Table 2.

Relative glucocorticoid potencies*

	Anti-inflammatory potency	HPA suppression potency†	Duration of action (h)
Hydrocortisone (cortisol)	1	1	8–12
Prednisone	4	4	12–36
Prednisolone	4	4	12–36
Methylprednisolone	5	5	12–36
Dexamethasone	30	50 (17–100)	36–72

*HPA suppression potencies should be used when calculating hydrocortisone equivalent doses for evaluation of AS risk.

†Available data about relative HPA suppression potency are limited and widely variable. Studies of growth suppressive effects of prednisone, prednisolone, methylprednisolone and dexamethasone suggest that secondary effects on growth relative to anti-inflammatory effects may be significantly higher.^71–73

AS, adrenal suppression; HPA, hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal.