Anterior pituitary drugs
The protein hormones produced in the anterior
pituitary gland regulate growth, development, and sexual characteristics by
stim-ulating the actions of other endocrine glands. Anterior pituitarydrugs include:
§ adrenocorticotropics, which include
corticotropin, corticotro-pin repository, corticotropin zinc hydroxide, and
cosyntropin
§ somatrem and somatropin, growth hormones
§ gonadotropics, which include chorionic
gonadotropin and menotropins
§ thyrotropics, which include
thyroid-stimulating hormone, thy-rotropin, and protirelin.
Anterior pituitary drugs aren’t given orally
because they’re de-stroyed in the GI tract. Some of these hormones can be
adminis-tered topically, but most require injection.
Usually, natural hormones are absorbed,
distributed, and metab-olized rapidly. Some analogues, however, are absorbed
and me-tabolized more slowly. Anterior pituitary hormone drugs are metabolized
at the receptor site and in the liver and kidneys. The hormones are excreted
primarily in urine.
Anterior pituitary drugs exert a profound effect on
the body’s growth and development. The hypothalamus controls secretions of the
pituitary gland. In turn, the pituitary gland secretes hor-mones that regulate
secretions or functions of other glands.
The concentration of hormones in the blood helps
determine hor-mone production rate. Increased hormone levels inhibit hormone production;
decreased levels raise production and secretion.
Anterior pituitary hormone drugs are used for
diagnostic and ther-apeutic purposes:
·
Corticotropin and cosyntropin are used diagnostically to differ-entiate
between primary and secondary failure of the adrenal cortex.
·
Corticotropin is also used to treat adrenal insufficiency.
·
Somatrem is used to treat growth hormone deficiency.
Anterior pituitary drugs interact with
several types of drugs:
§ Administering immunizations to a person
receiving cortico-tropin increases the risk of neurologic complications and may
re-duce the antibody response.
§ Corticotropin reduces salicylate levels.
§ Enhanced potassium loss may occur when
diuretics are taken with corticotropins.
§ Barbiturates, phenytoin, and rifampin
increase the metabolism of corticotropin, reducing its effects.
·
Estrogen increases the effect of corticotropin.
·
Taking estrogens, amphetamines, and lithium with cosyntropin can alter
results of adrenal function tests.
·
Concurrent use of amphetamines and androgens with somatrem may promote
epiphyseal closure (closure of the cartilaginous bone growth plate).
·
Concurrent use of somatrem and corticosteroids inhibits the
growth-promoting action of somatrem. (See Adverse
reactions toanterior pituitary drugs.)
Related Topics
Privacy Policy, Terms and Conditions, DMCA Policy and Compliant
Copyright © 2018-2024 BrainKart.com; All Rights Reserved. Developed by Therithal info, Chennai.