endocrine

Desmopressin (DDAVP, antidiuretic hormone) is a synthetic analog of vasopressin that can be administered IV, IM, subQ, and orally. Compared to vasopressin (generally regarded as a potent vasoconstrictor), DDAVP has less efficacy as a...

Sandostatin (octreotide) is a subcutaneous, intramuscular, or intravenous analog to somatostatin - a protein hormone secreted throughout the GI tract - which acts via G-protein coupled receptors to inhibit a myriad of other hormones....

50% dextrose solution (D50W) typically comes as a 50 cc pre-filled syringe containing 25 grams of dextrose. As a cardiac anesthesiologist and intensivist, I most commonly administer D50W to treat profound hypoglycemia or in...

Hydrocortisone (Solu-Cortef) is a pharmacologic analog of the steroid hormone cortisol (identical structure) that serves as a reference to gauge the relative mineralcorticoid and glucocorticoid potencies of other steroids. This is similar to how...

Glucagon (GlucaGen) is a secretin-type peptide hormone made in the pancreas responsible for catabolism primarily to produce glucose via glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis; in this sense, it's an "anti-insulin" used in the treatment of profound...

Stress dose steroids are used in numerous scenarios including adrenal insufficiency, critical care, and the perioperative period. What's important to understand is that the peak physiologic production of steroid (cortisol) is roughly the equivalent of...