Which long-acting corticosteroid has an equivalence dose of 0.75 mg?

Which long-acting corticosteroid has an equivalence dose of 0.75 mg?

• A. Betamethasone 0.6 mg
• B. Dexamethasone 0.75 mg
• C. Hydrocortisone 20 mg
• D. Prednisone 5 mg

Answer: (B)

Understanding potency and duration helps make sense of corticosteroid equivalents. In systemic corticosteroid equivalence charts, the approximate potencies are aligned so that similar anti-inflammatory effects come from these doses: hydrocortisone 20 mg, prednisone 5 mg, methylprednisolone 4 mg, dexamethasone 0.75 mg, and betamethasone 0.6 mg. Dexamethasone is a long-acting, highly potent steroid, and its standard equivalence dose is 0.75 mg. That’s why the dose listed as equivalence for a long-acting corticosteroid matches dexamethasone. The other drugs require different milligram amounts to reach the same effect (hydrocortisone at about 20 mg, prednisone at about 5 mg, betamethasone at about 0.6 mg), and while betamethasone is also long-acting, its common equivalence dose is 0.6 mg, not 0.75 mg.

Understanding potency and duration helps make sense of corticosteroid equivalents. In systemic corticosteroid equivalence charts, the approximate potencies are aligned so that similar anti-inflammatory effects come from these doses: hydrocortisone 20 mg, prednisone 5 mg, methylprednisolone 4 mg, dexamethasone 0.75 mg, and betamethasone 0.6 mg. Dexamethasone is a long-acting, highly potent steroid, and its standard equivalence dose is 0.75 mg. That’s why the dose listed as equivalence for a long-acting corticosteroid matches dexamethasone. The other drugs require different milligram amounts to reach the same effect (hydrocortisone at about 20 mg, prednisone at about 5 mg, betamethasone at about 0.6 mg), and while betamethasone is also long-acting, its common equivalence dose is 0.6 mg, not 0.75 mg.