A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) presents to the emergency room with muscle weakness, hypotension, hypoglycemia, and fatigue

Question

The patient's family reports that the patient recently stopped taking all medications because the medications were too expensive. The nurse reviews the list of medications provided by the family and notes that the patient had been taking prednisone daily. Based upon this information, the nurse's assessment findings are consistent with characteristics associated with:
A) Cushing's syndrome
B) Addison's disease
C) Pheochromocytoma
D) Thyrotoxicosis

Answer 1

Ans: B
Feedback: Addison's disease is characterized by muscle weakness, anorexia, fatigue, gastrointestinal symptoms, emaciation, pigment changes in the skin, hypotension, hypoglycemia, hyponatremia, and hyperkalemia. The symptoms of Addison's disease may result from the sudden cessation of corticosteroids, which suppresses the body's normal response to stress and interferes with normal feedback mechanisms. While hypotension and hypoglycemia may occur after the removal of an adrenal tumor as a treatment for pheochromocytoma, this patient's clinical presentation is associated with Addison's disease related to abrupt cessation of corticosteroid medications. Thyrotoxicosis is a severe form of hyperthyroidism and is characterized by hyperpyrexia, tachycardia, altered neurological state, and exaggerated symptoms of hyperthyroidism. Cushing's syndrome is caused by the use of corticosteroid medications, not the abrupt cessation of this classification of medication.