Corticosteroid Dose | Medical Algorithm

Knowledge of the relative anti-inflammatory potency of various corticosteroids allows an equivalent dose to be prescribed.

NOTE: This applies to oral and intravenous routes of administration.

Drug	Duration of Action	Equivalent Dose	anti-inflammatory potency	amount equivalent to 1 mg cortisol
cortisol	short	20 mg	1	1
cortisone	short	25 mg	0.8	1.25 mg
prednisone	intermediate	5 mg	4	0.25 mg
prednisolone	intermediate	5 mg	4	0.25 mg
6-alpha methyl-prednisolone	intermediate	4 mg	5	0.20 mg
triamcinolone	intermediate	4 mg	5	0.20 mg
betamethasone	long	0.75 mg	25	0.0375 mg
dexamethasone	long	0.75 mg	25	0.0375 mg

where:

• Short duration = 8 - 12 hours biological half-life

• Intermediate duration = 12 – 36 hours biological half-life

• Long duration = 36 – 72 hours biological half-life

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Equivalent Anti-Inflammatory Oral or Intravenous Corticosteroid Dose