Steroid Conversion Calculator
Table of contents
What is steroid equivalency?Corticosteroid conversion of dosesAn example – prednisone conversionFAQsThis steroid conversion calculator is a tool used to estimate the correct corticosteroid dosage. The calculation is based on steroid equivalency – the fact that steroids can be substituted by one another, taking into account their potency and duration of action.
This is a calculator for medical professionals. If you're a patient, don't try to modify your therapy without consulting a physician!
Please remember that the estimated doses apply only to intravenous or oral administration of steroids.
Check out our general dosage calculator, ibuprofen dosage calculator, and paracetamol dosage calculator, and scroll down to read more about corticosteroid conversion!
We try our best to make our Omni Calculators as precise and reliable as possible. However, this tool can never replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All information on this website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to and should not serve as a substitute for medical consultation. Always seek the advice of a health provider.
What is steroid equivalency?
Corticosteroids are both hormones produced in the human body and synthetic drugs designed to act in the same ways as natural ones. They have anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, and immunosuppressive properties and are used in a wide range of conditions.
There are general recommendations on when to use specific drugs, but they all act similarly and sometimes can be used interchangeably. Consider increasing dosing frequency when converting to a drug with a shorter half-life and decreasing the frequency when converting to a longer acting steroid.
Other drugs that act in the same ways, but have different potencies, are opioids. Check out our opioid conversion calculator!
Corticosteroid conversion of doses
The provided calculation is based on the by National Adrenal Diseases Foundation:
Drug | Equivalent dose | Anti-inflammatory potency | Duration of action |
|---|---|---|---|
Hydrocortisone | 20 mg | 1 | 8-12 hours |
Cortisone | 25 mg | 0.8 | 8-12 hours |
Prednisone | 5 mg | 4 | 12-36 hours |
Prednisolone | 5 mg | 4 | 12-36 hours |
Triamcinolone | 4 mg | 5 | 12-36 hours |
Methylprednisolone | 4 mg | 5 | 12-36 hours |
Dexamethasone | 0.75 mg | 30 | 36-54 hours |
Betamethasone | 0.6 mg | 30 | 36-54 hours |
An example – prednisone conversion
Let's say you'd like to convert the dosage of 20 mg of prednisone to methylprednisolone (trade name Solumedrol). To do it manually, you have to:
-
Find the anti-inflammatory potency of prednisone in the table – it's
4. -
Find the anti-inflammatory potency of methylprednisolone in the table – it's
5. -
Multiply your prednisolone dose by its potency, and divide it by methylprednisolone's potency:
20 mg × 4 / 5 = 16 mg -
...Or use our calculator for prednisone conversion :) The calculated dose of methylprednisolone is
16 mg.
What are corticosteroids?
Corticosteroids are steroid hormones produced by many glands in our bodies. Corticosteroids are used as drugs since they intervene in inflammation processes, regulation of blood electrolytes, metabolism, and many other situations. There are many types of corticosteroids, roughly equivalent in effect but acting at different potencies. You can calculate how to change the posology with different drugs with a simple conversion.
How do I convert between steroid dosages?
To convert steroid dosage, follow these easy steps:
- Find the anti-inflammatory potency of the steroid currently in use.
- Calculate the equivalent dosage of hydrocortisone, multiplying the current dosage by the potency.
- Find the potency of the type of steroid you want to change to.
- Calculate the dosage of the new steroid by dividing the dosage of hydrocortisone by the potency of the new steroid.
You are all done!
How much dexamethasone corresponds to 100 mg of cortisone?
Dexamethasone is a steroid with very high potency: a dosage of 100 mg of cortisone corresponds to a mere 3 mg of dexamethasone. The duration of the action changes drastically, too: while cortisone lasts for less than a day (12 hours maximum), dexamethasone lasts for multiple days: one dosage is good for more than 50 hours.
Should I change time of administration when I change type of steroid?
Yes: different types of steroids act with different half-lives: don't maintain the same administration schedule after changing the type of steroid, as you can easily assume dosages that are either too low or too high! Always consult your doctor before changing the type of drug.