The use of corticotroph-derived glycoprotein hormone (CGH) to potentiate glucocorticoid action and to reduce glucocorticoid-induced adrenocortical suppression is described. CGH can be co-administered with glucocorticoids to enable a lower dosage of glucocorticoids to be used and to prevent or reduce glucocorticoid-induced side-effects. The invention additionally provides methods for the use of CGH as a replacement for glucocorticoids, or for treatment of a broad range of inflammatory states. Further provided are methods for purification of recombinant CGH.