Steroid Conversion Calculator
Convert between equivalent doses of corticosteroids (prednisone, dexamethasone, hydrocortisone).
Steroid Conversion Calculator
Convert between equivalent doses of corticosteroids including prednisone, dexamethasone, hydrocortisone, methylprednisolone, and more. Compare glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid potencies.
Last updated: January 2026Reviewed by NovaCalculator Medical Editorial Team
Calculator
Adjust values & calculateAll Equivalent Doses
Formula
The conversion divides the source dose by its standard equivalent dose (relative to 5 mg prednisone) to determine how many equivalent units are present, then multiplies by the target steroid equivalent dose. For example, 40 mg prednisone = 8 equivalent units x 0.75 mg dexamethasone = 6 mg dexamethasone.
Last reviewed: January 2026
Worked Examples
Example 1: Prednisone to Dexamethasone Conversion
Example 2: Methylprednisolone IV to Prednisone PO Taper
Background & Theory
The Steroid Conversion Calculator applies the following established principles and formulas. Health and medicine calculators are grounded in validated physiological measurement methods established through decades of clinical research. Body Mass Index, or BMI, is calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by height in meters squared (kg/m²), a formula originating from Adolphe Quetelet's 19th-century statistical work and later codified by the WHO into standard classifications: underweight below 18.5, normal weight 18.5 to 24.9, overweight 25 to 29.9, and obese at 30 and above. Basal Metabolic Rate quantifies the minimum energy required to sustain life at rest. The Mifflin-St Jeor equation, published in 1990 and widely regarded as the most accurate for most adults, calculates BMR as (10 × weight in kg) + (6.25 × height in cm) − (5 × age) ± sex adjustment. The older Harris-Benedict equations, revised in 1984 by Roza and Shizgal, remain in common use. Total Daily Energy Expenditure is derived by multiplying BMR by a physical activity factor ranging from 1.2 for sedentary individuals to 1.9 for extremely active ones, following the methodology validated by doubly labeled water studies. Body fat percentage can be estimated without laboratory equipment using the U.S. Navy circumference method, which uses neck, waist, and hip measurements, or via BMI-derived equations adjusted for age and sex. The Jackson-Pollock skinfold method offers higher precision with calipers. Blood pressure classification, according to the American College of Cardiology and the 2017 ACC/AHA guidelines, defines normal as below 120/80 mmHg, elevated as 120 to 129 systolic, and hypertension stage 1 as 130 to 139 systolic or 80 to 89 diastolic. Target heart rate zones for aerobic exercise are derived from maximum heart rate estimates, most commonly using the formula 220 minus age in years, with moderate-intensity training typically defined as 50 to 70 percent of maximum heart rate and vigorous intensity at 70 to 85 percent, consistent with CDC and American Heart Association guidelines. These thresholds guide safe and effective cardiovascular conditioning.
History
The history behind the Steroid Conversion Calculator traces back through the following developments. The history of health measurement stretches back to ancient Greece, where Hippocrates around 400 BCE laid the foundation for observational medicine by systematically recording patient symptoms, diet, and environment. His humoral theory, though scientifically superseded, established the principle that the body operates as an interconnected system subject to measurable imbalance. The transformation toward modern medicine accelerated in the 19th century. Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch developed germ theory in the 1860s and 1870s, identifying microorganisms as disease agents and enabling targeted interventions. Florence Nightingale, working during the Crimean War in the 1850s, introduced statistical analysis to nursing practice, demonstrating through data visualization that sanitation reduced mortality. Her work is foundational to evidence-based health measurement. The discovery of vitamins in the early 20th century, beginning with Casimir Funk's coinage of the term in 1912 and culminating in the isolation of vitamins A through K, created the field of nutritional science and gave rise to dietary reference intake frameworks. The World Health Organization, founded in 1948, subsequently established global standards for health metrics, disease classification through the International Classification of Diseases, and recommended daily allowances. The BMI as a clinical screening tool gained traction in the 1970s through Ancel Keys' large-scale epidemiological work, which validated Quetelet's index as a population-level obesity indicator. Through the 1980s and 1990s, the Framingham Heart Study produced landmark data linking cholesterol, blood pressure, and lifestyle factors to cardiovascular disease risk, directly shaping the numeric thresholds still used in health calculators. The evidence-based medicine movement, formalized by Gordon Guyatt and colleagues at McMaster University in the early 1990s, demanded that all health recommendations derive from systematically graded clinical evidence. The digital health era beginning in the 2000s brought these formulas to consumer devices, wearable sensors, and smartphone applications, expanding access to health self-monitoring on a global scale and enabling population-level data collection that continues to refine clinical reference ranges.
Frequently Asked Questions
Formula
Target Dose = (Source Dose / Source Equivalent) x Target Equivalent
The conversion divides the source dose by its standard equivalent dose (relative to 5 mg prednisone) to determine how many equivalent units are present, then multiplies by the target steroid equivalent dose. For example, 40 mg prednisone = 8 equivalent units x 0.75 mg dexamethasone = 6 mg dexamethasone.
Worked Examples
Example 1: Prednisone to Dexamethasone Conversion
Problem: A patient on prednisone 40 mg daily needs to switch to dexamethasone. What is the equivalent dose?
Solution: Prednisone equivalent dose: 5 mg\nDexamethasone equivalent dose: 0.75 mg\nConversion: (40 / 5) x 0.75 = 6 mg dexamethasone\nRatio: prednisone 40 mg = dexamethasone 6 mg\nNote: Dexamethasone has no mineralocorticoid activity\nDuration: Long-acting (36-54 hr biologic half-life)
Result: Dexamethasone 6 mg daily (equivalent to prednisone 40 mg)
Example 2: Methylprednisolone IV to Prednisone PO Taper
Problem: A patient received methylprednisolone 125 mg IV for an asthma exacerbation. What oral prednisone dose is equivalent for step-down?
Solution: Methylprednisolone equivalent dose: 4 mg\nPrednisone equivalent dose: 5 mg\nConversion: (125 / 4) x 5 = 156.25 mg prednisone\nRound to 160 mg (or start at a lower taper dose)\nTypical step-down: prednisone 40-60 mg PO daily\nwith taper over 5-10 days for asthma
Result: Equivalent: prednisone 156 mg (clinical taper typically starts at 40-60 mg)
Frequently Asked Questions
How should steroid doses be adjusted during physiologic stress?
Patients on chronic corticosteroids or with known adrenal suppression require stress dose steroids during periods of physiologic stress because their suppressed adrenal glands cannot mount an appropriate cortisol response. For minor stress such as a mild febrile illness, doubling the usual daily dose for 2 to 3 days is typically sufficient. For moderate stress like uncomplicated surgery under general anesthesia, hydrocortisone 50 mg IV before induction followed by 25 mg every 8 hours for 24 to 48 hours is a standard protocol. For major stress including sepsis, major surgery, or critical illness, hydrocortisone 100 mg IV bolus followed by 50 mg every 8 hours is recommended, with tapering over several days as the stress resolves. Failure to provide adequate stress dosing can result in adrenal crisis with hypotension, shock, and potentially death.
What are the most common unit conversion mistakes?
Common errors include confusing fluid ounces with weight ounces, mixing up miles and nautical miles, forgetting that UK and US gallons differ (UK is 20% larger), using the wrong temperature formula, and not accounting for the difference between troy and avoirdupois ounces.
What inputs do I need to use Steroid Conversion Calculator accurately?
Each field is labelled with the required unit (metric or imperial). Gather your source values before starting — for example, a weight measurement in kilograms, a distance in metres, or a dollar amount — and enter them exactly as measured. The formula section on this page lists every variable and explains what each represents.
How do I get the most accurate result?
Enter values as precisely as possible using the correct units for each field. Check that you have selected the right unit (e.g. kilograms vs pounds, meters vs feet) before calculating. Rounding inputs early can reduce output precision.
Is my data stored or sent to a server?
No. All calculations run entirely in your browser using JavaScript. No data you enter is ever transmitted to any server or stored anywhere. Your inputs remain completely private.
How do I verify Steroid Conversion Calculator's result independently?
The Formula section on this page shows the equation used. You can reproduce the calculation manually or in a spreadsheet using those steps. Compare your answer against the worked examples in the Examples section, which use known reference values so you can confirm the calculator is behaving as expected.
References
Reviewed by Rahul Singh, Health & Wellness Specialist · Editorial policy