Endocrine drugs: corticosteroids, sex hormones, contraceptives
Pharmacology · MBBS
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Study notes
A rheumatoid patient on 2 years of prednisolone needs surgery — stress-dose steroids are given. Chronic steroids suppress the adrenal axis — the glands forget to make cortisol; surgery's stress without coverage triggers adrenal crisis (hypotension, shock). Stress-dose hydrocortisone covers the gap; tapering (not abrupt stopping) lets the axis wake. Every long-term steroid user needs a steroid card, calcium/vitamin D + bone protection, sugar monitoring, and infection vigilance — the drug that calms inflammation borrows from every system.
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