Which medication instruction would the nurse provide to a patient who is prescribed cortisone for treatment of hypofunction of the adrenal gland?

Which medication instruction would the nurse provide to a patient who is prescribed cortisone for treatment of hypofunction of the adrenal gland?

• A. Take the drug with meals or a snack.
• B. Take on an empty stomach.
• C. Take at bedtime only.
• D. Take with laxatives

Answer: (A)

When replacing adrenal hormone with a glucocorticoid like cortisone, taking the medication with meals or a snack is best. Steroids can irritate the stomach and increase the risk of gastritis or ulcers, so taking them with food helps protect the lining and improves tolerability. It also supports more comfortable absorption and helps prevent fluctuations in blood sugar that can occur with steroid therapy. Taking it on an empty stomach would raise GI discomfort and ulcer risk; taking it at bedtime only doesn’t align with how cortisol is normally released and can cause sleep disturbances; taking with laxatives is unnecessary and could cause electrolyte or GI issues.

When replacing adrenal hormone with a glucocorticoid like cortisone, taking the medication with meals or a snack is best. Steroids can irritate the stomach and increase the risk of gastritis or ulcers, so taking them with food helps protect the lining and improves tolerability. It also supports more comfortable absorption and helps prevent fluctuations in blood sugar that can occur with steroid therapy.

Taking it on an empty stomach would raise GI discomfort and ulcer risk; taking it at bedtime only doesn’t align with how cortisol is normally released and can cause sleep disturbances; taking with laxatives is unnecessary and could cause electrolyte or GI issues.