Glandular Products

Glandular Products suggested uses include:

• Adrenal extract (oral) is used for low adrenal function; fatigue; stress; impaired resistance to illness; severe allergies, asthma, eczema, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and other inflammatory conditions.
• Adrenal extract (sublingual) is used for fatigue or exhaustion, poor stress tolerance, allergies, auto-immune disorders, depression, inflammation, low blood pressure, hypoglycemia, drug and alcohol withdrawal, and discontinuing cortisone drugs.
• Adrenal extract (intravenous) is used for adrenal cortical insufficiency, hyperkalemia, ulcerative colitis, status thymicolymphaticus, and preventing spontaneous abortion.
• Aortic glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are used for vascular insufficiencies.
• Liver products are used for adjunctive therapy in hepatic disorders, source of heme iron, allergies, chronic fatigue syndrome, enhancing muscle development in bodybuilders, and improving strength and stamina.
• Pancreas products are used as a digestive aid (with food); anti-inflammatory, herpes zoster, and for immune complex diseases.
• Spleen products are used post-splenectomy; Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), AIDS, colitis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), low white blood cell (WBC) count, thrombocytopenia, ulcerative colitis, and for enhancing immune function in cancer patients.
• Thymus products are used for immune system modulation (URI, hepatitis B, AIDS, allergies), cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), lupus, WBC production in cancer patients treated with radiation or chemo, and aging.
• Thyroid products are used for hypothyroidism.

The efficacy of glandular products depends on the extraction method; predigested soluble concentrates tend to be most effective.

Many physiological studies demonstrate gastrointestinal (GI) absorption of intact macromolecules (polypeptides, etc.)

Human trials show efficacy for listed uses.

Thyroid extract is more difficult to calibrate than synthetic hormones.

Glandular products are available under the following different brand names: adrenal extract, aortic glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), liver extract, pancreatic extract, spleen extract, thymus extract, and thyroid extract.

Varies depending on product; follow label recommendations

Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows:

Suggested Dosing

Adrenal extract

• Varies depending on product; follow label recommendations, and titrate as indicated

Aortic glycosaminoglycans (GAGs)

Typical Dose

• 100 mg orally once daily

Cerebrovascular disease

• 100-144 mg/day orally
• 30 mg intramuscularly (IM) twice daily

DVT

• 72 mg/day orally

Hypertriglyceridemia

• 96 mg/day orally

Liver extract

• Varies depending on product; follow label recommendations, and titrate as indicated

Pancreas USP extract

• 500-1000 mg orally three times daily, with or without meals

Spleen extract

• 1.5 g spleen peptides (50 mg tuftsin and splenopentin)/day

Thymus extract

• 120 mg pure polypeptides or 750 mg crude polypeptide fraction/day

Thyroid extract

• Varies depending on product; follow label recommendations, and titrate as indicated

Side effects of glandular products include:

• Allergic reaction
• Infection or other symptoms due to contaminants (rare)
• Liver extract: iron overload, hemochromatosis
• Thyroid extract: hyperthyroid symptoms (large dose)

This document does not contain all possible side effects and others may occur. Check with your physician for additional information about side effects.

If your doctor has directed you to use this medication, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider or pharmacist first.

• Glandular products have no listed severe interactions with other drugs.
• Glandular products have no listed serious interactions with other drugs.
• Glandular products have no listed moderate interactions with other drugs.
• Mild interactions of glandular products include:
  • levothyroxine
  • liothyronine
  • thyroid desiccated

This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your physician if you have health questions or concerns.

Warnings
This medication contains glandular products. Do not take adrenal extract, aortic glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), liver extract, pancreatic extract, spleen extract, thymus extract, or thyroid extract if you are allergic to glandular products or any ingredients contained in this drug.

Keep out of reach of children. In case of overdose, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center immediately.

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity to bovine (cow) or porcine (pig) products

Effects of Drug Abuse
No information available

Short-Term Effects

See "What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Glandular Products?”

Long-Term Effects

See "What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Glandular Products?”

Cautions

• Extracts or preparation of whole glandular tissue, usually from bovine or porcine sources

Pregnancy and Lactation

No information is available regarding use of glandular products during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Consult your doctor.