Question: What are the typical medications for a person who has had their entire pituitary gland removed?

Answer: Patients with hypopituitarism (no pituitary function) require hormone replacement with thyroid hormone, adrenal steroids (hydrocortisone), and gonadal steroids (estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone). If the posterior part of the pituitary gland has also been damaged, the patient may have a condition called diabetes insipidus with a deficiency of antidiuretic hormone. Such patients have large volumes of urine which can be corrected with a synthetic form of antidiuretic hormone called DDAVP. Recently, growth hormone therapy has become available for adult patients with hypopituitarism. This therapy is quite expensive and long term clinical studies documenting its safety are in progress.

By Dr. James Findling MD (June, 1997)