VPT 311: General and Systemic Veterinary Pharmacology (2+1)

ADMINISTRATION OF HORMONES

• Administration of hormones falls into two categories:
  • Replacement therapy and
  • Additive therapy
• Replacement therapy is the administration of the hormones at physiological levels. For example insulin, thyroxine, vasopressin, gonadotrophins and ACTH are administered at physiological levels.
• Additive therapy is the administration of the hormones at pharmacological levels (not usually related to natural metabolic functions). Administration at pharmacological levels may produce side effects or untoward effects. For example androgens and glucocorticoids are administered at pharmacological levels.
• Augmentation is the process of increasing duration of action of a hormone by combining the protein hormones with copper, zinc or iron of heme.