Please note: This is the general version of the course: Drugs, Hormones, and Homeostasis: Pharmacologic Approach to Endocrine Disorders N566. No pharmacology credits will be earned. Click here to take the pharmacology version.

Course Summary

Expiration Date: 09/29/2028

Endocrine system disorders encompass a broad range of conditions that result from the overproduction, underproduction, or dysregulation of hormones essential for metabolic, reproductive, and developmental processes. These disorders can affect multiple organ systems and are often chronic, requiring careful diagnostic evaluation and long-term management. This course reviews the physiology and pathophysiology of key endocrine glands, including the pancreas, thyroid, adrenal glands, and gonads, and outlines the pharmacological strategies used to treat disorders such as diabetes mellitus, thyroid disease, adrenal insufficiency, and gonadal hormone imbalances. Special attention is given to drug-induced endocrine dysfunction and the systemic effects of hormonal therapies.

Course Format

Homestudy

Course Syllabus

  • Introduction
  • Diabetes Mellitus
    • Type 1 Diabetes
    • Type 2 Diabetes
    • Gestational Diabetes
    • Drugs Associated with the Development of Diabetes Mellitus
    • Diabetes Mellitus Treatment
  • Thyroid Disease
    • Drugs Causing Thyroid Disease
    • Pharmacologic Treatment of Hyperthyroidism and Hypothyroidism
  • Endocrine Effects and Implications of Corticosteroid Therapy
  • Gonadal Hormones and Endocrine Disorders
    • Common Gonadal Hormone Disorders
    • Hypogonadism
    • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
    • Menopause and Andropause
  • Adrenal Disorders: Addison’s Disease and Cushing’s Syndrome
    • Addison’s Disease (Adrenal Insufficiency)
    • Cushing’s Syndrome (Hypercortisolism)
  • Case Study: Pseudo-Cushing’s from Adrenal Tumor
    • Background
    • Case Presentation
  • Summary

Authors

Richard Daniels, PharmD, BCPS

Richard “Cole” Daniels earned his Doctor of Pharmacy(PharmD) from the Skaggs School of Pharmacy at the University of Montana in 2018. Throughout pharmacy school he completed a 3-year internship at Community Medical Center in Missoula, Montana in which he gained valuable experience in an acute care setting. Cole currently serves as a psychiatric clinical staff pharmacist at the Montana State Hospital. He has over 11 years of pharmacy experience having worked in several settings including retail, acute care, and inpatient psychiatric care. Cole has a diverse set of interests. However, acute care medicine, infectious disease, pain management, and asthma/COPD are a primary focus of his at the Montana State Hospital. He obtained board certification as a certified pharmacotherapy specialist in the Spring of 2022.

Elisabeth Gordon, BScPharm, RPh

Elisabeth Gordon earned her BSc(Pharm) from the University of British Columbia in 2004. After graduation, she worked in community retail pharmacies on Vancouver Island, before returning to her rural hometown of Salmon Arm. In 2016 and 2017, Elisabeth trained with Pallium Canada and Victoria Hospice to enhance her knowledge of end-of-life-care and palliative services. She is a volunteer medical supervisor for T1DOutreach, a peer support platform for adults living with type 1 diabetes, and a member of a Canadian peer support group for adults living with Birdshot Uveitis. Elisabeth enjoys working in a small, fast-paced rural pharmacy where she brings compassion and empathy to her everyday practice.