Glossary of key terms
acromegaly:
thickening of bony surfaces in response to excess growth hormone after the epiphyseal plates have closed
diabetes insipidus:
condition resulting from a lack of antidiuretic hormone, which results in the production of copious amounts
of glucose-free urine
dwarfism:
small stature, resulting from lack of growth hormone in children
gigantism:
response to excess levels of growth hormone before the epiphyseal plates close; heights of over 2 metres are not
uncommon
hypopituitarism:
lack of adequate function of the pituitary; reflected in many endocrine disorders
Test your current knowledge of hypothalamic and pituitary agents with a PrepU Practice Quiz!
Learning objectives
Upon completion of this chapter, you should be able to:
1.
Describe the anatomical and physiological relationship between the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland
and list the hormones produced by each.
2.
Describe the therapeutic actions, indications, pharmacokinetics, contraindications, most common adverse
reactions and important drug–drug interactions associated with the hypothalamic and pituitary agents.
3.
Discuss the use of hypothalamic and pituitary agents across the lifespan.
4.
Compare and contrast the prototype drugs leuprorelin, somatropin, bromocriptine mesylate and
desmopressin with other hypothalamic and pituitary agents.
5.
Outline the care considerations, including important teaching points, for people receiving a hypothalamic or
pituitary agent.
Hypothalamic and
pituitary agents
35
DRUGS AFFECTING
HYPOTHALAMIC HORMONES
Agonists
corticotropin-releasing
hormone
goserelin
Antagonists
cetrorelix
ganirelix
leuprorelin
nafarelin
DRUGS AFFECTING ANTERIOR
PITUITARY HORMONES
Growth hormone agonists
somatropin
somatropin rDNA origin
Growth hormone antagonists
bromocriptine mesylate
lanreotide
octreotide acetate
pegvisomant
Drugs affecting other anterior
pituitary hormones
cabergoline
choriogonadotropin alfa
chorionic gonadotropin
quinagolide
thyrotropin alfa
DRUGS AFFECTING POSTERIOR
PITUITARY HORMONES
desmopressin
vasopressin
