Endocrine Drugs - Student PDF

Week 7: Endocrine System Drugs Pharmacology NURS 2010  Learning Goals for the Week The successful student will: Describe the basic anatomy and physiology of the pituitary gland, thyroid gland, adrenal gland, and pancreas Identify the differences in diseased resulti...

Week 7: Endocrine System Drugs Pharmacology NURS 2010  Learning Goals for the Week The successful student will: Describe the basic anatomy and physiology of the pituitary gland, thyroid gland, adrenal gland, and pancreas Identify the differences in diseased resulting in hyper or hyposecretion of these glands Discuss the drug classes of medications commonly used to treat hypersecretion and hyposecretion of these glands including the mechanism of action, indications, effects, adverse effects, and contraindications Identify most commonly prescribed drugs for relevant classes including dosage and route considerations Develop a collaborative plan of care, including all phases of the nursing process, for patients undergoing pharmacological treatment of the most common dysfunctions of the endocrine system Endocrine System Focus of this week: Pancreas (diabetes) Pituitary gland Thyroid gland Adrenal gland  Endocrine System Purpose: Maintenance of physiological stability, despite changes in the internal and external environments Every cell and organ is influenced by the endocrine system Communicates using a chemical “language”  hormones Hormones are secreted into the bloodstream by organs in the endocrine system, which cause specific physiological effects in their target tissues Diabe tes Drugs  Overview: Diabetes (aka Diabetes Mellitus / DM) Pancreas: 2 functions 1) Exocrine gland that secretes digestive enzymes through the pancreatic duct 2) Endocrine gland that secretes hormones directly into the bloodstream 2 main hormones produced by the pancreas: Insulin & glucagon Both hormones help regulate/balance storage of glucose There is a normal amount of glucose that circulates in the blood (serum glucose) to meet the body’s requirements for quick & easy energy (4 – 6 mmol/L) Excess glucose  stored as glycogen in the liver until needed Excess glucose  stored as triglyceride body fat in adipose tissue When more circulating glucose is required  glucagon is released  stimulating breakdown of (mainly) glycogen via glycogenolysis  Overview: Diabetes Insulin stimulates carbohydrate (glucose) metabolism for energy by facilitating the transport of blood circulating glucose into cells (thereby ↓serum glucose) insulin puts glucose into cells When the body has sufficient energy (glucose), insulin helps facilitate the conversion of glucose  glycogen in the liver for storage Without insulin, blood glucose levels climb as excess glucose cannot be stored Diabetics are unable to maintain a normal glucose homeostasis (serum glucose between 4-6 mmol/L) without consideration of diet and/or administration of medications Serum glucose < 4 = hypoglycemia Serum glucose > 7 = hyperglycemia  Overview: Diabetes A1C (Hgb A1C) = indicator of glycemic control in a patient over a 2-3 month average (the average lifespan of a red blood cell) Not affected by recent fluctuations in serum  Overview: Diabetes Often regarded as a syndrome (group of diseases) rather than a single disease Diabetes can be caused by a lack of insulin secretion from beta-cells in the pancreas Diabetes can be caused by defects in insulin receptors on cells that result in insulin resistance (do not respond normally to insulin) and do not facilitate intake of glucose into cells Two major types of diabetes: Type 1 Type 2 Less common form of diabetes: Gestational  Overview: Diabetes Common signs & symptoms of diabetics Hyperglycemia (Serum blood sugar >7 mmol/L) 3 P’s Polyuria Polydipsia Polyphagia Glucosuria Weight loss Fatigue Hypoglycemia (Serum blood sugar