In planning care for Addison disease, an essential safety measure is to:

• A. Wear a Medical Alert Tag and Carry Emergency Dexamethasone
• B. Discontinue Hormonal Replacement Therapy if Nauseated or Diarrhea
• C. Decrease Medication if Under Stress or Infection
• D. Begin a Vigorous Exercise Program

Answer: (A)

Adrenal crisis can unfold quickly in Addison’s disease, so safety hinges on ensuring responders know you have this condition and can start life-saving steroid treatment right away. Wearing a Medical Alert Tag communicates adrenal insufficiency to anyone who may care for you in an emergency, guiding them to give appropriate treatment without delay. Carrying an emergency dose of dexamethasone provides a readily accessible way to begin glucocorticoid coverage if you’re vomiting, cannot take pills, or can’t reach medical care immediately, helping bridge the gap until professional care is available. Dexa is suitable for this purpose because it can be given by injection and acts quickly, a critical factor when time matters. In Addison’s disease, you don’t stop or reduce steroids during illness or stress, and you don’t engage in vigorous activity that could precipitate a crisis, but having a medical alert and an emergency steroid dose directly addresses the most urgent safety need: rapid recognition and prompt initial treatment to prevent deterioration.