Estrogens-Progestins Flashcards
Describe the therapeutic and adverse effects of Tamoxifen
Therapeutic:
- Decrease breast CA growth
- decrease bone osteoclasts/bone reabsorption (TR)
*neutral= urogenital fxn
Describe the therapeutic and adverse effects of Raloxifene
Therapeutic:
- Decrease breast CA growth
- ++ decrease bone osteoclasts/bone reabsorption (R>T)
- decrease lipids
- decrease LH-FSH
Adverse Rxns:
- endometrium CA growth
- no vasomotor fxn
- increase clotting factors (T>R)
*neutral= endometrium CA growth and urogenital fxn
What are the physiologic Effects of Estrogen ( and what ones have adverse or beneficial effects in pharmacotherapy)
- Breast growth — CA
- Endometrium growth– CA
- Increased clotting factors in liver
- LH-FSH release decrease
- Vasomotor fxn
- Decrease LDL, increase HDL
- Urogenital fxn
- Bone OC decrease
Examples of GnRH Agonists and GnRh antagonists
GnRH Agonists: Leuprolide [Lupron]
GnRH Antagonists: Degarelix [Firmagon]
What is the fxn of FSH
- Follicular development
- Gametogenesis
- Spermatogenesis
What is the fxn of LH
- Follicular development
2. Testosterone production in leydig cells (in concert w/ FSH)
What are clinical uses of FSH and LH
- Pit.-hypothalamic hypogonadism w/ infertility
(FSH + LH (hCG) sequentially in F or concomitantly in M
SE of FSH/LH
- Ovarian enlargement
- Multiple births
- Gynecomastia
- Spontaneous abortion
Describe the mechanism of estrogen-SERM action
*Majority of estrogen AGONIST (estradiol) actions are mediated by binding to ERa or ERBeta
- Diffuse through membrane
- enter nucleus and bind to an ER (alpha or beta)
- conformational change and Receptor dimerization
- Recruit co-activators
- initiate transcription/ mRNA synthesis
*ANTAGONISTS (tamoxifen and raloxifene) recruit co-repressors and reduce transcription
___ undergo extensive enterophepatic recirculation, thus when given orally there will be _______
Estrogen
- Increased hepatic effects
- 1st pass + enterohepatic recirculation!
What are examples of SERMs
Antagonists: Tamoxifen and raloxifene
What are non-hormonal treatments for menopause
- SSRI/SNRI
- Gabapentine
- Clonidine
- Vitamin E
- Phytoestrogen in soy
What are Clinical uses of Estrogen
MHT (symptomatic and prophylaxis)
Symptomatic:
- Hot flashes- need systemic
- Postcoital bleeding-topical
- Vaginal atrophy/itching
- Reduced endometrial risk w/ progrestin (Medroxyprogesterone)
Prophylaxis:
5. osteoporosis (Raloxifene)
***NOT approved for proph. CV dz)
A 70-year-old woman is being treated with raloxifene for osteoporosis. Which of the following is a concern with this therapy? A. Breast cancer B. Endometrial cancer C. Hot flashes D. Venous thrombosis E. Hypercholesterolemia
C. Hot flashes
D. Venous thrombosis
SE of estrogen
- Postmenopausal bleeding
- HTN
- Endometrial and breast CA
- N/V/D/A
- Gallstones
- Clots
- Breast tenderness
- Migraines
A 53 year-old woman has severe vasomotor symptoms (hot flushes) associated with menopause. She has no pertinent past medical or surgical history. Which of the following would be most appropriate for her symptoms?
A. Conjugated estrogens vaginal cream
B. Estradiol transdermal patch
C. Oral estradiol and medroxyprogesterone
D. Injectable medroxyprogesterone acetate
E. Oral tamoxifen
C. Oral estradiol and medroxyprogesterone
*Some clinicians prefer micronized progesterone** due to lower CHD risk
Contraindications to MHT
- Active thrombosis
- Active liver dz
- Hx of breast CA
- Hx of endometrial CA
- Vaginal bleeding
Precursor to estrogens, androgens and adrenocorticoids
Progestin
When does progesterone get released
large increase in secretion in the luteal phase
What are the physiological effects of progestin
- Fat deposition via LPL stimulation
- Liver glycogen storage
- Insulin levels and response increase
- Compensatory aldosterone secretion
- Ketogenesis
- Anti-estrogen action on endometrial proliferation
- Body temp increase (1F)
- Increase ventilatory response to COs
What are synthetic progestins
- Medroxyprogesterone– derivative
- Norethindrone (1st gen.)
- Desogestrel (3rd gen. )
- Drospirenone (4th gen.– spironolactone analog)
Describe the use and risks of Norethindrone
- 1st gen.
- Lower P activity than 2nd gen.
- OCP use*
* increased risk of unscheduled spotting/bleeding
Describe the use and risks of Desogestrel
- 3rd gen.
- Lower androgenic activity
- OCP**
- Acne**
*increased risk of VTE
Describe the use and risks of Drospirenone
- 4th gen.
- spironolactone analog–> anti-MC and anti-androgenic activity
- OCP
*highest increase risk of VTE
Clinical uses of Progestin
- Contraception (oral and implant)
- OSA (medroxyprogesterone)
- MHT WITH estrogen
- Endometriosis bleeding
- Hirsutism
- AIDS w/ anorexia/wt. loss
- Dysmenorrhea (NSAIDs preferred)
Adverse reactions of Progestins
Breast enlargement Breast tenderness HTN HA Depression Edema Wt. gain Sleepy Nausea
A young woman complains of abdominal pain at the time of menstruation. Careful evaluation indicates the presence of significant endometrial deposits on the pelvic peritoneum. Which of the following would be the most appropriate medical therapy for this patient?
A. Bicalutamide orally
B. Medroxyprogesterone acetate by intramuscular injection
C. Norgestrel as an IUD
D. Oxandrolone by intramuscular injection
E. Raloxifene orally
B. Medroxyprogesterone acetate by intramuscular injection
Describe the mortality related to OCs
reduced in women less than 35 who do not smoke
*increased 2-4 fold in those over 35 who smoke– largely due to cerebrovascular dz
Describe the MOA of HC
Inhibition of ovulation via:
- Suppression of FSH and follicular development (estrogen)
- prevention of ovulatory LH surge (progestin)
____ results in decreased likelihood of implantation
estrogen + progestin
__ component of HC contributes to prompt, brief, withdrawal bleeding
Progestin
Progestin alone decreases the frequency of ___, but has less reliable ___
hypothalamic GnRH pulses
LH suppression
Describe the Combined OC actions on the menstrual cycle
- Progestin inhibits GnRH pulse generator (lowers FSH/LH release)– but less reliable LH suppression
- Progestin has anti-proliferative effects on endometrium and cervix
- Estrogen blocks ovulation by preventing the LH surge
*stay in follicular stage NOT luteal phase
what estrogen is commonly used in Combined OC
ethinyl estradiol (there are HD and LD formulations)
What progestins are commonly used in combined OC
- Norethindrone (1st gen)
- Levonrgesterl (2nd gen.)
- Desogestrel (3rd gen.)
- Drospirenone (4th gen.)
Describe the risk of VTE with different progestins
Drospirenone (4th)> Desogestrel (3rd)> > Levonorgestrel (2nd)
Describe the different extended COC formulations and indications
- Seasonale (84/7)
- Amethyst (no pill-free interval)
May improve problems w/:
- menorrhagia
- anemia
- endometriosis
- dysmenorrhea
Mild-moderate Sx of COC due to Estrogen excess
- Nausea
- Edema
- Breast tenderness
- Cholasma (brown pigmentation on face)
- HTN
- Migraines
Mild-moderate Sx of COC due to Estrogen and progestin deficiency
- Early/mid-cycle breakthrough bleeding/spotting
2. Hypomenorrhea