What is the equivalent dose of methylprednisolone (corticosteroid) to 10mg of prednisone (corticosteroid)?

Methylprednisolone Dose Equivalent to 10mg Prednisone

The equivalent dose of methylprednisolone to 10mg of prednisone is 8mg, based on the standard conversion ratio of 1.25:1 (prednisone:methylprednisolone). 1

Corticosteroid Equivalence Rationale

The conversion between prednisone and methylprednisolone follows a consistent pattern across multiple clinical guidelines:

• Methylprednisolone has 1.25 times the potency of prednisone 1
• This means that 80% of the prednisone dose equals the methylprednisolone equivalent dose
• For 10mg prednisone: 10mg ÷ 1.25 = 8mg methylprednisolone

Evidence from Clinical Guidelines

This conversion ratio is consistently applied across multiple clinical scenarios:

• In immune checkpoint inhibitor toxicity management, when prednisone is recommended at specific doses, methylprednisolone is specified as the equivalent alternative 2
• For example, when treating immune-related dermatologic adverse events, guidelines specify "prednisone 0.5-1 mg/kg/day (or equivalent dose of methylprednisolone)" 2
• The European Society of Cardiology guidelines explicitly state that "prednisone 25mg are equivalent to methylprednisolone 20mg" (which follows the same 1.25:1 ratio) 2

Practical Applications

The 1.25:1 conversion ratio is applied consistently across various clinical contexts:

• For sudden hearing loss treatment, when prednisone is dosed at 1 mg/kg/day (maximum 60mg), the equivalent methylprednisolone dose is 48mg/day 2
• In the FDA label for methylprednisolone, it states that "4mg of methylprednisolone is equivalent to 5mg of prednisolone" (which follows the same ratio) 3

Clinical Considerations

When converting between these medications, consider:

• Both medications have similar pharmacodynamic effects but slightly different potencies
• The duration of action may differ slightly between methylprednisolone and prednisone despite the dose equivalence 1
• Route of administration (oral vs. intravenous) generally maintains the same equivalence ratio, though bioavailability may differ slightly 1

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Do not apply the methylprednisolone conversion ratio (1.25×) to other corticosteroids like dexamethasone (6.67×) or hydrocortisone (0.25×) 1
• Avoid confusion between methylprednisolone and methylprednisolone acetate (depot) or methylprednisolone sodium succinate (IV), which have different pharmacokinetics 1
• Remember that this conversion applies to both short-term and long-term therapy, though side effect profiles may differ with duration of treatment 4

This 8mg methylprednisolone = 10mg prednisone equivalence is well-established across multiple clinical guidelines and should be used when converting between these two corticosteroids.