Adrenal Steroid Converter

What This Calculator Measures

Converts a dose of one glucocorticoid into its approximate prednisone-equivalent dose using standard anti-inflammatory potency equivalence factors, to support comparing doses across glucocorticoids.

How to Use

1. Enter the dose in mg and select the source steroid.
2. The calculator multiplies the dose by the steroid's prednisone-equivalence factor.
3. Use the result as an approximate equivalence for comparing or communicating doses.
4. The result is not a prescribing or tapering plan; it does not model formulation, route, indication, duration, or patient-specific factors.

Interpretation Guide

The calculator returns the prednisone-equivalent dose in mg and assigns its own convention bands: ≤7.5 mg is labeled low-dose, 7.5–20 mg moderate-dose, and >20 mg high-dose. These bands are calculator conventions for context and are not universal treatment thresholds. Equivalences are approximate and based on anti-inflammatory potency; they do not reflect mineralocorticoid activity (e.g., hydrocortisone retains significant mineralocorticoid effect while dexamethasone has essentially none) or duration of action.

Clinical Significance

Because the anti-inflammatory potency of glucocorticoids differs, converting between them using standard equivalence factors helps ensure that a change from one steroid to another aims for a comparable dose — while emphasizing that equivalence is approximate and that formulation, route, indication, duration, and patient response must all be considered.

When to Use

• Comparing approximate equivalent doses when switching between glucocorticoids
• Educational review of glucocorticoid equivalence
• Supporting dose-comparison discussions in steroid management

When Not to Use

• As a prescribing or tapering plan
• Without considering formulation, route of administration, indication, and duration of therapy
• In place of clinical judgment about the specific patient's response to steroids

Limitations

• Equivalence factors are approximations based on anti-inflammatory potency; individual responses vary.
• The conversion does not account for mineralocorticoid activity, biological half-life, or HPA-axis suppression risk.
• The calculator's low/moderate/high-dose bands are conventions of this tool, not standardized guideline thresholds.
• Does not model tapering schedules, which require gradual reduction and individualized monitoring.

Worked Example

A patient is prescribed prednisone 10 mg/day; separately, dexamethasone 0.75 mg/day is being considered on another occasion.

Prednisone 10 mg → prednisone-equivalent = 10 mg, reported in the moderate-dose band (7.5–20 mg). As a second illustration, dexamethasone 0.75 mg → 0.75 × 6.667 ≈ 5 mg prednisone-equivalent, reported in the low-dose band (≤7.5 mg).

References

1. Glucocorticoid equivalence factors as implemented by this calculator (prednisone-equivalent conversion). Citations previously supplied could not be independently verified and have been removed pending review. (Repository reference)

Frequently Asked Questions