Antiglucocorticoid

Antiglucocorticoid
Drug class
Mifepristone, an antiglucocorticoid that is used in the treatment of Cushing's syndrome.
Class identifiers
SynonymsGlucocorticoid antagonist; Cortisol antagonist; Anticorticosteroid
UseCushing's syndrome, others
Biological targetGlucocorticoid receptor
Chemical classSteroids
Legal status
In Wikidata

Antiglucocorticoid drugs are a class of medications that act to reduce the effects of glucocorticoids, primarily cortisol, in the body.[1] They include direct glucocorticoid receptor antagonists such as mifepristone and synthesis inhibitors such as metyrapone, ketoconazole, and aminoglutethimide. They are used to treat Cushing's syndrome.[2]

These drugs have also been investigated for their potential therapeutic benefits in various psychiatric disorders, particularly depression and psychosis.[3][4] The rationale behind using antiglucocorticoids in psychiatry stems from the observed dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in many psychiatric conditions, which often manifests as elevated cortisol levels.[4][5]

  1. ^ Muller C, Hennebert O, Morfin R (July 2006). "The native anti-glucocorticoid paradigm". The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. 100 (1–3): 95–105. doi:10.1016/j.jsbmb.2006.03.001. PMID 16713254.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Dang_2007 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Garner B, Phillips LJ, Bendall S, Hetrick SE (January 2016). "Antiglucocorticoid and related treatments for psychosis". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2016 (1): CD006995. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD006995.pub2. PMC 10337649. PMID 26725721.
  4. ^ a b McIsaac SA, Westrin Å, Young AH (2009). "Antiglucocorticoids in psychiatry". Advances in Psychiatric Treatment. 15 (4): 242–249. doi:10.1192/apt.bp.105.001834.
  5. ^ Strawbridge R, Jamieson A, Hodsoll J, Ferrier IN, McAllister-Williams RH, Powell TR, et al. (February 2021). "The Role of Inflammatory Proteins in Anti-Glucocorticoid Therapy for Treatment-Resistant Depression". Journal of Clinical Medicine. 10 (4): 784. doi:10.3390/jcm10040784. PMC 7920038. PMID 33669254.