Blood pressure, high , peptides treatment

Historically the only melanocortin peptide to be used clinically is the parent hormone from which all these peptides are derived from namely ACTH (see above). It has also been used in the treatment infantile spasms for epilepsy, where it is administered as an intramuscular injection only over a 2-12 weeks period. Obvious side effects include weight gain, puffy face, high blood pressure and an increased risk of infection and should never be administered to patients with diabetics, renal or heart failure. ACTH is also used as a stimulation test to measure adrenal cortex activity, i.e. production of cortisol and is used to ascertain whether someone has Addison s disease. 

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