
Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions โ written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Cushing's syndrome medical therapy
Introduction
Overview
Overview
The medications usually used for the treatment of Cushing’s syndrome are Pasireotide, Cabergoline, Ketoconazole and Metyrapone. The choice of medical therapy should be individualized. It is guided by drug efficacy, side effects, individual patient factors, and cost.
Medical therapy
Medical therapy
Indications for medical treatment of Cushing’s syndrome include:[1]
- Acute complications of hypercortisolism (psychosis, and infection).
- Surgery pretreatment in severe cases if surgery is delayed.
- Hypercortisolism after unsuccessful surgery, while awaiting control from radiotherapy.
- Unresectable or metastatic tumors.
- Hypercortisolism due to an occult ectopic ACTH-producing neuroendocrine tumor.
The medications usually used for the treatment of Cushing’s syndrome are:[2]
The choice of medical therapy should be individualized. It is guided by drug efficacy, side effects, individual patient factors, and cost._The_Journal_of_Clinical_Endocrinology_&_Metabolism_|_Oxford_Academic-3|[3]
Drug regimen
Drug regimens used for the treatment of Cushing’s syndrome are: [2]
- Drug regimen 1: Ketoconazole 400โ1600 mg per day orally
- Drug regimen 2: Mifepristone 300โ1200 mg per day orally
- Drug regimen 3: Metyrapone 0ยท5โ4ยท5 g per day orally
- Drug regimen 4: Pasireotide 750โ2400 ฮผg per day subcutaneously injected
- Drug regimen 5: Cabergoline Up to 7 mg per week orally
- Drug regimen 6: Mitotane 3โ5 g per day orally
It is important to remember that the vast majority of cases of Cushing’s syndrome are caused by steroid medications (such causes are described as iatrogenic) so a review of medications first, as stopping or reducing the dose can usually resolve the problem.
References
References
- โ van der Pas R, de Herder WW, Hofland LJ, Feelders RA (2012). “New developments in the medical treatment of Cushing’s syndrome”. Endocr. Relat. Cancer. 19 (6): R205โ23. doi:10.1530/ERC-12-0191. PMIDย 22936543.
- โ 2.0 2.1 Lacroix A, Feelders RA, Stratakis CA, Nieman LK (2015). “Cushing’s syndrome”. Lancet. 386 (9996): 913โ27. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(14)61375-1. PMIDย 26004339.
- _The_Journal_of_Clinical_Endocrinology_&_Metabolism_|_Oxford_Academic_3-0|โ “Treatment of Cushing’s Syndrome: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline | The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism | Oxford Academic”.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Furqan M M. M.B.B.S[2]
