Interpretation
| Result | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Equivalent doses (mg) | Cortisone 25 · Hydrocortisone 20 · Prednisone 5 · Prednisolone 5 · Methylprednisolone 4 · Triamcinolone 4 · Dexamethasone 0.75 · Betamethasone 0.6 |
Formula
Target dose = current dose ÷ equivalent dose(current) × equivalent dose(target). Equivalents (mg): cortisone 25, hydrocortisone 20, prednisone 5, prednisolone 5, methylprednisolone 4, triamcinolone 4, dexamethasone 0.75, betamethasone 0.6.
Clinical pearls
- Equivalences apply to oral/IV glucocorticoid (anti-inflammatory) effect only; mineralocorticoid effect differs widely (hydrocortisone has substantial, dexamethasone almost none).
- Duration differs: dexamethasone and betamethasone act 36–72 h, so once-daily equivalence does not imply equal HPA-axis suppression.
- Equivalences are approximate and do not apply to intra-articular, inhaled or topical routes.
Examples
convert prednisone 40 mg to methylprednisolonedexamethasone 10 mg equals how much prednisonehydrocortisone 100 mg to prednisone equivalentsteroid conversion dex 6 mg to betamethasone
FAQ
How much dexamethasone equals prednisone?
Dexamethasone 0.75 mg is roughly equivalent to prednisone 5 mg, so dexamethasone is about 6.7 times as potent; 6 mg dexamethasone ≈ 40 mg prednisone.
What is the hydrocortisone equivalent of prednisone?
Prednisone 5 mg ≈ hydrocortisone 20 mg (4:1).