Corticosteroid Conversion Calculator
Convert between corticosteroids using standard potency equivalence tables — prednisone, methylprednisolone, dexamethasone, hydrocortisone.
Minimum: 0
Results
Prednisone Equivalent
40 mg
Target Steroid Dose
6 mg
How to Use This Calculator
Enter your input values
Fill in all required input fields for the Corticosteroid Conversion Calculator. Follow the units and input format printed next to each field. Where a unit selector is available, choose the units that match your data.
Review your inputs
Double-check that all values are correct and match the units or format shown for each field. Incorrect units are the most common source of calculation errors and can produce results that are off by factors of 2, 10, or more.
Read the results
The Corticosteroid Conversion Calculator computes the output in your browser and displays the results, with units clearly labeled, as soon as they are ready — no data sent to a server.
Explore parameter sensitivity
Try adjusting individual input values to see how the output changes. This is a quick and effective way to develop intuition about how different parameters influence the result and to identify which inputs have the largest effect.
When to Use This Calculator
- •Studying approximate anti-inflammatory equivalence between listed corticosteroids
- •Reviewing reference values with a qualified clinician; not choosing a dose, switch, or taper
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About Corticosteroid Conversion Calculator
This educational tool compares approximate anti-inflammatory equivalents; it does not recommend a dose, taper, route change or treatment. Confirm all clinical decisions with a prescriber or pharmacist. Equivalence tables differ, especially for betamethasone (0.6–0.75 mg); this tool uses the 0.75 mg convention. The published table used here is NIH LiverTox, Corticosteroids. Corticosteroids differ in anti-inflammatory potency, mineralocorticoid activity, duration of action, and biological half-life. When switching between steroids — for example, converting IV methylprednisolone to oral prednisone during hospital discharge, or calculating dexamethasone equivalence for protocol compliance — accurate dose conversion is essential to maintain therapeutic effect and avoid adrenal insufficiency or overdosing. This calculator uses prednisone as the reference standard (potency 1.0).
The Math Behind It
Formula Reference
Steroid Equivalence
Target Dose = (Current Dose × Current Potency) / Target Potency
Variables: Potency relative to prednisone: Pred=1, Methylpred=1.25, Dexa=6.67, HC=0.25
Worked Examples
Example 1: Methylprednisolone and Prednisone Equivalence
Compare the anti-inflammatory reference equivalents of methylprednisolone 32 mg and prednisone
Approximate anti-inflammatory equivalence: methylprednisolone 32 mg and prednisone 40 mg. Route and schedule require clinical review.
Example 2: Prednisone to Dexamethasone
Compare a reference amount of prednisone 60 mg with dexamethasone
Prednisone 60 mg = Dexamethasone 9 mg.
Common Mistakes & Tips
- !Forgetting that potency conversion applies only to anti-inflammatory (glucocorticoid) effect. Mineralocorticoid effects do not follow the same ratios.
- !Not accounting for different durations of action. Different durations of action mean a potency ratio alone cannot establish a dosing schedule.
- !Applying these ratios to topical steroids, which have entirely different potency classifications based on vasoconstriction assays.
Related Concepts
Frequently Asked Questions
Are prednisone and prednisolone interchangeable?
In most patients, yes — prednisone is converted to prednisolone in the liver at approximately 1:1. However, in severe liver disease or liver failure, prednisolone is preferred because the hepatic conversion may be impaired.
Why is dexamethasone used in COVID-19 treatment?
Dexamethasone has the longest duration of action (36-72 hours), allowing once-daily dosing, and has no mineralocorticoid activity (avoiding fluid retention). The RECOVERY trial used 6 mg dexamethasone daily, equivalent to 40 mg prednisone.
When should steroids be tapered instead of stopped abruptly?
Tapering is needed after more than 2-3 weeks of supraphysiologic doses (>7.5 mg prednisone equivalent daily) to allow the suppressed adrenal glands to resume cortisol production. Abrupt discontinuation can cause adrenal crisis — a life-threatening emergency.
References & Further Reading
Standards & Organizations
- NIH LiverTox — Corticosteroids: relative potency and equivalent doseNIH / NCBI Bookshelf
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