What it means
A treatment that supplies something the body lacks. Examples are thyroid hormone for an underactive thyroid, hormone replacement therapy after menopause, insulin in type 1 diabetes, enzymes for a pancreas that does not make them, clotting factors in hemophilia, and nicotine replacement for people stopping smoking. Fluids and electrolytes lost through vomiting, burns or bleeding are also replaced.
For the nurse
Many replacement therapies are lifelong, so teach the client to take them every day at the same time, not to stop them on their own, and to keep follow-up lab tests.
Related terms
insulin
A hormone made by the pancreas that lets the body's cells take in glucose, also made as a medicine.
hypothyroidism
A condition in which the thyroid gland makes too little thyroid hormone.
menopause
The time in a woman's life when menstrual periods stop for good, counted once there has been no period for 12 months in a row.
supplementation
Adding something to the diet, such as a vitamin, mineral or extra food, to meet the body's needs.