Corticosteroid Conversion Calculator

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Walk-through

How to Use This Calculator

3 steps

1

Pick the source agent and dose

Choose the corticosteroid the patient is currently taking from the Source agent dropdown, then enter the dose in milligrams. All eight agents — hydrocortisone, cortisone, prednisone, prednisolone, methylprednisolone, triamcinolone, dexamethasone, and betamethasone — are available.

2

Choose the target agent

Select the corticosteroid you want to convert to from the Convert to dropdown. The calculator uses the equivalent-dose-mg ratio between the two agents (hydrocortisone 20 mg is the reference point), so the converted dose updates instantly as you change either selection.

3

Read the converted dose and quick compare

The result card shows the converted dose, the hydrocortisone-equivalent dose, and a plain-language interpretation. The Quick Compare table below it shows the same source dose converted into three common bridge agents (prednisone, methylprednisolone, dexamethasone) at once. Check the Potency Table and Duration of Action tabs for the full reference data and always verify with a pharmacist before administering.

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Reference

Formula & Methodology

3 formulas

Equivalent-dose conversion

targetDose = sourceDose × (targetEquivMg / sourceEquivMg)

Each corticosteroid has a published equivalent dose in milligrams — the dose that produces the same anti-inflammatory (glucocorticoid) effect as 20 mg of hydrocortisone, the reference agent. Converting between two agents is a straightforward ratio of their equivalent-dose figures. This is the standard, unambiguous method used by clinical steroid-conversion references.

Hydrocortisone-equivalent dose

hcEquiv = sourceDose × (20 / sourceEquivMg)

An intermediate value showing what the source dose is worth in hydrocortisone terms — useful as a common reference point when comparing across more than two agents, since hydrocortisone is the 1.0 potency baseline.

Standard equivalent doses (mg)

Hydrocortisone 20 · Cortisone 25 · Prednisone 5 · Prednisolone 5 · Methylprednisolone 4 · Triamcinolone 4 · Dexamethasone 0.75 · Betamethasone 0.6

The equivalent-dose-mg figures used for every conversion, per the standard glucocorticoid equivalency table (Goodman & Gilman's Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics / UpToDate's glucocorticoid comparison table). Relative potency (hydrocortisone = 1) is the commonly-published rounded figure shown separately in the Potency Table tab.

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High YMYL

Trust, Methodology & Sources

Reviewed by Calculover Editorial Review · Updated 2026-07-23 · 2 sources

Editorial accountability

Author: Quinn Sumner - Editor

Owner: Quinn Sumner - Editorial owner

Reviewer: Calculover Editorial Review - Clinical-source review

Last reviewed: 2026-07-23

Last verified: 2026-07-23

Data effective: 2026-07-23

Methodology

The calculator converts corticosteroid doses using the standard glucocorticoid equivalency table (Goodman & Gilman's Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics; UpToDate glucocorticoid comparison table), with hydrocortisone as the 1.0 reference agent (20 mg equivalent dose). Conversion applies the equivalent-dose-mg ratio directly: targetDose = sourceDose × (targetEquivMg / sourceEquivMg), where equivalent doses are 20 mg hydrocortisone, 25 mg cortisone, 5 mg prednisone, 5 mg prednisolone, 4 mg methylprednisolone, 4 mg triamcinolone, 0.75 mg dexamethasone, and 0.6 mg betamethasone. Relative potency and mineralocorticoid-activity figures shown in the Potency Table tab are the commonly-published rounded values from the same reference class, and duration-of-action classes (short/intermediate/long-acting) with biologic half-life ranges are drawn from the same standard pharmacology source.

Assumption: The conversion is a glucocorticoid (anti-inflammatory) potency ratio only — it does not model route of administration, oral bioavailability, or individual pharmacokinetics.

Assumption: Equivalency ratios reflect typical anti-inflammatory dosing and may not hold precisely at very high or prolonged doses.

Assumption: Relative potency and mineralocorticoid-activity figures are independently-published rounded values, not algebraically re-derived from the equivalent-dose-mg column.

Limitations & guidance

Potency equivalence does not ensure identical mineralocorticoid effect, kinetics, or side-effect profile between two agents — this is a well-documented caveat of every published corticosteroid equivalency table.

This is not patient-specific dosing guidance. Hepatic/renal function, drug interactions, and the specific clinical indication (e.g., replacement therapy vs. anti-inflammatory treatment vs. stress dosing) can all shift what the appropriate dose actually is.

The tool does not account for tapering schedules, dosing frequency, or cross-tolerance — it converts a single dose figure between two agents at one point in time.

Professional guidance: For clinical/educational reference only. Not a substitute for clinical judgment. Verify all doses with a pharmacist or current prescribing information before administering.

Primary sources

Goodman & Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics — Adrenocorticotropic Hormone, Adrenal Steroids, and the Adrenal Cortex

UpToDate — Pharmacologic use of glucocorticoids

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Glossary

Key Terms Explained

5 terms

Glucocorticoid potency The relative strength of a corticosteroid's anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effect, expressed relative to hydrocortisone (potency = 1). Higher potency means a smaller milligram dose produces the same effect.

Mineralocorticoid activity A corticosteroid's effect on sodium/water retention and potassium excretion (via the aldosterone-like pathway). Hydrocortisone and cortisone have significant mineralocorticoid activity; dexamethasone, betamethasone, and triamcinolone have essentially none.

Hydrocortisone-equivalent dose A dose expressed in terms of how many milligrams of hydrocortisone would produce the same glucocorticoid effect. Used as a common reference point when comparing multiple agents.

Biologic half-life (duration of action) How long a corticosteroid's anti-inflammatory effect and HPA-axis suppression persist, grouped into short-acting (8–12 h: hydrocortisone, cortisone), intermediate-acting (12–36 h: prednisone, prednisolone, methylprednisolone, triamcinolone), and long-acting (36–54 h: dexamethasone, betamethasone).

HPA axis The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis that regulates the body's own cortisol production. Longer-acting, more potent corticosteroids suppress this axis for longer, which matters for tapering and stress-dosing decisions.

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Scenarios

Real-World Examples

3 worked examples

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IV-to-PO switch

20 mg hydrocortisone (IV) → oral prednisone

Source agent Hydrocortisone Source dose 20 mg Target agent Prednisone

20 mg of hydrocortisone is glucocorticoid-equivalent to 5 mg of prednisone (20 × 5/20 = 5), since prednisone's equivalent dose is 5 mg versus hydrocortisone's 20 mg reference. This is a common conversion when switching a patient from IV stress-dose hydrocortisone to an oral prednisone taper.

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Route switch, high dose

40 mg prednisone → IV methylprednisolone

Source agent Prednisone Source dose 40 mg Target agent Methylprednisolone

40 mg of prednisone converts to 32 mg of methylprednisolone (40 × 4/5 = 32), reflecting methylprednisolone's slightly higher potency (5 vs. 4). The hydrocortisone-equivalent of this dose is 160 mg.

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Long-acting to stress-dose

6 mg dexamethasone → hydrocortisone stress-dose equivalent

Source agent Dexamethasone Source dose 6 mg Target agent Hydrocortisone

6 mg of dexamethasone is glucocorticoid-equivalent to 160 mg of hydrocortisone (6 × 20/0.75 = 160). This illustrates how a small milligram dose of a long-acting, high-potency agent corresponds to a much larger dose of the short-acting reference agent — and why dexamethasone has essentially no mineralocorticoid effect at typical doses.

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Deep Dive

Understanding Corticosteroid Dose Conversion

3 chapters · 3 min read

Clinicians frequently need to switch a patient between corticosteroids — moving from IV to oral therapy, changing agents for a different mineralocorticoid profile, or adjusting a taper. Because each corticosteroid has a different anti-inflammatory potency per milligram, a straight milligram-for-milligram substitution would either under- or over-dose the patient. This calculator applies the standard glucocorticoid equivalency table to convert doses between agents.

How the equivalency table works

Every systemic corticosteroid has a published "equivalent dose" in milligrams — the dose that produces roughly the same anti-inflammatory effect as 20 mg of hydrocortisone, which serves as the 1.0 reference point because it is chemically identical to the body's own cortisol. Converting between two agents is simply the ratio of their equivalent doses: targetDose = sourceDose × (targetEquivMg / sourceEquivMg). This is the same method used by standard clinical steroid-conversion references (Goodman & Gilman's Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics; UpToDate's glucocorticoid comparison table).

Why route and duration still matter

Potency-equivalence does not guarantee identical pharmacokinetics, bioavailability, or side-effect profile. Short-acting agents (hydrocortisone, cortisone) have significant mineralocorticoid activity and closely mimic the body's own cortisol rhythm, making them preferred for chronic adrenal-insufficiency replacement. Intermediate-acting agents (prednisone, prednisolone, methylprednisolone, triamcinolone) are the most common oral anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive choices. Long-acting agents (dexamethasone, betamethasone) have essentially no mineralocorticoid activity and a much longer duration of HPA-axis suppression, making them useful for conditions needing sustained effect but less suitable for routine replacement therapy.

Limits and when to involve a pharmacist

Equivalency ratios are derived from typical anti-inflammatory dosing studies and are approximations — they can diverge from true clinical equivalence at very high or prolonged doses, or in situations where mineralocorticoid effect is the primary concern (such as adrenal insufficiency replacement or Addison's disease). Individual patient factors — hepatic function, drug interactions, oral bioavailability, and the specific clinical indication — can all shift the effective dose. This calculator is an educational reference for the potency ratio only; always confirm the final dose, route, frequency, and any taper schedule with a pharmacist or the current prescribing information before administering.

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Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

5 questions

Does this account for the route of administration or bioavailability?+

No. This tool converts relative glucocorticoid (anti-inflammatory) potency only. Oral bioavailability, IV vs. PO/IM absorption, and individual pharmacokinetics can all shift the effective dose, so the converted figure is a starting reference point, not a final prescribing dose.

Why is hydrocortisone the reference agent?+

Hydrocortisone is chemically identical to cortisol, the body's own glucocorticoid, so it is the traditional 1.0 reference point (20 mg equivalent dose) that every other agent's equivalency table is built around.

Is this a 1:1 dose swap in every clinical situation?+

No. Equivalency tables assume typical anti-inflammatory dosing. At very high or prolonged doses, or when mineralocorticoid effect matters (e.g., adrenal insufficiency replacement), the ratios can diverge from real-world equivalence — always verify with a pharmacist or current prescribing information.

What is the difference between glucocorticoid potency and mineralocorticoid activity?+

Glucocorticoid potency measures anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive strength — this is what the conversion ratio is based on. Mineralocorticoid activity measures sodium/water retention and potassium excretion, which varies independently: hydrocortisone and cortisone have high mineralocorticoid activity, while dexamethasone, betamethasone, and triamcinolone have essentially none.

When should I involve a pharmacist instead of relying on this calculator?+

Always, before administering. This is an educational reference for the potency ratio only — a pharmacist or the current prescribing information should confirm the final dose, route, frequency, and any taper schedule for a specific patient.

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Convert a Dose

Converted Dose

Quick compare — same dose in 3 common agents

Glucocorticoid Equivalency Table

Duration of Action

How to Use This Calculator

Pick the source agent and dose

Choose the target agent

Read the converted dose and quick compare

Formula & Methodology

Trust, Methodology & Sources

Key Terms Explained

Real-World Examples

IV-to-PO switch

Route switch, high dose

Long-acting to stress-dose

Understanding Corticosteroid Dose Conversion

How the equivalency table works

Why route and duration still matter

Limits and when to involve a pharmacist

Frequently Asked Questions

Get a branded PDF of your results

Corticosteroid Conversion Calculator

Convert a Dose

Converted Dose

Quick compare — same dose in 3 common agents

Glucocorticoid Equivalency Table

Duration of Action

How to Use This Calculator

Pick the source agent and dose

Choose the target agent

Read the converted dose and quick compare

Formula & Methodology

Trust, Methodology & Sources

Key Terms Explained

Real-World Examples

Understanding Corticosteroid Dose Conversion

How the equivalency table works

Why route and duration still matter

Limits and when to involve a pharmacist

Frequently Asked Questions

Get a branded PDF of your results

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