Corticosteroids

Systemic Agents

Oral Agents

• Prednisolone
• Prednisone
• Dexamethasone
• Fludrocortisone
• Cortisone, Hydrocortisone

Parenteral Agents

• Methylprednisolone
• Dexamethasone
• Cortisone, Hydrocortisone
• Betamethasone Sodium Phosphate/Betamethasone Acetate

Inhalational Agents

• Flunisolide
• Fluticasone furoate, Fluticasone propionate
• Triamcinolone acetonide
• Beclomethasone
• Budesonide (Pulmicort)
• Ciclesonide
• Mometasone (Nasonex)
• Combination inhalers
  • Azelastine hydrochloride/Fluticasone propionate*Fluticasone propionate/salmeterol xinafoate
  • Budesonide/Formoterol
  • Mometasone furoate/Formoterol fumarate

Topical Agents

Topical steroids, Dermatologic

• Clobetasol
• Betamethasone
• Halobetasol
• Diflorasone diacetate
• Fluocinonide
• Halcinonide
• Amcinonide
• Desoximetasone
• Triamcinolone
• Mometasone
• Fluticasone
• Halometasone
• Fluocinolone
• Hydrocortisone
• Flurandrenolide
• Desonide
• Alclometasone

Ophthalmic Steroids

• Loteprednol ((Alrex, Lotemax)
• Dexamethasone ophthalmic
• Difluprednate ophthalmic (Durezol)
• Fluorometholone
• Prednisolone acetate (Omnipred, PredFort), prednisolone sodium phosphate
• Rimexolone (Vexol)

Relative Strengths

Comparative Steroid Potencies

Name	Glucocorticoid potency	Mineralocorticoid potency	Duration of action (t1/2 in hours)
Cortisol (hydrocortisone)	1	1	8
Cortisone	0.8	0.8	oral 8, intramuscular 18+
Prednisone	3.5-5	0.8	16-36
Prednisolone	4	0.8	16-36
Methylprednisolone	5-7.5	0.5	18-40
Dexamethasone	25-80	0	36-54
Betamethasone	25-30	0	36-54
Triamcinolone	5	0	12-36
Beclometasone	8 puffs 4 times a day equals 14 mg oral prednisone once a day	-	-
Fludrocortisone acetate	15	200	24
Deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)	0	20	-
Aldosterone	0.3	200-1000	-

See Also

• Topical steroids
• Inhaled steroids

References

Authors

Ross Donaldson, Claire, Daniel Ostermayer