Steroid Potency Chart: Understand Strength, Use, and Risks

When doctors talk about steroid potency chart, a guide that ranks corticosteroids by their anti-inflammatory strength compared to hydrocortisone. Also known as corticosteroid equivalence table, it’s not just a list—it’s a tool that tells you how much of one drug equals another in effect, and why getting it wrong can cause serious harm. Many people think all steroids are the same, but a 5mg pill of prednisone isn’t the same as 5mg of dexamethasone. In fact, dexamethasone is about six times stronger. That difference isn’t academic—it’s life-changing if you’re tapering off or switching meds.

Understanding the corticosteroid strength, how powerful a steroid is relative to others in reducing inflammation and suppressing immune response helps you avoid underdosing—where your condition flares up—or overdosing, where side effects like weight gain, high blood sugar, or even adrenal insufficiency, a dangerous condition where your body stops making enough cortisol after long-term steroid use kick in. The prednisone equivalence, the standard reference point used to compare all other corticosteroids is the baseline. Hydrocortisone is 1, prednisone is 4, methylprednisolone is 5, and dexamethasone is 25 to 30. That means one 0.75mg tablet of dexamethasone equals about 20mg of prednisone. If you don’t know this, you could accidentally take too much—or too little—when switching prescriptions.

Why does this matter in real life? Because people get confused when their doctor switches them from prednisone to methylprednisolone, or when they’re told to cut their dose by 25% but don’t realize the new pill is stronger. That’s how steroid tapering, the slow, controlled reduction of steroid dosage to prevent withdrawal and adrenal shutdown goes wrong. Too fast, and you crash—fatigue, joint pain, nausea, even adrenal crisis. Too slow, and you risk long-term damage from unnecessary exposure. The steroid potency chart isn’t just for doctors. If you’re on these meds long-term, you need to know what you’re taking and why. It’s not about memorizing numbers—it’s about understanding the balance between control and risk.

The posts below pull from real patient experiences, clinical guidelines, and medical studies to show you exactly how these drugs compare, how to read the chart correctly, and what happens when people skip the details. You’ll find practical advice on tapering safely, recognizing signs your body is struggling, and why some steroids are better for certain conditions than others. No fluff. Just what you need to stay in control of your treatment.

Topical Steroid Potency Chart: How to Choose the Right Strength and Avoid Skin Damage

Topical Steroid Potency Chart: How to Choose the Right Strength and Avoid Skin Damage

  • Nov, 22 2025
  • 8

Learn how to use topical steroid potency charts to treat skin conditions safely. Avoid skin thinning, redness, and rebound flares by choosing the right strength for your skin type and body area.

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