MT Training > pharmacology

Endocrine Drugs

These drugs act in much the same manner as the naturally occurring (endogenous) hormones. Androgens are male hormones that are used for male hormone replacement or to treat endometriosis and breast cancer in women. An androgen antagonist is flutamide, which is used to treat prostate cancer. Estrogens are female hormones that are used for symptoms associated with menopause (estrogen replacement therapy) and to prevent postmenopausal osteoporosis. They are also used as chemotherapy for some types of cancer (for example, prostate cancer). An important antiestrogen drug is tamoxifen (Nolvadex), which is used to prevent recurrence of breast cancer and also to treat metastatic breast cancer. Progestins are prescribed for abnormal uterine bleeding due to hormonal imbalance and, together with estrogen, in hormone replacement therapy and oral contraceptives. Levonorgestrel (Norplant) is a contraceptive drug embedded under the skin.

Thyroid hormone is administered when there is a low output of hormone from the thyroid gland. Glucocorticoids (adrenal corticosteroids) are prescribed for reduction of inflammation and a wide range of other disorders including arthritis. Severe skin and allergic conditions, respiratory and blood disorders, gastrointestinal ailments, and malignant conditions.

Table 4-6.Endocrine Drugs

Gastrointestinal Drugs

These drugs are often used to relieve uncomfortable potentially dangerous symptom, rather than as cures for specific diseases.

¨ Antacids neutralize the hydrochloric acid in the stomach to relieve symptoms of peptic ulcer, esophagitis, and epigastric discomfort.

¨      Antiulcer drugs block secretion of acid by cells in the lining of the stomach and are prescribed for patients with gastric and duodenal ulcers.

¨      Antidiarrheal drugs relieve diarrhea and decrease the rapid movement of the walls of the colon.

¨      Cathartics relieve constipation and promote defection for diagnostic and operative procedures and are used in the treatment of the disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. Some cathartics increase the intestinal salt content to cause fluid to fill the intestines; others increase the bulk of the feces to promote peristalsis (movement of the intestinal wall). Another type of cathartic lubricates the intestinal tract to produce soft stools.

¨      Laxatives are mild cathartics, and purgatives are strong cathartics.

¨      Antinauseants (antiemetics) relieve nausea and vomiting and overcome vertigo, dizziness, motion sickness, and labyrinthitis (inflammation of the inner ear) as well.

Table 4-7 lists the various types of gastrointestinal drugs and examples of each.

Respiratory Drugs

These drugs are prescribed for the treatment of emphysema, asthma and respiratory infections such as pneumonia and bronchitis. Bronchodilators are used to open the air passages (bronchial tubes) and can be administered to injection or aerosol (inhalers). Table 4-8 lists common bronchodilators and a steroid drug that is used as an inhale or intranasal product to reduce inflammation in nasal passages.

Sedatives

Sedatives are drugs that relax and calm nervousness. They work by depressing the central nervous system (brain causing reduced mental activity and weakness. Hypnotics are sedative drugs that produce sleep. A patient cat develop tolerance to barbiturates, making the drugs habit forming. Table 4-8 lists sedatives-hypnotics and barbiturates.

Stimulants

These drugs act on the brain and are used to speed up vital processes (heart and respiration) in cases of shock and collapse. They also increase alertness and inhibit hyperactive behavior in children. High doses can produce restlessness, insomnia, and hypertension. Examples of stimulants are amphetamines-used to prevent narcolepsy (seizures of sleep), to suppress appetite, and to calm hyperkinetic children. Caffeine is also a cerebral stimulant. It is used in drugs to relieve certain type of headache by constricting cerebral blood vessels. Table 4-9 lists examples of stimulants.

Table 4-8 Respiratory Drugs & sedatives

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