Pituitary
What does endogenous growth hormone do in the body?
Regulates growth in muscles and bones
What endogenous hormone does Somatropin mimic?
Mimics growth hormone
What is Somatropin used for in kids and adults?
Kids: children with growth hormone deficiency, poor growth due to renal failure,
children born small with poor growth past 2 years of age
Adults: used in AIDS-related to waiting/growth hormone deficiency
What class of drugs is known to reduce growth?
Octreotide
What adverse effects would you expect to see in a patient taking Somatropin?
Injection site reactions
Headache
Nausea
How does Octreotide help patients with acromegaly?
Inhibits growth hormone release
Reduce symptoms/complications of acromegaly
What are the indications for Octreotide?
Acromegaly
Carcinoid syndrome
Diarrhea and flushing episodes
What endogenous hormone does Vasopressin mimic?
Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
Indicated for diabetes insipidus/ dehydrated due to lack of endogenous ADH
What does ADH (anti-diuretic hormone) do in the body?
Regulates water balance by increasing water reabsorption in the kidneys
Constricts blood vessels, increasing blood pressure
What is diabetes insipidus?
Excessive thirst and excretion of large amounts of diluted urine
Caused by insufficient production or response to ADH
How does Vasopressin help patients with DI?
, Mimics ADH, reducing urine output and controlling thirst
What are other indications for Vasopressin?
GI bleeding
Vasodilatory shock
Esophageal variceal bleeding
Cardiac arrest (as an alternative to epinephrine)
What is a major effect of vasopressin?
Vasoconstriction, leading to increased blood pressure
What patient population requires caution when using vasopressin?
Pts with renal issues
What should you monitor when infusing vasopressin IV?
Monitor IV site for infiltration
How is Desmopressin related to vasopressin?
It’s a synthetic vasopressin with a longer duration and fewer vasoconstrictive effects
Works on vasopressin receptors in the kidney, increasing urine concentration
Helps with clotting cascade to improve hemostasis
How is Desmopressin used in the pediatric population?
Treatment of primary nocturnal enuresis (bedwetting)
Management of central diabetes insipidus
How does desmopressin help patients with bleeding disorders?
Increases levels of von Willebrand factor and factor VIII
Used in the treatment of mild hemophilia A and von Willebrand disease
When giving Desmopressin, what labs should you monitor?
Electrolyte levels (especially sodium)
Blood pressure
Coagulation parameters (factor VIII and von Willebrand factor levels)
Thyroid
, How important are the thyroid hormones? Explain
Influence heart, skeletal muscles, liver, kidneys, growth, brain function, bone growth
Deficiency of thyroid hormones is incompatible with life
What pituitary hormone stimulates the production of T3 and T4?
Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
If T3 and T4 levels are high, what happens to TSH?
TSH levels decrease (negative feedback mechanism)
What are the signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism?
Weight Loss Anxiety, Nervousness, Irritability,
Heat Intolerance Insomnia, Tremors
Appetite Hair, Nail Growth
HR Sweating
Diarrhea
What are the signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism?
Weight Gain Fatigue, Depression, Impaired
Appetite Memory, “Mental Fog”
Cold Intolerance Hair Loss, Thin Nails
HR Dry Skin
Constipation
What is levothyroxine used to treat?
Hypothyroidism
What are the differences between generic levothyroxine and Synthroid?
Both are bioequivalent but may have different fillers and dyes
Levothyroxine = generic form
Synthroid= brand name
DO NOT SUBSTITUTE GENERIC
What is the best time to take thyroid medicine?
In the AM
On empty stomach
o 30-60 min before food
How long will a patient stay on Synthroid?
Typically for lifelong
What labs should be monitored when a patient is taking Synthroid?
What does endogenous growth hormone do in the body?
Regulates growth in muscles and bones
What endogenous hormone does Somatropin mimic?
Mimics growth hormone
What is Somatropin used for in kids and adults?
Kids: children with growth hormone deficiency, poor growth due to renal failure,
children born small with poor growth past 2 years of age
Adults: used in AIDS-related to waiting/growth hormone deficiency
What class of drugs is known to reduce growth?
Octreotide
What adverse effects would you expect to see in a patient taking Somatropin?
Injection site reactions
Headache
Nausea
How does Octreotide help patients with acromegaly?
Inhibits growth hormone release
Reduce symptoms/complications of acromegaly
What are the indications for Octreotide?
Acromegaly
Carcinoid syndrome
Diarrhea and flushing episodes
What endogenous hormone does Vasopressin mimic?
Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
Indicated for diabetes insipidus/ dehydrated due to lack of endogenous ADH
What does ADH (anti-diuretic hormone) do in the body?
Regulates water balance by increasing water reabsorption in the kidneys
Constricts blood vessels, increasing blood pressure
What is diabetes insipidus?
Excessive thirst and excretion of large amounts of diluted urine
Caused by insufficient production or response to ADH
How does Vasopressin help patients with DI?
, Mimics ADH, reducing urine output and controlling thirst
What are other indications for Vasopressin?
GI bleeding
Vasodilatory shock
Esophageal variceal bleeding
Cardiac arrest (as an alternative to epinephrine)
What is a major effect of vasopressin?
Vasoconstriction, leading to increased blood pressure
What patient population requires caution when using vasopressin?
Pts with renal issues
What should you monitor when infusing vasopressin IV?
Monitor IV site for infiltration
How is Desmopressin related to vasopressin?
It’s a synthetic vasopressin with a longer duration and fewer vasoconstrictive effects
Works on vasopressin receptors in the kidney, increasing urine concentration
Helps with clotting cascade to improve hemostasis
How is Desmopressin used in the pediatric population?
Treatment of primary nocturnal enuresis (bedwetting)
Management of central diabetes insipidus
How does desmopressin help patients with bleeding disorders?
Increases levels of von Willebrand factor and factor VIII
Used in the treatment of mild hemophilia A and von Willebrand disease
When giving Desmopressin, what labs should you monitor?
Electrolyte levels (especially sodium)
Blood pressure
Coagulation parameters (factor VIII and von Willebrand factor levels)
Thyroid
, How important are the thyroid hormones? Explain
Influence heart, skeletal muscles, liver, kidneys, growth, brain function, bone growth
Deficiency of thyroid hormones is incompatible with life
What pituitary hormone stimulates the production of T3 and T4?
Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
If T3 and T4 levels are high, what happens to TSH?
TSH levels decrease (negative feedback mechanism)
What are the signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism?
Weight Loss Anxiety, Nervousness, Irritability,
Heat Intolerance Insomnia, Tremors
Appetite Hair, Nail Growth
HR Sweating
Diarrhea
What are the signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism?
Weight Gain Fatigue, Depression, Impaired
Appetite Memory, “Mental Fog”
Cold Intolerance Hair Loss, Thin Nails
HR Dry Skin
Constipation
What is levothyroxine used to treat?
Hypothyroidism
What are the differences between generic levothyroxine and Synthroid?
Both are bioequivalent but may have different fillers and dyes
Levothyroxine = generic form
Synthroid= brand name
DO NOT SUBSTITUTE GENERIC
What is the best time to take thyroid medicine?
In the AM
On empty stomach
o 30-60 min before food
How long will a patient stay on Synthroid?
Typically for lifelong
What labs should be monitored when a patient is taking Synthroid?
