Which medication is used to suppress the activity of the adrenal cortex in Cushing's Syndrome?

In the context of Cushing's Syndrome, which is characterized by excessive cortisol production often due to adrenal tumors or pituitary adenomas, the primary goal of treatment may include reducing cortisol levels. Mitotane is a medication specifically designed to suppress the adrenal cortex and inhibit cortisol synthesis. It works by altering the adrenal cortex's metabolism and taking effect on the adrenal steroidogenesis pathway, making it particularly effective in managing the symptoms of Cushing's Syndrome.

Other medications can be used for different aspects of Cushing's management, but Mitotane is uniquely beneficial in its direct action on the adrenal glands. For instance, while aminogluthemide also suppresses cortisol synthesis by inhibiting steroidogenesis, its use is less common compared to Mitotane in treating Cushing's specifically. Somatostatin analogs are often reserved for other conditions such as acromegaly, and hydrocortisone acts as a glucocorticoid replacement rather than a suppressor in this context. Therefore, Mitotane stands out as the correct choice for directly addressing the adrenal cortex's overactivity in Cushing's Syndrome.