Aclient who has been taking 80 mg of prednisone, a glucocorticoid, each day has been warned by his primary care provider to carefully follow a plan for the gradual reduction of the dose rather than stopping the drug suddenly. what is the rationale for this directive? sudden changes in glucocorticoid dosing may reverse the therapeutic effects of the drug. stopping the drug suddenly may cause acute adrenal insufficiency. stopping the drug suddenly may "shock" the hpa axis into overactivity. sudden cessation of a glucocorticoid can result in adrenal gland necrosis.