Hormonal drugs for men

Only rarely does a man have to take hormonal medication containing sex hormones. However, it is possible that a patient may produce too few male sex hormones (testosterone), for example due to castration. In this case a patient may be given hormonal medication containing the hormone testosterone.

Among other things, this can also increase sexual desire (libido), which is why these drugs are sometimes abused. In addition to testosterone, steroids, i.e. hormonal drugs that ensure that muscles are built up more quickly, but also have strong side effects, are sometimes abused, especially by athletes. Therefore, hormonal drugs for men, if they include sex hormones, should always be discussed in detail with the doctor to avoid unwanted side effects.

Hormonal drugs for glandular disorders

There are various hormonal drugs that can be used for different thyroid dysfunctions (thyrioidal dysfunction). On the one hand, there are hormonal drugs such as thyroxine, which is used to treat hypothyroidism. Hormonal medications are also used in the course of the autoimmune disease Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, whereby here too, the so-called L-thyroxine is used.

Thus, in some functional disorders of the thyroid gland, but especially in an underfunction of the thyroid gland (hypothyroidism), the hormonal drug L-thyroxine can be administered, which helps the body to stimulate the metabolism again and thus creates a healthy balance. Hormonal drugs are particularly frequently used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. In diabetes mellitus, the pancreas is no longer able to secrete enough insulin.

This insulin normally ensures that the body always has enough energy in the form of glucose. If the insulin is missing, the organs can no longer work adequately because they lack the energy in the form of glucose. In the worst case, this can lead to a so-called diabetic coma.To avoid this, there are hormonal drugs that replace insulin.

This involves administering the hormone insulin to the patient with a small syringe in the abdomen. Insulin is a very commonly used hormonal drug, which is mainly used in patients with diabetes mellitus type 1, the form of diabetes that usually manifests itself in childhood. In addition to insulin, there are various hormonal drugs, such as glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP1), which is used in diabetes mellitus type 2.

Here, there is still a residual function of the pancreas, which is why it is sufficient to stimulate it to secrete more insulin. In the final stage of diabetes mellitus type 2, however, the hormonal drug insulin must often be used. There are various reasons why the pituitary gland no longer produces hormones.

For example, a bleeding in the brain can cause the pituitary gland to become constricted and then cease to function. This can occur during childbirth, among other things, as this leads to increased pressure in the area of the brain. Although a failure of the pituitary gland is rare, it does occur repeatedly.

Patients who are affected have to take many hormonal drugs to compensate for the loss of the hormone-producing pituitary gland. All in all, all hormones have to be added to the patient via hormonal medication, which the body can no longer produce itself due to the loss of the pituitary gland. These include the thyroid hormone thyroxine, hydrocortisone, in one patient the female sex hormones estradiol and progesterone derivatives and in one patient the male sex hormone testosterone. In addition, the hormone “growth hormone” or GH for short must be given (substituted). All these hormonal drugs are necessary for the patient to lead a normal life.