Steroid Conversion Calculator
Can be used to convert between corticosteroid medication dosages for oral and IV administration.
In the text below the tool you can find out more about the substances that are available to be converted.
In practice, steroids may have to be administered alternatively or substituted for oral and IV administration.
The steroid conversion calculator performs the equivalence for any given dose for all the steroids available in the drop down lists.
This is the complete list of the steroids that can be used in the convertor:
| Cortisone | Triamcinolone |
| Hydrocortisone | Methylprednisolone |
| Prednisone | Betamethasone |
| Prednisolone | Dexamethasone |
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Steps on how to print your input & results:
1. Fill in the calculator/tool with your values and/or your answer choices and press Calculate.
2. Then you can click on the Print button to open a PDF in a separate window with the inputs and results. You can further save the PDF or print it.
Please note that once you have closed the PDF you need to click on the Calculate button before you try opening it again, otherwise the input and/or results may not appear in the pdf.
Steroid conversion
The steroid convertor transforms one steroid dosage into another dosage based on the equivalent dose for either IV or oral administration.
The following table offers information on the equivalent dose, the anti-inflammatory and mineralocorticoid potency and about biological half-life.
| Compound | Equiv. dose | Anti inflammatory potency | Mineralocorticoid potency | Half-life* |
| Cortisone | 25 mg | 0.8 | 0.8 | Short |
| Hydrocortisone | 20 mg | 1 | 1 | Short |
| Prednisone | 5 mg | 4 | 0.6 | Interm. |
| Prednisolone | 5 mg | 4 | 0.6 | Interm. |
| Triamcinolone | 4 mg | 5 | 0 | Interm. |
| Methylprednisolone | 4 mg | 5 | 0.25 | Interm. |
| Betamethasone | 0.8 mg | 25 | 0 | Long |
| Dexamethasone | 0.8 mg | 25 | 0 | Long |
When dosing, you also need to consider the potency and the duration of the effect not only the steroid conversion in mg. For example, drugs such as Dexamethasone have a very long half life, therefore do not require frequent dosing.
*Biological half life accurately reflects the action duration of corticosteroid medication. The following legend has been used in the table:
■ Short = 8 – 12 hours;
■ Intermediate = 12 – 36 hours;
■ Long = 36 – 72 hours.
Cortisone – also known as corticosteroid, suppresses inflammation in conditions such as arthritis, lupus, ulcerative colitis etc.
Hydrocortisone – is a topical corticosteroid that reduces redness and itching in skin conditions.
Prednisone – is an anti-inflammatory that suppresses the immune system, it is used to treat allergic disorders, skin conditions, arthritis etc.
Prednisolone – is the active metabolite of prednisone, it is used as a prednisone replacement in the above specified conditions, in patients with liver failure.
Triamcinolone – relieves inflammation in various skin conditions.
Methylprednisolone – used in conditions that respond to corticosteroids like the ones above but also in conditions affecting the nervous system, blood cells and lungs.
Betamethasone – used to treat rheumatic disorders, dermatitis, asthma, Crohn disease, and in adrenocortical insufficiency.
Dexamethasone – is used as inflammatory but also along antibiotics in tuberculosis treatment.
Steroid dosage forms
The following table introduces the most common steroid dosage forms, either oral tablets, injection or oral solution:
| Steroid | Dosage |
| Cortisone | oral tablet (25 mg) |
| Hydrocortisone | injection (100, 250, 500, 1000 mg) and oral tablet (5, 10, 20 mg) |
| Prednisone | oral tablet (1, 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 50 mg), oral solution (1, 5 mg/mL) |
| Prednisolone | oral solution (5, 15, 20 mg/5 mL), oral suspension (15 mg/5 mL), oral tablet (10, 15, 30 mg) |
| Triamcinolone | injection (5, 10, 20, 40 mg/mL as 5 mL) |
| Methylprednisolone | injection (40, 125, 500, 1000, 2000 mg), oral tablet (2, 4, 8, 16, 32 mg) |
| Betamethasone | injection (3 mg/mL as 5 mL), oral solution (0.6 mg/5 mL) |
| Dexamethasone | injection (4 mg/mL as 1 mL, 5 mL, 30 mL or 10 mg/mL as 1 mL, 10 mL), oral tablet (0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5, 2, 4, 6 mg), oral solution (0.5 mg/5 mL, 1 mg/mL) |
References
1. Chrousos GP, "Chapter 39. Adrenocorticosteroids & Adrenocortical Antagonists" (Chapter). Katzung BG, Masters SB, Trevor AJ: Basic & Clinical Pharmacology, 11e.
2. Meikle AW, Tyler FH. Potency and duration of action of glucocorticoids. Effects of hydrocortisone, prednisone and dexamethasone on human pituitary-adrenal function. Am J Med. 1977; 63(2):200-7.
Specialty: Pharmacology
System: Endocrinology
Type: Convertor
No. Of Variables: 3
Article By: Denise Nedea
Published On: March 15, 2017 · 07:05 AM
Last Checked: March 15, 2017
Next Review: March 9, 2023