Steroid hormones are substances that have physiological activity. In the body they play an important role. Hormones are responsible for regulating many physiological processes important for the body. A healthy organism produces these substances independently. But sometimes because of health problems to maintain the level of steroid hormones in the norm is needed with the help of pharmacological drugs.
List of drugs with steroid hormones
This group of substances include corticosteroids and sex hormones. In the body, they perform such functions as regulation of metabolism and growth. It is steroid hormones that are responsible for ensuring the reproductive functions of the body.
Substances in the adrenal cortex are produced. Hormones can be contained in lipid droplets in the cytoplasm. Due to the increased lipophilicity, substances easily penetrate through the membranes into the blood, and from there they route the route into cells recognized by the body as potentially dangerous.
In the human body, there is no special mechanism, through which steroid hormones accumulate, so, after the destruction of the substance, they are eliminated from the body. All that remains is the hormonal precursors in the form of cholesterol ester in the cells that produce steroids. And for the synthesis of steroid hormones, hormones peptide - the substances produced by the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus.
In the body of each person there are six main types of steroid hormones:
- cortisol;
- estradiol;
- calcitriol (in the past - calciferol);
- testosterone;
- progesterone;
- aldosterone.
The side chains of most of these substances are rather short - they consist of only a pair of carbon atoms. There are no side hormones at all. And only calcitriol is more or less complex structure.
If women have a disruption in the synthesis of steroid hormones, they are prescribed special medications. The most famous drugs that make up the amount of steroid hormones in the body are:
- Hydrocortisone ;
- Dexamethasone;
- Cortisone;
- Estriol;
- Prednisone;
- Prednisolone.
Recently, synthetic steroid hormones have been used by women more and more often. Drugs are actively used to treat a wide variety of diseases and maintain a healthy overall health.
Steroid hormones - side effects
Side effects and contraindications to use are, probably, even the most innocuous medications. But when it comes to hormones, you need to be especially careful. First, these substances can lead to some undesirable changes. Secondly, if you abuse hormones, the body will simply stop producing them yourself, which on the body will be extremely unfavorable.
Uncontrolled use of drugs with steroid hormones is fraught with the following problems:
- destruction of the liver;
- the appearance of acne ;
- diseases of the cardiovascular system;
- violations of normal kidney function;
- increased blood pressure;
- the formation of blood clots;
- increased blood cholesterol levels;
- mental disorders.
The main contraindications for taking steroid hormones are:
- It is not recommended to accept funds for young people.
- Negatively steroid hormones affect the health of people suffering from cardiovascular diseases, kidneys and liver.
- Refuse to take medication should be in the presence of good and malignant tumors.