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Hormone Taper

Meaning

A Hormone Taper is the clinical strategy of gradually reducing the dosage of an exogenous hormone medication over a defined period to allow the body’s endogenous endocrine system to safely resume or normalize its own hormone production. This careful, titrated withdrawal is essential to mitigate the potential for withdrawal symptoms and to prevent acute adrenal or pituitary insufficiency, particularly following prolonged use of high-dose exogenous steroids or thyroid hormones. Successful tapering requires precise dosage adjustments and close clinical monitoring of patient symptoms and relevant laboratory markers. It is a critical aspect of responsible hormonal therapy management.