Corticosteroid equivalence calculator
Compares glucocorticoids by anti-inflammatory potency. It converts a dose of one of eight drugs to the equivalent amount of another, and shows the prednisone equivalent and the equivalent of every other drug in the list.
- Conversions
- Label tables
- Runs on your device
Short answer
Corticosteroid equivalence compares anti-inflammatory potency: hydrocortisone 20 mg, cortisone 25 mg, prednisolone 5 mg, prednisone 5 mg, methylprednisolone 4 mg, triamcinolone 4 mg, dexamethasone 0.75 mg and betamethasone 0.75 mg are approximately equivalent (BNF; Liu 2013).
Corticosteroid equivalence
Runs on your device. Nothing you enter is saved or sent.
Estimate only. Interpret it with the patient's clinical picture and the product label.
Sources
2
- British National Formulary (BNF): Corticosteroids, general use. Equivalent anti-inflammatory doses. NICE BNF online, corticosteroids, general use. Later adaptation Not indexed in PubMed
- Liu D, Ahmet A, Ward L, et al. A practical guide to the monitoring and management of the complications of systemic corticosteroid therapy. Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2013;9(1):30. DOI 10.1186/1710-1492-9-30 PubMed 23947590
Formula version: Glucocorticoid equivalence (BNF · Liu 2013) · MediHelp calc v1.3.1
Formula and sources checked on 2026-11-02
When this estimate is not valid
4
- Equivalence compares glucocorticoid (anti-inflammatory) potency only. It is not a dose recommendation and not a substitute for the label.
- Mineralocorticoid effect differs between drugs (high for hydrocortisone and cortisone, minimal for dexamethasone and methylprednisolone). Fludrocortisone is not included.
- Biological half-life and duration of action differ from the equivalent doses. Cross-over is not exact, and published tables differ slightly.
- Route and indication matter (for example intra-articular, topical, inhaled and cerebral oedema or COVID-19 doses follow their own evidence).
Estimate only. Interpret it with the patient's clinical picture and the product label.
About this calculator
- What it is
- Corticosteroid equivalence converts a dose of one systemic glucocorticoid into the anti-inflammatory equivalent of another.
- Why it is used
- It supports switching between glucocorticoids or comparing cumulative exposure.
- How to use it
- Choose the current drug and dose and the target drug; equivalents are for systemic (oral or intravenous) anti-inflammatory potency only.
- How to read the result
- The result is the approximately equipotent dose (for example 5 mg prednisolone equals 0.75 mg dexamethasone or 20 mg hydrocortisone). It is not a dose recommendation: mineralocorticoid effect, duration of action and the indication differ between drugs.
How it is calculated
equivalent mg: hydrocortisone 20, cortisone 25, prednisolone 5, prednisone 5, methylprednisolone 4, triamcinolone 4, dexamethasone 0.75, betamethasone 0.75
Each drug has an equivalent anti-inflammatory amount. The equivalence table follows the BNF and Liu 2013: hydrocortisone 20 mg, cortisone 25 mg, prednisolone 5 mg, prednisone 5 mg, methylprednisolone 4 mg, triamcinolone 4 mg, dexamethasone 0.75 mg and betamethasone 0.75 mg.
Dose in drug B = dose of drug A × (equivalent mg of B ÷ equivalent mg of A)
The amount of drug B equivalent to a given amount of drug A is the amount of A multiplied by the ratio of the two equivalent amounts.
Prednisone equivalent = dose × 5 ÷ equivalent mg of drug A
The prednisone equivalent is shown as well, calculated against the 5 mg reference.
Equivalence compares glucocorticoid (anti-inflammatory) potency only. Mineralocorticoid effect differs between drugs (high for hydrocortisone and cortisone, minimal for dexamethasone and methylprednisolone), and fludrocortisone is not included.
Limits: an amount from 0.01 to 5000 mg. A note appears if the same drug is chosen on both sides. The calculator shows each step of the arithmetic.
Worked example
10 mg of prednisone converted to dexamethasone:
10 × 0.75 ÷ 5 = 1.5 mg10 × 5 ÷ 5 = 10 mg
10 mg of prednisone is equivalent to 1.5 mg of dexamethasone. The prednisone equivalent is 10 mg; the other equivalents are hydrocortisone 40 mg, cortisone 50 mg, prednisolone 10 mg, methylprednisolone 8 mg, triamcinolone 8 mg and betamethasone 1.5 mg.
Questions
Is the result a dose recommendation?
No. Equivalence compares glucocorticoid potency only. It is not a dose recommendation and not a substitute for the product label.
Why do the equivalents differ between published tables?
Biological half-life and duration of action differ from the equivalent amounts, the cross-over is not exact, and published tables differ slightly. The calculator uses one table (BNF, Liu 2013).
Does it include mineralocorticoid effect?
No. Mineralocorticoid effect differs between drugs (high for hydrocortisone and cortisone, minimal for dexamethasone and methylprednisolone), and fludrocortisone is not included.
Does it apply to every route and indication?
No. Route and indication matter. Intra-articular, topical and inhaled use, and cerebral oedema or COVID-19 regimens, follow their own evidence.
Use the calculators in the MediHelp app
Estimate only. Interpret it with the patient's clinical picture and the product label.
