Endocrine Drugs

Endocrine Drugs

1. Diabetes

   • Type 1: Absence of insulin in the pancreas. Treatment is insulin replacement therapy
   • Type 2: Insensitivity of cells to insulin signaling. Treatment-exercise and diet to promote weight loss, insulin therapy and medications
   • Gestational: insensitivity of cells to insulin signaling during pregnancy. Treatment- blood glucose monitoring, diet, exercise, weight gain limitations and sometimes certain delivery requirements
   • Insulin
     • Rapid acting: onset 30 minutes, peaks in 30 minutes - 3 hours, works for 3-5 hours
     • Short acting: onset 30-60 minutes, peaks in 2-4 hours, works for up to 12 hours
     • Intermediate acting: onset 1 1/2-4 hours, peaks in 4-12 hours, work up to 24 hours
     • Long acting: onset .8 to 4 hours, does not have a peak, works up to 24 hours
     • Injection types: insulin pump or syringe
     • Treatment of hypoglycemia: giving carbohydrates or drinks with glucose (grape juice, soda)
   • Oral hypoglycemic medications: used in type 2, action-stimulate the beta cells in the pancreas to produce more insulin, types-secretagogues, sensitizers, mimetics, adverse effects-liver disease, severe infection, excessive alcohol intake, shock and hypoxemia

2. Thyroid Disorders

   • Hypothyroidism-inadequate production of thyroid hormones
   • Hyperthyroidism-excessive production of the thyroid hormone
   • Treatments: thyroid hormone replacement, thyroid hormone suppression

3. Adrenal disorders

   • Adrenal insufficiency (Addison's disease): when the cortex does not produce enough adrenocortical hormones
   • Hypercortisolism (Cushing's Disease): presence of cortisol adenoma
   • Hyperaldosternism (Conn's Disease): adrenal glands produce excess aldosterone