Final answer:
Glucocorticoids are tapered to prevent rebound inflammation and minimize side effects, allowing the adrenal glands to resume normal cortisol production after being suppressed by negative feedback.
Step-by-step explanation:
We taper down glucocorticoids primarily to prevent rebound inflammation. These hormones are potent anti-inflammatory agents and down-regulate the immune system.
When a patient has been on glucocorticoids for a long period, the body's natural cortisol production is suppressed due to negative feedback on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.
Tapering allows the adrenal glands to gradually resume normal cortisol production and minimizes the risk of adrenal insufficiency. Abruptly stopping glucocorticoids can lead to a rapid return of the inflammation that was being treated, because the body may not be able to immediately produce adequate levels of cortisol.
Tapering doses also help to minimize side effects, which can include hyperglycemia, osteoporosis, and Cushing's syndrome, a condition caused by hypersecretion of glucocorticoids.