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Drugs Used for Addison's Disease

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Submitted By marshalott
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Addison’s Disease is a condition in which your endocrine system is not sufficiently producing needed steroid hormones, including glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, and androgens (the male sex hormones) that are produced by the adrenal glands. Therefore, hormone replacement therapy is key.
Glucocorticoids influence the body’s ability to convert food sources into energy by the metabolism of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. In other words, they raise blood sugar (glucose). They also help with the system’s response to inflammation, and are responsible for helping the body’s response to stress by producing cortisol, the most abundant glucocorticoid.
Mineralocorticoids are hormones that help to regulate mineral metabolism by balancing water and electrolytes, such as sodium and potassium. This helps maintain blood pressure. For example, when mineralocorticoid production is low, the kidneys are not able to regulate salt and water balance which causes blood volume and blood pressure to drop. Aldosterone is the main mineralocorticoid because it increases sodium re-absorption by acting on the distal tubules of the kidneys.
Androgens are also important because with Addison’s Disease there is an excess of androgens (hypersecretion). This can cause symptoms like excessive body hair and cessation of menstruation in girls, and early puberty in boys.
Common medications prescribed for Addison’s Disease include the oral corticosteroids fludrocortisone to replace aldosterone (like Florinef and Florinef Acetate) and hydrocortisone, prednisone, or cortisone acetate to replace cortisol (like Cortef, Hydrocortone, Dexamethasone Intesol, Dexasone, and the Zema Pak) to name a few.
As with any medications, there are possible side effects of these drugs. Physical side effects can be immunosuppression, causing your immune system to be less functional; gastrointestinal upsets like ulcers and gastritis; cholesterol and triglycerides can increase; hyperglycemia; diabetes; cardiovascular problems/hypertension; cataracts and retinopathy in the eyes; steroid-induced osteoporosis; and delayed wound healing.
Psychological side effects can be mood changes; memory problems; steroid-induced psychosis; anxiety; depression; insomnia; and an inappropriate feeling of well-being (“steroid euphoria”).

Marsha Lott
Medical Terminology 1
Group Project, due 3-21-15

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