Final answer:
Clients must taper off corticosteroids like prednisone gradually under medical supervision to avoid adrenal insufficiency and rebound inflammation. Hydrocortisone treats symptoms, not causes; abrupt cessation can worsen conditions like asthma or arthritis. Transitioning to alternative treatments should also be medically supervised.
Step-by-step explanation:
When stopping corticosteroids, it is crucial to taper off gradually rather than abruptly discontinuing them. Prednisone and other corticosteroids must be decreased slowly to allow the adrenal glands to adjust and resume their normal function of cortisol production. Patients on long-term corticosteroid therapy may experience adrenal insufficiency if the medication is stopped suddenly, making a tapered approach necessary.
Furthermore, the downregulation of the immune system is one of the effects of corticosteroids, which means the body's inflammatory response to infections or allergies is suppressed while on this medication. Stopping corticosteroids without a proper medical plan can lead to a rebound of the inflammatory condition they were meant to control, resulting in flare-ups of conditions like asthma or arthritis. Hydrocortisone, a topical corticosteroid, can treat symptoms such as itching and rashes, but not necessarily the cause of the symptoms.