Corticosteroid Dose Equivalency Assessment

Introduction to Corticosteroid Equivalency

The American Gastroenterological Association recommends methylprednisolone 60 mg IV per 24 hours or hydrocortisone 400 mg IV per 24 hours for acute severe ulcerative colitis, confirming a 5:1 potency ratio in clinical practice 3, 2
For septic shock, the recommended hydrocortisone regimen is 200 mg per day, which equals approximately 40 mg methylprednisolone per day, as suggested by the Society of Critical Care Medicine 1

The European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation guidelines support the use of either methylprednisolone 60 mg IV per 24 hours or hydrocortisone 400 mg IV per 24 hours for acute severe ulcerative colitis, with a confirmed 5:1 potency ratio 3, 4, 2
Hydrocortisone 100 mg IM plus 20 mg PO four times daily provides a total daily hydrocortisone dose of 180 mg, which is equivalent to approximately 36 mg methylprednisolone per day, according to the Journal of Crohn's and Colitis 1, 2