Drug | GC:MC ratio | General therapeutic indication | |
Hydrocortisone (S) | 1 | 1 | Relatively high mineralocorticoid activity makes it unsuitable for long-term use |
Cortisone (S) | 0.8 | 0.8 | Similar to hydrocortisone |
Prednisolone (I) | 4 | 0.8 | High glucocorticoid activity makes it useful for long-term treatment, and as an anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant |
Methylprednisolone (I) | 5 | Minimal | Anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive |
Dexamethasone (L) | 30 | Minimal | Anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive, used especially when water retention is undesirable as it has insignificant mineralocorticoid activity. Long duration of action makes it useful in conditions such as congenital adrenal hyperplasia |
Betamethasone (L) | 30 | Negligible | Anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive, used especially when water retention is undesirable as it has insignificant mineralocorticoid activity. Long duration of action makes it useful in conditions such as congenital adrenal hyperplasia. |
GC, glucocorticoid; I, intermediate acting, biological half-life 18–36 hours; L, long acting, biological half-life 36–54 hours; MC, mineralocorticoid; S, short acting, biological half-life 8–12 hours.