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Hypopituitarism — NCLEX Cheat Sheet

↓ anterior pituitary hormones

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👤 By the CinnaRN Clinical Content Team 🕐 Updated 2026-07-11 🏷️ Physiological Adaptation 🔖 Free to read, print, and share

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Use this quick-reference guide to spot, treat, and prevent Hypopituitarism on the NCLEX. Keep it handy during review and on exam day!

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Mechanism

Key facts

↓pituitary → ↓target hormones
Tumor, surgery, Sheehan's

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Signs

What to look for

↓TSH→hypothyroid; ↓ACTH→↓cortisol
↓FSH/LH→infertility, ↓libido
Fatigue, weakness, cold

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Report

Notify / act now

Adrenal crisis if ↓ACTH stressed

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Do

Nursing actions

Lifelong hormone replacement
Cortisol FIRST, then thyroid

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Quick Tip

The anterior pituitary controls thyroid (TSH), adrenal (ACTH), gonads (LH/FSH), growth (GH), and lactation (prolactin); deficiencies produce secondary hypothyroidism, adrenal insufficiency, and hypogonadism.

📖 Related Topics

Hypokalemia Hyperkalemia Hyponatremia Heart Failure

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