McKenna's Pharmacology for Nursing, 2e

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Hypothalamic and pituitary agents

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.

Test your current knowledge of hypothalamic and pituitary agents with a PrepU Practice Quiz!

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

DRUGS AFFECTING HYPOTHALAMIC HORMONES Agonists corticotropin-releasing hormone goserelin

DRUGS AFFECTING ANTERIOR PITUITARY HORMONES Growth hormone agonists somatropin somatropin rDNA origin Growth hormone antagonists bromocriptine mesylate lanreotide octreotide acetate pegvisomant

DRUGS AFFECTING POSTERIOR PITUITARY HORMONES desmopressin vasopressin

Drugs affecting other anterior pituitary hormones cabergoline choriogonadotropin alfa chorionic gonadotropin quinagolide thyrotropin alfa

Antagonists cetrorelix ganirelix leuprorelin nafarelin