Synthetic glucocorticoid

Short-acting

Typical glucocorticoid action with potent mineralcorticoid activty

Used for management of adrenocorticoid insufficiency, relief of inflammation, adjunct treatment of ulcerative colitis

Administered IV, oral, topical

Halflife: 80-118 minutes

Synthetic glucocorticoid

Intermediate acting

Typical glucocorticoid action

Agent of choice for oral adminstration

Readily available, inexpensive

Used for allergic, autoimmune, dermatologic, endocrine, GI, hematologic, MS, ophthalmic, respiratory, rheumatic disorders

Used in the treatment of idiopathic thrombocytopenis purpura, inhibiting phagocytosis of platelets and increasing platelet life span

Synthetic glucocorticoid

Intermediate acting

Typical glucocorticoid action with no mineralcorticoid activity

Used for intralesional injections (e.g. psorisaisis), allergic rhinitis, asthma, systemic uses

Administered aerosol, topical, IV

Halflife: +200 minutes

Long acting synthetic glucocorticoid

Typical glucocorticoid action with no mineralcorticoid activity

Used for anti-inflammatory+immunosuppressant actions, systemic disease, conjunctivitis

Administered IV, oral, topical

Halflife: +300 minutes

Used in the treatment of acute, nontuberculous bacterial meningitis

Low-Dose & High Dose Dexamethasone tests - READ

Synthetic mineralocorticoid agonist

Most widely used mineralocorticoid

Potent steroid with glucocorticoid+mineralocorticoid activity

Used to treat adrenocortical insufficiency associated with mineralocorticoid deficiency(Addison's Disease), treatment of salt-losing adrenogenital syndrome

Administered orally

Halflife: 35 minutes (Short acting)

Synthetic mineralocorticoid

Short acting (t1/2 = 10 mins)

Competitive antagonist to aldosterone @ distal renal tubule (increases NaCl/H2O secretion while conserving K⁺/H⁺)

Used for management of edema associated with excessive aldosterone excretion

Administered orally

Synthetic ACTH

Stimulates adrenal cortex and thus secretion corticosteroids

Used in the diagnostic test to differentiate primary adrenal from secondary (pituitary) adrenocortical insufficiency

Administered intramuscularly or direct intravenous injection

Half-life: 30 minutes

Used to treat hypersecretion of adrenocortical hormones

Inhibits 11-Beta Hydroxylase, which converts 11-deoxycortisol to cortisol

Inhibits both cortisol and aldosterone release

Used to treat hypersecretion of adrenocorticoid hormones

Inhibits 17 alpha-hydroxylase, which is involved in conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone, which blocks all steroid biosynthesis

Most effective inhibitor of Cushing's Disease

In hypersecretion of adrenocorticoids, it is used first to quickly inhibit cortisol synthesis

If it does not work, Metyrapone is added ( the two are synergistic)

It is an antifungal