How to use it
- Enter the dose in milligrams.
- Choose the steroid you have and the one you want to compare with.
- Read the equivalent dose, or see all eight in the table below the result.
How the conversion works
Each steroid is converted through its prednisone equivalent: equivalent dose = dose × (equivalent of the target ÷ equivalent of the source).
| Steroid | Equivalent dose |
|---|---|
| Cortisone | 25 mg |
| Hydrocortisone | 20 mg |
| Prednisone | 5 mg |
| Prednisolone | 5 mg |
| Methylprednisolone | 4 mg |
| Triamcinolone | 4 mg |
| Dexamethasone | 0.75 mg |
| Betamethasone | 0.75 mg |
Worked examples
- 10 mg prednisone → 10 × 0.75 / 5 = 1.5 mg dexamethasone.
- 40 mg methylprednisolone → 40 × 5 / 4 = 50 mg prednisone = 7.5 mg dexamethasone.
- 6 mg dexamethasone → 6 × 20 / 0.75 = 160 mg hydrocortisone.
Tips
- Hydrocortisone and cortisone have a strong salt-retaining effect; dexamethasone and betamethasone have almost none.
- Dexamethasone and betamethasone act much longer than prednisone, so a “matching” dose can still have a different effect over the day.
- Never stop steroids taken for more than a few weeks suddenly; the dose is reduced gradually under medical advice.
- This page is for information. Any change of steroid or dose is a prescriber’s decision.