Question

A 38-year-old male has presented to a clinic for the treatment of severe dermatitis after contact with poison ivy on a camping trip. The client has been prescribed prednisone, a corticosteroid, for the treatment of his skin condition. The client’s care provider has emphasized that dosages of the drug will be gradually tapered off rather than stopped upon resolution of the symptoms. What is the most accurate rationale for this dosing protocol?

Answer 1

Answer: Depends on how long the treatment is given for. Short-term (<7 days) or Long-term (>7 days), this usually is more than a couple months.

Explanation:

Abrupt suspension of a corticosteroid in a short-term course treatment is safe. But when a corticosteroid is given long term, the exogenous source of corticosteroid causes adrenal atrophy, and when the medication is abruptly suspended the adrenal glands won't be able to produce cortisol (that's why it should be gradually tapered off).

In this case, there is no reason to gradually suspend the medication, as the course of treatment should be short-term.