Monday October 29, 2007
Hydrocortisone and Dexamethasone


What are the 3 major differences between Hydrocortisone and Dexamethasone ?

1. Potency of Hydrocortisone and Dexamethasone is 20:1 (precisely 20 : 0.75) - means .75 mg of dexamethasone is equal to 20 mg of hydrocortisone.

2. Mineralocorticoid : Glucocorticoid activity is 1:1 in hydrocotisone but dexamethasone has negligible mineralocorticoid activity as well it does not effect cortisol level.

3. Half life of Hydrocortisone is 8-12 hrs and of dexametasone is 36-54 hrs.


See nice review Relative Adrenal Insufficiency: Case Examples & Review from Bradley J. Phillips, M.D. , Boston Medical Center, Boston Univ. Schl of Med. (ref: The Internet Journal of Endocrinology. 2005. Volume 1 Number 2)