Steroids causing Addison's disease is classified under which type of ADR?

Steroids causing Addison's disease is classified under which type of ADR?

• A. Type A
• B. Type C
• C. Type D
• D. Type E

Answer: (D)

The key idea is timing of the adverse reaction relative to stopping the drug. Long-term corticosteroid use suppresses the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, so the body stops making its own cortisol. If the steroid is stopped abruptly or tapered too quickly, the adrenal glands can’t resume cortisol production right away, leading to adrenal insufficiency (Addison-like symptoms). This type of reaction is specifically tied to the end of therapy—an end-of-use ADR. It’s not primarily a dose-related effect, an idiosyncratic reaction, a chronic accumulation issue, or a purely delayed response, which is why it’s categorized as end-of-use. To reduce risk, steroids should be tapered gradually with monitoring for signs of adrenal insufficiency as therapy ends.

The key idea is timing of the adverse reaction relative to stopping the drug. Long-term corticosteroid use suppresses the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, so the body stops making its own cortisol. If the steroid is stopped abruptly or tapered too quickly, the adrenal glands can’t resume cortisol production right away, leading to adrenal insufficiency (Addison-like symptoms). This type of reaction is specifically tied to the end of therapy—an end-of-use ADR. It’s not primarily a dose-related effect, an idiosyncratic reaction, a chronic accumulation issue, or a purely delayed response, which is why it’s categorized as end-of-use. To reduce risk, steroids should be tapered gradually with monitoring for signs of adrenal insufficiency as therapy ends.