A 38-year-old male has presented to a clinic for the treatment of severe dermatitis after contact with poison ivy on a camping trip. The client has been prescribed prednisone, a corticosteroid, for the treatment of his skin condition
The client's care provider has emphasized that dosages of the drug will be gradually tapered off rather than stopped upon resolution of the symptoms. What is the most accurate rationale for this dosing protocol?
A)
The client's hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) system will require recovery time before normal function is restored.
B)
Steroids can induce a dependency that it best addressed with a gradual withdrawal.
C)
HPA function is heightened during steroid administration and must return to normal levels before the drug is completely stopped.
D)
Abrupt cessation of the drug can contribute to symptoms similar to Cushing syndrome.
Ans:
A
Feedback:
The suppression of the HPA system that accompanies steroid therapy requires time for a return to normal function. Dependency on the drug itself is not the rationale for tapering, and HPA function is suppressed, not heightened during therapy. Abrupt cessation can contribute to an Addison disease-like response, not Cushing syndrome.
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