effects of drugs on endocrine system

what are the two main endocrine disorders that can excess alcohol cause?

- pseudo-cushing's syndrome

- hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical unresponsiveness

what is pseudo-cushing's syndrome?

ACTH-dependent hypercorticolism

how is alcohol believed to cause pseudo-cushing's? (2)

- stress of alcohol causes increased cortisol production

- alcohol-induced liver damage impairs clearance of alcohol

how does excess alcohol consumption affect blood glucose? (3)

- initially can cause a rise in blood sugar

- stimulates pancreas to release excess insulin

- can lead to hypoglycaemia

how does excess alcohol consumption affect testes?

impairs testosterone secretion

how does excess alcohol consumption affect the posterior pituitary gland?

reduces ADH secretion

what are two axis opioids affect?

- hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal

- hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal

what does the impairment of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis cause?

- hypogonadism

- decreased levels of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)

what can hypogonadism and decreased DHEA cause? (5)

- amenorrhoea in women

- reduced libido

- erectile dysfunction

- infertility

- depression and fatigue

what is the main endocrine disorder that corticosteroids can cause?

ACTH independent cushing's syndrome