What type of therapy is used only for maintenance when administering corticosteroids?

Alternate-day therapy is used specifically for maintenance in patients who require corticosteroid treatment. This approach involves administering corticosteroids every other day rather than daily. The rationale behind this method is to provide enough medication to manage the condition while minimizing potential side effects associated with longer-term, daily use of corticosteroids. By allowing days without medication, alternate-day therapy helps reduce the risk of adrenal suppression and other complications, while still maintaining therapeutic effectiveness.

This method is particularly beneficial for chronic conditions that require long-term management, enabling patients to experience fewer side effects associated with corticosteroid therapy, such as weight gain, osteoporosis, and hypertension, which can occur with continuous, daily dosing. Thus, alternate-day therapy strikes a balance between treatment efficacy and safety.