{"id":67433,"date":"2026-10-21T10:29:36","date_gmt":"2026-10-21T07:29:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/?p=67433"},"modified":"2026-10-21T10:29:36","modified_gmt":"2026-10-21T07:29:36","slug":"corticosteroid-conversion-calculator","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/medical\/corticosteroid-conversion-calculator\/","title":{"rendered":"Corticosteroid Conversion Calculator"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"not-prose calculator-box\" aria-labelledby=\"calculator-title\"><div class=\"flex items-baseline sm:items-center justify-between gap-2 sm:gap-3\"><div class=\"flex flex-col sm:flex-row sm:items-center gap-2\"><span class=\"icon icon-calculator text-primary-700! text-base! dark:text-primary-300!\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><h2 id=\"calculator-title\" class=\"text-lg font-display font-bold\">Convert a Dose Between Systemic Corticosteroids<\/h2><\/div><div class=\"calcdash-favorite group\">\n  <button type=\"button\" class=\"favorite\" id=\"favorite\" data-favorite-id=\"67433\" data-favorite-title=\"Steroid Conversion\" data-favorite-url=\"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/medical\/corticosteroid-conversion-calculator\/\" data-favorite-excerpt=\"Convert a dose between systemic corticosteroids (prednisone, dexamethasone, hydrocortisone and more). Enter a medication and dose to get the equivalent prednisone dose and the full conversion table with potency and half-life.\" aria-label=\"Add to Favorites\" data-favorite-icon=\"icon icon-pharmacology\">\n    <span class=\"icon icon-shape-star-empty\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\n  <\/button>\n  <div class=\"calcdash-favorite__tip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n   <span class=\"favorite-tooltip\" id=\"favorite-tooltip\"><\/span>\n  <\/div>\n  <span class=\"sr-only\" role=\"status\" id=\"favorite-status\"><\/span>\n<\/div><\/div><form action=\"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/medical\/corticosteroid-conversion-calculator\/\" method=\"POST\" class=\"calculator\" id=\"calculator-67433\" data-post=\"67433\"><fieldset class=\"fieldset-input is-2\"><legend class=\"sr-only\">Input Fields<\/legend><div class=\"field is-single\" id=\"input-1\"><label for=\"field-1\">Medication<\/label><div class=\"grid grid-cols-1\"><select id=\"field-1\" name=\"medication\"><option value=\"hydrocortisone\">Hydrocortisone<\/option><option value=\"cortisone\">Cortisone<\/option><option value=\"prednisone\" selected>Prednisone<\/option><option value=\"prednisolone\">Prednisolone<\/option><option value=\"methylprednisolone\">Methylprednisolone<\/option><option value=\"triamcinolone\">Triamcinolone<\/option><option value=\"dexamethasone\">Dexamethasone<\/option><option value=\"betamethasone\">Betamethasone<\/option><\/select><svg class=\"pointer-events-none col-start-1 row-start-1 mr-2 size-5 self-center justify-self-end text-gray-500 sm:size-4\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"currentColor\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-slot=\"icon\">\n              <path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M4.22 6.22a.75.75 0 0 1 1.06 0L8 8.94l2.72-2.72a.75.75 0 1 1 1.06 1.06l-3.25 3.25a.75.75 0 0 1-1.06 0L4.22 7.28a.75.75 0 0 1 0-1.06Z\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" \/>\n            <\/svg><\/div><\/div><div class=\"field has-term\" id=\"input-2\"><label for=\"field-2\">Dose<\/label><div class=\"term\">mg<\/div>  <div class=\"absolute bottom-0 left-16 top-8 w-2 h-0.5 bg-blue-500\"><\/div><input type=\"text\" name=\"dose\" id=\"field-2\" aria-describedby=\"calc-unit-2 calc-info-2\" data-number inputmode=\"decimal\" autocomplete=\"off\" spellcheck=\"false\" min=\"0.01\" max=\"100000\" value=\"30\"\/><div class=\"unit\" id=\"calc-unit-2\">mg<\/div><small id=\"calc-info-2\">Daily or per-dose amount of the medication chosen above. The equivalence applies to the amount per dose; multiply it by the number of doses per day for a daily total.<\/small><\/div><\/fieldset><div class=\"buttons\"><button type=\"submit\" data-text=\"Re-Calculate\" id=\"calculate-button\" data-post=\"67433\">Calculate<\/button><button type=\"reset\">Reset<\/button><\/div><div class=\"field is-checkbox hidden!\" id=\"field-auto-calc\"><input type=\"checkbox\" id=\"auto-calc\"><label for=\"auto-calc\">Calculate automatically<\/label><small>If enabled, the result will update automatically when you change any value.<\/small><\/div><div class=\"fieldset-result is-hidden\" aria-labelledby=\"result-title\" aria-live=\"polite\" role=\"region\"> <h3 class=\"result-title bg-gradient-to-r from-primary-50 to-gray-50 dark:from-primary-900 dark:to-gray-800\" id=\"result-title\"><span class=\"icon icon-s-pulse\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span> Equivalent Doses<\/h3><div class=\"result-box\"><div class=\"field-result\" id=\"output-1\"><span class=\"field-title\"><span>Equivalent prednisone dose<\/span><span class=\"result-term\">eq<\/span><\/span><span class=\"field-value\" id=\"result-1\" data-unit=\"mg\"><\/span><button type=\"button\" class=\"copy-result\" data-tooltip=\"Copy Result\" aria-label=\"Copy Result\"><span class=\"copy-icon icon icon-document-copy\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/button><\/div><div class=\"field-result is-column\" id=\"output-2\"><span class=\"field-title\"><span>Equivalent doses, potency and half-life<\/span><\/span><span class=\"field-value\" id=\"result-2\"><\/span><button type=\"button\" class=\"copy-result\" data-tooltip=\"Copy Result\" aria-label=\"Copy Result\"><span class=\"copy-icon icon icon-document-copy\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/button><\/div><div class=\"field-result is-column\" id=\"output-3\"><span class=\"field-title\"><span>Conversion notes and disclaimer<\/span><\/span><span class=\"field-value\" id=\"result-3\"><\/span><button type=\"button\" class=\"copy-result\" data-tooltip=\"Copy Result\" aria-label=\"Copy Result\"><span class=\"copy-icon icon icon-document-copy\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/button><\/div><\/div><div class=\"result-actions\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"copy-link\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 20 20\" fill=\"currentColor\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M12.232 4.232a2.5 2.5 0 0 1 3.536 3.536l-1.225 1.224a.75.75 0 0 0 1.061 1.06l1.224-1.224a4 4 0 0 0-5.656-5.656l-3 3a4 4 0 0 0 .225 5.865.75.75 0 0 0 .977-1.138 2.5 2.5 0 0 1-.142-3.667l3-3Z\"\/><path d=\"M11.603 7.963a.75.75 0 0 0-.977 1.138 2.5 2.5 0 0 1 .142 3.667l-3 3a2.5 2.5 0 0 1-3.536-3.536l1.225-1.224a.75.75 0 0 0-1.061-1.06l-1.224 1.224a4 4 0 1 0 5.656 5.656l3-3a4 4 0 0 0-.225-5.865Z\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"copy-link__text\">Copy link to this calculation<\/span><\/button><span class=\"sr-only\" role=\"status\" id=\"copy-link-status\"><\/span><\/div><\/div><a href=\"#respond\" class=\"hidden transition-opacity duration-300 opacity-0 w-50 text-sm justify-center items-center gap-2 px-4 py-2 rounded bg-gray-200 text-gray-700 hover:bg-gray-300\" id=\"leave-comment\"><span class=\"icon icon-comments\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>Leave a Comment<\/a><\/form><\/section><section id=\"calc-reactions\" class=\"not-prose hidden my-12 bg-gradient-to-r from-primary-50 to-gray-50 border border-indigo-100 rounded-xl px-6 py-4 shadow-sm\" data-post=\"67433\" aria-live=\"polite\" aria-labelledby=\"calc-reactions-title\"><p id=\"calc-reactions-title\" class=\"text-sm text-gray-500 text-center mb-2\">How did this result make you feel?<\/p><div role=\"group\" aria-labelledby=\"calc-reactions-title\" class=\"grid grid-cols-3 sm:flex sm:flex-row sm:justify-around gap-4 sm:items-center sm:flex-wrap\"><button type=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" class=\"reaction-btn flex flex-col items-center gap-1 text-sm text-gray-700 hover:text-primary-600 cursor-pointer transition-transform hover:scale-105\" data-reaction=\"like\"><span class=\"reaction-count\" data-reaction-count=\"like\">0<\/span><span class=\"reaction text-3xl\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\ud83d\ude00 <\/span><span class=\"reaction-description font-medium\">Like <\/span><\/button><button type=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" class=\"reaction-btn flex flex-col items-center gap-1 text-sm text-gray-700 hover:text-primary-600 cursor-pointer transition-transform hover:scale-105\" data-reaction=\"helpful\"><span class=\"reaction-count\" data-reaction-count=\"helpful\">0<\/span><span class=\"reaction text-3xl\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\ud83d\udca1 <\/span><span class=\"reaction-description font-medium\">Helpful <\/span><\/button><button type=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" class=\"reaction-btn flex flex-col items-center gap-1 text-sm text-gray-700 hover:text-primary-600 cursor-pointer transition-transform hover:scale-105\" data-reaction=\"confused\"><span class=\"reaction-count\" data-reaction-count=\"confused\">0<\/span><span class=\"reaction text-3xl\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\ud83d\ude15 <\/span><span class=\"reaction-description font-medium\">Confused <\/span><\/button><button type=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" class=\"reaction-btn flex flex-col items-center gap-1 text-sm text-gray-700 hover:text-primary-600 cursor-pointer transition-transform hover:scale-105\" data-reaction=\"disappointed\"><span class=\"reaction-count\" data-reaction-count=\"disappointed\">0<\/span><span class=\"reaction text-3xl\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\ud83d\ude1e <\/span><span class=\"reaction-description font-medium\">Disappointed <\/span><\/button><button type=\"button\" aria-pressed=\"false\" class=\"reaction-btn flex flex-col items-center gap-1 text-sm text-gray-700 hover:text-primary-600 cursor-pointer transition-transform hover:scale-105\" data-reaction=\"inaccurate\"><span class=\"reaction-count\" data-reaction-count=\"inaccurate\">0<\/span><span class=\"reaction text-3xl\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\u274c <\/span><span class=\"reaction-description font-medium\">Inaccurate <\/span><\/button><\/div><div id=\"reaction-message\" class=\"hidden mt-8 rounded-md border border-primary-100 bg-white\/50 backdrop-blur-sm px-4 py-2 text-sm text-center shadow-sm\"><\/div><\/section><div class=\"calcdash-ad not-prose calcdash-ad--calc_result calcdash-ad--in-article\"><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1721569815777345\" data-ad-slot=\"6317458308\" data-ad-layout=\"in-article\" data-ad-format=\"fluid\"><\/ins><script>(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/script><\/div>\n<style id=\"wpcoderpro-inline-1\">.formula-box {\r\n\tborder-bottom: none !important;\r\n}<\/style><section class=\"formula-box\" aria-labelledby=\"formula-title\">\r\n\t<div id=\"formula-title\" class=\"not-prose font-display mb-4\"><span class=\"icon icon-formula\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><h2>Corticosteroid Conversion Formula<\/h2><\/div>\r\n\t<figure class=\"not-prose formula\">\r\n\t\t<figcaption class=\"formula-title\">Formula<\/figcaption>\r\n\t\t<div class=\"text-base text-gray-800\" id=\"formula\">\n\\[ D_{\\text{prednisone}} = D_{\\text{entered}} \\times \\frac{5}{B_{\\text{entered}}} \\]\n\\[ D_{\\text{target}} = D_{\\text{prednisone}} \\times \\frac{B_{\\text{target}}}{5} = D_{\\text{entered}} \\times \\frac{B_{\\text{target}}}{B_{\\text{entered}}} \\]\n<\/div>\r\n\t<\/figure>\r\n\t<\/p>\n<p><strong>Where:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\\(D_{\\text{entered}}\\) \u2014 the dose of the medication you are converting from (mg)<\/li>\n<li>\\(B_{\\text{entered}}\\), \\(B_{\\text{target}}\\) \u2014 the base dose of each drug that is equivalent to prednisone 5 mg (hydrocortisone 20 mg, cortisone 25 mg, prednisone\/prednisolone 5 mg, methylprednisolone\/triamcinolone 4 mg, dexamethasone 0.75 mg, betamethasone 0.6 mg)<\/li>\n<li>\\(D_{\\text{prednisone}}\\) \u2014 the equivalent amount expressed as prednisone (mg)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The formula converts any systemic corticosteroid dose into its anti-inflammatory equivalent in any other drug, using the standard potency table in which each base dose equals prednisone 5 mg.<\/p>\n<p>\r\n<\/section>\n<style id=\"wpcoderpro-inline-459\">.calculation-box {\r\n\tborder-bottom: none !important;\r\n}<\/style><section id=\"calculation\" class=\"calculation-box\" aria-labelledby=\"calculation-title\">\r\n\t<div id=\"calculation-title\" class=\"not-prose font-display\"><span class=\"icon icon-unordered-list\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><h2>Corticosteroid Conversion \u2013 Calculation Example<\/h2><\/div>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> a patient takes 30 mg of prednisone per day and needs the equivalent dose of dexamethasone.<\/p>\n<p>\\[ D_{\\text{prednisone}} = 30 \\times \\frac{5}{5} = 30 \\text{ mg} \\]<\/p>\n<p>\\[ D_{\\text{dexamethasone}} = 30 \\times \\frac{0.75}{5} = 4.5 \\text{ mg} \\]<\/p>\n<p><strong>Result:<\/strong> 30 mg prednisone = 30 mg prednisone-equivalent = 4.5 mg dexamethasone once daily. The same conversion also gives 120 mg hydrocortisone or 24 mg methylprednisolone.<\/p>\n<p>\n\r\n<\/section>\n<h2>How to use the calculator<\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li>Open the <strong>Medication<\/strong> drop-down and select the drug you are converting <em>from<\/em> (for example Prednisone).<\/li>\n<li>Type the amount into the <strong>Dose<\/strong> field in mg. Enter the amount per dose \u2014 if the patient takes several doses per day, either enter the daily total or multiply the result by the number of doses.<\/li>\n<li>Read the <strong>Equivalent prednisone dose<\/strong> at the top of the results.<\/li>\n<li>Check the table <strong>Equivalent doses, potency and half-life<\/strong> for the equivalent dose of every drug, its glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid potency, and its biological half-life. Your entered medication is highlighted.<\/li>\n<li>Review the <strong>Conversion notes and disclaimer<\/strong> before applying any change to therapy.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2>What is corticosteroid equivalence?<\/h2>\n<p>Systemic corticosteroids differ hugely in potency: 0.75 mg of dexamethasone produces roughly the same anti-inflammatory effect as 20 mg of hydrocortisone or 5 mg of prednisone. To compare doses, pharmacology references express every drug in terms of a common standard \u2014 usually prednisone 5 mg. The resulting equivalence table lets a clinician translate a prescription from one corticosteroid to another without losing (or doubling) the intended glucocorticoid effect.<\/p>\n<p>Equivalence matters in everyday practice: switching from prednisone to dexamethasone in a patient with cerebral edema, converting hydrocortisone replacement to prednisolone, or comparing doses in research and steroid-safety guidelines, which are usually written in prednisone-equivalent milligrams.<\/p>\n<p>Anti-inflammatory equivalence is <em>only<\/em> one axis of comparison, though. The result tells you the glucocorticoid effect stays the same, but it says nothing about how long the drug acts (half-life ranges from 8\u201312 h for hydrocortisone to 36\u201372 h for betamethasone) or its mineralocorticoid (salt- and water-retaining) activity. Both differences change the clinical outcome of a switch even when the arithmetic is correct.<\/p>\n<p>For the same reason, the daily dosing schedule usually changes with the drug: hydrocortisone and cortisone are given in 2\u20133 divided doses, intermediate-acting drugs once or twice daily, and dexamethasone or betamethasone once daily or less often because of their long half-lives.<\/p>\n<h2>Standard corticosteroid equivalence table<\/h2>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Medication<\/th>\n<th>Dose equivalent to prednisone 5 mg<\/th>\n<th>Glucocorticoid potency (hydrocortisone = 1)<\/th>\n<th>Mineralocorticoid potency<\/th>\n<th>Half-life<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Hydrocortisone<\/td>\n<td>20 mg<\/td>\n<td>1x<\/td>\n<td>1x (highest)<\/td>\n<td>Short (8\u201312 h)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Cortisone<\/td>\n<td>25 mg<\/td>\n<td>0.8x<\/td>\n<td>0.8x (high)<\/td>\n<td>Short (8\u201312 h)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Prednisone<\/td>\n<td>5 mg<\/td>\n<td>4x<\/td>\n<td>0.6\u20130.8x (moderate)<\/td>\n<td>Intermediate (18\u201336 h)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Prednisolone<\/td>\n<td>5 mg<\/td>\n<td>4x<\/td>\n<td>0.6x (moderate)<\/td>\n<td>Intermediate (18\u201336 h)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Methylprednisolone<\/td>\n<td>4 mg<\/td>\n<td>5x<\/td>\n<td>about 0.5x (slight)<\/td>\n<td>Intermediate (18\u201336 h)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Triamcinolone<\/td>\n<td>4 mg<\/td>\n<td>5x<\/td>\n<td>none<\/td>\n<td>Intermediate (12\u201336 h)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Dexamethasone<\/td>\n<td>0.75 mg<\/td>\n<td>25\u201330x<\/td>\n<td>none<\/td>\n<td>Long (36\u201354 h)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Betamethasone<\/td>\n<td>0.6 mg<\/td>\n<td>25\u201330x<\/td>\n<td>none<\/td>\n<td>Long (36\u201372 h)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2>Assumptions, limitations and clinical tips<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Approximate, population-average ratios.<\/strong> The equivalence figures come from standard pharmacology references (Goodman &amp; Gilman, USP DI) and ignore individual variation, liver disease, and interactions with CYP3A4 inhibitors or inducers. Prednisone itself is a prodrug converted to prednisolone by the liver; in significant hepatic impairment many clinicians prescribe prednisolone directly. Impaired liver function can be scored with the <a href=\"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/medical\/child-pugh-score-calculator\/\">Child-Pugh score<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Mineralocorticoid effect is not interchangeable.<\/strong> Dexamethasone, betamethasone and triamcinolone retain almost no sodium. Switching a hydrocortisone replacement patient to one of them \u2014 or vice versa \u2014 is <em>not<\/em> equivalent replacement therapy, even if the prednisone-equivalent numbers match. potent long-acting drugs are deliberately chosen when salt retention must be avoided.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Duration of action differs.<\/strong> Equivalent milligrams do not guarantee equivalent duration of HPA-axis suppression; long-acting drugs suppress the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis markedly longer.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Route-specific dosing and special protocols.<\/strong> The table applies to enteral and parenteral systemic use. Intra-articular, inhaled, topical and intralesional corticosteroids follow their own dosing, and dexamethasone suppression-test regimens use specific protocols that this equivalence does not describe. Cortisone is often listed as cortisone acetate because the native compound is largely inactive until converted to hydrocortisone by the liver.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Not medical advice.<\/strong> Verify any conversion against your local formulary and the product labeling before changing a patient's treatment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For related dose-transformation tasks see the <a href=\"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/medical\/mme-calculator-morphine-milligram-equivalents\/\">MME opioid conversion calculator<\/a>, the <a href=\"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/medical\/half-life-time-medicine\/\">drug half-life calculator<\/a>, or the <a href=\"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/medical\/childrens-acetaminophen-tylenol-dosage-calculator\/\">children's acetaminophen dosage calculator<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Convert a dose between systemic corticosteroids (prednisone, dexamethasone, hydrocortisone and more). Enter a medication and dose to get the equivalent prednisone dose and the full conversion table with potency and half-life.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3168,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[32],"class_list":["post-67433","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-medical","tag-pharmacology"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67433","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3168"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=67433"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67433\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":67434,"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67433\/revisions\/67434"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=67433"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=67433"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpcalc.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=67433"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}