A nurse is caring for a client who was prescribed high-dose corticosteroid therapy for 1 month to treat a severe inflammatory condition.The client's symptoms have now resolved and the client asks,"When can I stop taking these medications?" How should the nurse respond?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

One of the most common causes of adrenal insufficiency,a life-threatening problem,is the sudden cessation of long-term,high-dose corticosteroid therapy.This therapy suppresses the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and must be withdrawn gradually to allow for pituitary production of adrenocorticotropic hormone and adrenal production of cortisol.Decreasing hormone therapy slowly ensures self-production of hormone,not hormone effectiveness.Building the client's immune system and rebound inflammation are not concerns related to stopping high-dose corticosteroids.

A Nurse Is Caring for a Client Who Was Prescribed