Which statement indicates a need for further discharge teaching for a client with Addison's disease?

Which statement indicates a need for further discharge teaching for a client with Addison's disease?

• A. I will keep my steroid dose constant and not vary.
• B. I may have to take two forms of steroids to remain healthy.
• C. I will get weak and dizzy if I don't take my medication.
• D. I need to notify any new health-care provider of the medications I take.

Answer: (A)

In Addison's disease, steroid replacement must be adjusted during times of physical stress or illness to prevent adrenal crisis. Keeping the steroid dose constant and not varying it during illness or stress is unsafe because your body would be under-replaced when it needs more cortisol, which can lead to severe low blood pressure, electrolyte imbalances, hypoglycemia, and fainting. That’s why this statement signals a gap in discharge teaching. In practice, you often need a stress-dose of steroids during illness, fever, surgery, or trauma, following a plan from your provider. Also, you may require two forms of steroid therapy: a glucocorticoid for daily replacement and a mineralocorticoid (often added) to maintain salt and fluid balance. So the idea of needing two forms can be correct. Feeling weak or dizzy if you miss your medication aligns with the reality of adrenal insufficiency—your symptoms reflect under-replacement. And always informing any new health-care provider about your medications is essential for safe prescribing and avoiding interactions. So the statement about keeping the steroid dose constant is the one that indicates a need for further discharge teaching.

In Addison's disease, steroid replacement must be adjusted during times of physical stress or illness to prevent adrenal crisis. Keeping the steroid dose constant and not varying it during illness or stress is unsafe because your body would be under-replaced when it needs more cortisol, which can lead to severe low blood pressure, electrolyte imbalances, hypoglycemia, and fainting. That’s why this statement signals a gap in discharge teaching.

In practice, you often need a stress-dose of steroids during illness, fever, surgery, or trauma, following a plan from your provider. Also, you may require two forms of steroid therapy: a glucocorticoid for daily replacement and a mineralocorticoid (often added) to maintain salt and fluid balance. So the idea of needing two forms can be correct.

Feeling weak or dizzy if you miss your medication aligns with the reality of adrenal insufficiency—your symptoms reflect under-replacement. And always informing any new health-care provider about your medications is essential for safe prescribing and avoiding interactions.

So the statement about keeping the steroid dose constant is the one that indicates a need for further discharge teaching.