Pituitary Drugs
Drugs that affect anterior pituitary hormones mimic or antagonize the effects of specific pituitary hormones.
Hypothalamic Agents
Hypothalamic agents can inhibit or stimulate the release of hormones from the anterior pituitary using hormones or factors. However, not all of these hormones are available for pharmacological use.
Adrenocortical Agents
Adrenocortical agents are drugs used as short-term treatment to suppress immune system in patients with inflammatory disorders. They are also used for replacement therapy to maintain hormone levels when adrenal glands are not functioning adequately.
Parathyroid Agents: Bisphosphonates, Calcitonins
Parathyroid agents are drugs used to treat disorders that affect serum calcium levels. This can be either antihypocalcemic agent or antihypercalcemic agent (further classified into bisphosphonates and calcitonins).
Thyroid Agents
The thyroid gland uses iodine to produce thyroid hormones that regulate body metabolism. Thyroid agents either replace or remove hormones to prevent deficiency and excess. Thyroid agents include thyroid hormones (T3, T4, TSH)and antithyroid drugs (further classified as thioamides and iodine solution).
Insulin
Insulin is the hormone produced by the pancreatic beta cells of the islets of Langerhans.
Glucose-Elevating Agents
Glucose-elevating agents raise blood level of glucose when severe hypoglycemia occurs at <40 mg/dL.
Sulfonylureas
Sulfonylureas is another group of agent used to control blood glucose level.
Antidiabetic Agents
Antidiabetic drugs are a group of drug structurally unrelated to sulfonylureas and are effective when used in combination with insulin or sulfonylureas.
Adrenergic Agonists (Sympathomimetics)
Adrenergic agonists are autonomic nervous system drugs that stimulate the adrenergic receptors of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), either directly (by reacting with receptor sites) or indirectly (by increasing norepinephrine levels). An adrenergic agonist is also called a sympathomimetic because it stimulates the effects of SNS.
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