💊 Glucocorticoid Equivalent Dose Conversion
Glucocorticoid equivalence converts an anti-inflammatory potency dose from one corticosteroid to another.
Glucocorticoid Equivalent Dose Conversion
From drug
Dose of source drug (mg)
To drug
When to use
Select the source and target drugs and enter the source dose; the tool returns the equivalent target dose and the prednisone equivalent.
How it works
Target dose = source dose × (potency_target / potency_source). Equivalent anti-inflammatory doses (mg): hydrocortisone 20, cortisone 25, prednisone 5, prednisolone 5, methylprednisolone 4, triamcinolone 4, dexamethasone 0.75, betamethasone 0.6.
Key points
- The conversion reflects anti-inflammatory potency only and ignores mineralocorticoid activity, half-life, and onset differences (original synthesis · not guideline verbatim).
- It is not valid for adrenal-insufficiency replacement dosing and does not define a tapering schedule.
- Long-acting agents such as dexamethasone suppress the HPA axis more strongly despite a low milligram dose.
References
- Williams DM. Clinical Pharmacology of Corticosteroids. Respir Care. 2018.
- Liu D, et al. A practical guide to the monitoring and management of the complications of systemic corticosteroid therapy. Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2013.
Decision support for licensed clinicians only; not a substitute for clinical judgement, diagnosis or local protocols.