (NHL) - Schedule 4 part 1

Acromegaly

The condition must be active; AND

Patient must have persistent elevation of mean growth hormone levels of greater than 2.5 micrograms per litre; AND

The treatment must be after failure of other therapy including dopamine agonists; or

The treatment must be as interim treatment while awaiting the effects of radiotherapy and where treatment with dopamine agonists has failed; or

The treatment must be in a patient who is unfit for or unwilling to undergo surgery and where radiotherapy is contraindicated; AND

The treatment must cease in a patient treated with radiotherapy if there is biochemical evidence of remission (normal IGF1) after octreotide has been withdrawn for at least 4 weeks; AND

The treatment must cease if IGF1 is not lower after 3 months of treatment at a dose of 100 micrograms 3 time daily; AND

The treatment must not be given concomitantly with PBS-subsidised lanreotide or pegvisomant for this condition.

In a patient treated with radiotherapy, octreotide should be withdrawn every 2 years in the 10 years after radiotherapy for assessment of remission

Listing of Pharmaceutical Benefits (NHL) - Schedule 4 part 1

Functional carcinoid tumour

The condition must be causing intractable symptoms; AND

Patient must have experienced on average over 1 week, 3 or more episodes per day of diarrhoea and/or flushing, which persisted despite the use of anti-histamines, anti-serotonin agents and anti-diarrhoea agents; AND

Patient must be one in whom surgery or antineoplastic therapy has failed or is inappropriate; AND

The treatment must cease if there is failure to produce a clinically significant reduction in the frequency and severity of symptoms after 2 months' therapy.

Dosage and tolerance to the drug should be assessed regularly and the dosage should be titrated slowly downwards to determine the minimum effective dose.

Listing of Pharmaceutical Benefits (NHL) - Schedule 4 part 1

Vasoactive intestinal peptide secreting tumour (VIPoma)

The condition must be causing intractable symptoms; AND

Patient must have experienced on average over 1 week, 3 or more episodes per day of diarrhoea and/or flushing, which persisted despite the use of anti-histamines, anti-serotonin agents and anti-diarrhoea agents; AND

Patient must be one in whom surgery or antineoplastic therapy has failed or is inappropriate; AND

The treatment must cease if there is failure to produce a clinically significant reduction in the frequency and severity of symptoms after 2 months' therapy.

Dosage and tolerance to the drug should be assessed regularly and the dosage should be titrated slowly downwards to determine the minimum effective dose.