This tool uses the equivalent doses from our community’s “Corticosteroid equivalence” chart (checked against BNF/NICE and standard pharmacology tables) to show the approximate equivalent of one glucocorticoid dose in another glucocorticoid.
Educational only, not medical advice. Switching medicines, changing doses or splitting doses must only be decided by your endocrinologist. Do not change or reduce your medicine yourself — ask your endocrinologist.
Result
Fludrocortisone is not in the calculator: it is a mineralocorticoid (salt/water balance) medicine with no glucocorticoid/anti-inflammatory equivalence and is not interchangeable with the others. Only your endocrinologist sets its dose.
Important to know
- Equivalent doses are approximate values for anti-inflammatory (glucocorticoid) effect and vary between sources. Replacement therapy in Addison’s disease is individual.
- The medicines last for different lengths of time (e.g. hydrocortisone 8–12 h, prednisolone 12–36 h, dexamethasone 36–72 h), so dose timing differs by medicine; the per-dose results are only the arithmetic equivalent.
- Hydrocortisone/cortisone have salt-retaining (mineralocorticoid) effect; prednisolone and especially dexamethasone have little or none, so fludrocortisone needs can change after a switch.
- Tablets come in fixed strengths and results may be fractional; rounding is your doctor’s decision too.
- This tool does not calculate sick-day / stress dosing. In an emergency call 112.
Equivalent doses used
| Medicine | Equivalent dose (mg) a | Relative anti-inflammatory activity | Duration of action (hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydrocortisone (cortisol) | 20 | 1 | 8–12 |
| Cortisone acetate | 25 | 0.8 | 8–12 |
| Prednisone | 5 | 4 | 12–36 |
| Prednisolone | 5 | 4 | 12–36 |
| Methylprednisolone | 4 | 5 | 12–36 |
| Triamcinolone | 4 | 5 | 12–36 |
| Fludrocortisone b | — | 10–15 | 12–36 |
| Dexamethasone | 0.75 | ≈27–30 | 36–72 |
a Equivalent dose applies to oral and intravenous use; the calculator converts using this column (e.g. 20 mg hydrocortisone ≈ 5 mg prednisolone ≈ 0.75 mg dexamethasone). b Fludrocortisone is a mineralocorticoid only (salt-retaining potency ≈125–150× hydrocortisone); it is not used for anti-inflammatory purposes and is not converted in the calculator.
Values are aligned with the BNF/NICE (CKS) and standard glucocorticoid equivalence tables. Hydrocortisone and cortisol are the same molecule (one row). Our older community graphic listed hydrocortisone activity as “2”; this has been corrected to 1.
Source: Addison Patients Community of Türkiye, “Corticosteroid equivalence” info card (corrected 25 Oct 2026); checked against the BNF/NICE “Glucocorticoid therapy” and NICE CKS “Corticosteroids – oral” tables.
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Medical disclaimer: The information on this site is prepared by a patient community for general information only. Always consult your own doctor (endocrinologist) about diagnosis, treatment or any dose change. In an emergency in Türkiye, call 112.