Endocrine

27 source-linked study cards in this body system.

Search a generic or brand name

Drug classes in this body system

GLP-1 receptor agonists

Semaglutide · Dulaglutide · Tirzepatide · Liraglutide

Insulins

Insulin glargine · Insulin Lispro · Insulin Aspart · Insulin degludec · Insulin detemir · Insulin Isophane / Insulin Regular (human)

How each medicine works

Medicines in this body system: 27 · in a drug class: 14 · drug classes: 4

Metformin — Decreases hepatic glucose production, decreases intestinal glucose absorption and improves insulin sensitivity; insulin secretion unchanged.

Levothyroxine — Synthetic T4; thyroid hormones enter the nucleus, bind thyroid receptor proteins on DNA and regulate gene transcription and protein synthesis.

Semaglutide — GLP-1 analogue that selectively binds and activates the GLP-1 receptor; albumin binding gives it a long half-life.

Ergocalciferol — Hydroxylated in liver then kidney to active vitamin D metabolites that increase intestinal calcium and phosphate absorption for bone mineralization.

Insulin glargine — Regulates glucose metabolism: stimulates peripheral glucose uptake (muscle, fat) and inhibits hepatic glucose production.

Glipizide — Appears to lower glucose acutely by stimulating insulin release from functioning pancreatic beta cells; the mechanism of glucose lowering during long-term treatment is not clearly established.

Empagliflozin — Inhibits renal SGLT2, reducing glucose reabsorption and increasing urinary glucose excretion; also reduces sodium reabsorption and increases sodium delivery to the distal tubule.

Methylprednisolone — Synthetic glucocorticoid with potent anti-inflammatory effects; causes profound metabolic effects and modifies immune responses.

Dulaglutide — Activates GLP-1 receptors on beta cells, raising cAMP for glucose-dependent insulin release; lowers glucagon, slows gastric emptying.

Glimepiride — Binds beta-cell sulfonylurea receptors, closing ATP-sensitive K+ channels and stimulating insulin release.

Insulin Lispro — Lowers blood glucose by stimulating peripheral glucose uptake in muscle and fat and inhibiting hepatic glucose production.

Dapagliflozin — Inhibits SGLT2 in the proximal renal tubule, reducing filtered glucose reabsorption and increasing urinary glucose excretion.

Insulin Aspart — Regulates glucose metabolism: stimulates peripheral glucose uptake in muscle and fat and inhibits hepatic glucose production.

Sitagliptin — A DPP-4 inhibitor believed to act by slowing incretin inactivation. It increases and prolongs active GLP-1 and GIP levels, which influence insulin and glucagon in a glucose-dependent manner.

Testosterone — Endogenous androgen responsible for male sex organ growth and maintenance of secondary sex characteristics.

Tirzepatide — Activates both GIP and GLP-1 receptors; GLP-1 regulates appetite and caloric intake. A fatty diacid prolongs half-life.

Phentermine — Sympathomimetic amine similar to amphetamine; appetite suppression is presumed, but other CNS or metabolic actions may contribute.

Pioglitazone — PPAR-gamma agonist that decreases insulin resistance in periphery and liver; requires insulin, not a secretagogue.

Insulin degludec — Lowers glucose by stimulating peripheral uptake and inhibiting hepatic output; forms multi-hexamers in subcutaneous tissue.

Insulin lispro — Lowers blood glucose by stimulating uptake in muscle and fat and inhibiting hepatic glucose production.

Insulin detemir — Regulates glucose metabolism: stimulates peripheral glucose uptake and inhibits hepatic glucose production, lipolysis, proteolysis.

Liraglutide — Acylated GLP-1 analog; activates the GLP-1 receptor (adenylyl cyclase-coupled) to improve glycemic control.

Dexamethasone — Synthetic glucocorticoid with potent anti-inflammatory effects and profound, varied metabolic effects.

Liothyronine — T3 binds nuclear thyroid receptors on DNA, activating gene transcription and protein synthesis.

Insulin Isophane / Insulin Regular (human) — Stimulates glucose uptake in skeletal muscle and fat and inhibits hepatic glucose production; pairs intermediate-acting insulin with faster-onset regular insulin.

Linagliptin — Inhibits DPP-4, raising active GLP-1 and GIP; increases glucose-dependent insulin release and lowers glucagon.

Methimazole — Inhibits thyroid hormone synthesis; does not inactivate stored or circulating T4 and T3.

Calcitriol — Active vitamin D3 that stimulates intestinal calcium transport. Its benefit in renal bone disease appears to result from correcting hypocalcemia and secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Each summary is the mechanism line from the medicine’s study card.

Listed most often on cards in this body system

Used for

Type 2 diabetes in adults, as an adjunct to diet and exercise · 3/27: Glipizide, Glimepiride, Pioglitazone

Glycemic control in adults and pediatric patients with diabetes mellitus · 3/27: Insulin Lispro, Insulin Aspart, Insulin detemir

Common side effects

Nausea · 8/27: Semaglutide, Glipizide, Dulaglutide, Glimepiride, Tirzepatide, Liraglutide, Methimazole, Calcitriol

Hypoglycemia · 7/27: Insulin glargine, Glimepiride, Insulin Lispro, Insulin Aspart, Insulin degludec, Insulin detemir, Insulin Isophane / Insulin Regular (human)

Diarrhea · 6/27: Metformin, Semaglutide, Glipizide, Dulaglutide, Tirzepatide, Liraglutide

Lipodystrophy · 6/27: Insulin glargine, Insulin Lispro, Insulin Aspart, Insulin degludec, Insulin detemir, Insulin Isophane / Insulin Regular (human)

Constipation · 5/27: Semaglutide, Glipizide, Tirzepatide, Phentermine, Liraglutide

Injection site reactions · 5/27: Insulin Lispro, Insulin Aspart, Insulin degludec, Insulin detemir, Insulin Isophane / Insulin Regular (human)

Vomiting · 4/27: Semaglutide, Dulaglutide, Tirzepatide, Liraglutide

Headache · 4/27: Glimepiride, Sitagliptin, Pioglitazone, Calcitriol

Warnings

Hypokalemia · 6/27: Insulin glargine, Insulin Lispro, Insulin Aspart, Insulin degludec, Insulin detemir, Insulin Isophane / Insulin Regular (human)

Acute pancreatitis · 4/27: Semaglutide, Dulaglutide, Tirzepatide, Liraglutide

Hypoglycemia · 4/27: Insulin glargine, Glipizide, Insulin Lispro, Insulin Aspart

Hypoglycemia with insulin or secretagogues · 3/27: Semaglutide, Dulaglutide, Liraglutide

Hypoglycemia, may be life-threatening · 3/27: Insulin degludec, Insulin detemir, Insulin Isophane / Insulin Regular (human)

Interactions

Antidiabetic agents, ACE inhibitors, ARBs · 4/27: Insulin glargine, Insulin Lispro, Insulin Aspart, Insulin Isophane / Insulin Regular (human)

Oral medications (delayed gastric emptying) · 3/27: Semaglutide, Dulaglutide, Tirzepatide

Boxed warning

9/27: Metformin, Levothyroxine, Semaglutide, Dulaglutide, Testosterone, Tirzepatide, Pioglitazone, Liraglutide, Liothyronine

Same boxed-warning wording on: Dulaglutide, Tirzepatide

An item counts as shared only when both cards use the same wording. If a card does not list an item, that is not a statement that the effect never occurs.