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💊 Glucocorticoid Equivalent Dose Conversion

UseSelect the source and target drugs and enter the source dose; the tool returns the equivalent target dose and…

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SourceWilliams DM. Clinical Pharmacology of Corticosteroids. Respir Care. 2018.

Runs locally in your browser (no PHI uploaded). For licensed clinicians — not a substitute for clinical judgement.
Stored on this device for revisit reminders

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Methodology · worked example, guidelines & full notes
Clinical takeaway

The conversion reflects anti-inflammatory potency only and ignores mineralocorticoid activity, half-life, and onset differences (original synthesis · not guideline verbatim).

When to use

Select the source and target drugs and enter the source dose; the tool returns the equivalent target dose and the prednisone equivalent.

How it works

Target dose = source dose × (potency_target / potency_source). Equivalent anti-inflammatory doses (mg): hydrocortisone 20, cortisone 25, prednisone 5, prednisolone 5, methylprednisolone 4, triamcinolone 4, dexamethasone 0.75, betamethasone 0.6.

Key points

  • The conversion reflects anti-inflammatory potency only and ignores mineralocorticoid activity, half-life, and onset differences (original synthesis · not guideline verbatim).
  • It is not valid for adrenal-insufficiency replacement dosing and does not define a tapering schedule.
  • Long-acting agents such as dexamethasone suppress the HPA axis more strongly despite a low milligram dose.

References

Worked calculation

The values below come from this tool's own example placeholders and are computed server-side with the formula shown on this page, so the arithmetic can be checked quickly. It demonstrates how to substitute values only — it is not clinical advice and not a real case.

From drugPrednisolone
Dose of source drug40 mg
To drugPrednisolone

→Prednisolone equivalent dose40mg

  • Prednisone equivalent：40 mg
  • Basis：Anti-inflammatory equivalence: hydrocortisone 20 = cortisone 25 = prednisone 5 = methylprednisolone 4 = dexamethasone 0.75 = betamethasone 0.6 mg
Verification & sources · governance
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What are the limits and cautions when using Glucocorticoid Equivalent Dose Conversion?
For licensed clinicians and clinical researchers. Interpret results with history, investigations and local protocols; not a diagnosis or prescription, and not a substitute for multidisciplinary decision-making or local guidelines.
Does Glucocorticoid Equivalent Dose Conversion upload patient data? Where is it calculated?
Calculation runs locally in the browser; inputs and results are not uploaded. For licensed clinicians only; interpret with history, investigations and local protocols — not a diagnosis or prescription.
How is Glucocorticoid Equivalent Dose Conversion calculated in practice? Can you show a worked example?
Inputs: From drug Prednisolone, Dose of source drug 40 mg, To drug Prednisolone → Result: Prednisolone equivalent dose 40 mg（Prednisone equivalent: 40 mg, Basis: Anti-inflammatory equivalence: hydrocortisone 20 = cortisone 25 = prednisone 5 = methylprednisolone 4 = dexamethasone 0.75 = betamethasone 0.6 mg）
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