Which instruction is correct for a patient taking cortisone for adrenal hypofunction?

Which instruction is correct for a patient taking cortisone for adrenal hypofunction?

• A. Take the drug with meals.
• B. Do not eat after taking.
• C. Take only at night.
• D. Take with orange juice

Answer: (A)

Corticosteroid therapy can irritate the stomach lining, so taking the medication with meals helps protect the gastric mucosa and reduces the risk of gastritis or ulcers, making it the most tolerable and widely recommended approach. Food provides a buffer for the stomach and helps minimize GI discomfort, which is especially important when the drug is used long term for adrenal hypofunction. The other options don’t offer this protective effect: taking on an empty stomach increases irritation, taking only at night doesn’t address GI protection or align with typical daily cortisol patterns, and taking with orange juice isn’t a standard or necessary way to improve tolerability.

Corticosteroid therapy can irritate the stomach lining, so taking the medication with meals helps protect the gastric mucosa and reduces the risk of gastritis or ulcers, making it the most tolerable and widely recommended approach. Food provides a buffer for the stomach and helps minimize GI discomfort, which is especially important when the drug is used long term for adrenal hypofunction. The other options don’t offer this protective effect: taking on an empty stomach increases irritation, taking only at night doesn’t address GI protection or align with typical daily cortisol patterns, and taking with orange juice isn’t a standard or necessary way to improve tolerability.