Systemic Steroid Taper

The most critical emergency to watch for during steroid tapering is adrenal crisis. It can involve severe weakness and dizziness, repeated vomiting or abdominal pain, sharply low blood pressure, confusion, and in severe cases progress to shock, requiring immediate emergency care. Infection, fever, surgery, or extreme stress often trigger it. If these symptoms occur, go to the emergency room or call emergency services without delay, and be sure to tell them you are taking steroids. Because of this risk, steroids must never be abruptly stopped on your own.

Our Korean Medicine Clinic's Perspective

Dongjedang always emphasizes these emergency warning signs first, and if adrenal crisis is suspected, we strongly recommend emergency medical care immediately rather than Korean medicine treatment. Korean medicine's role is to cushion the rebound of tapering once acute danger has been ruled out and you are in a stable state — not to handle emergencies. Safety always comes first.