Methylprednisolone has achieved a clinically acceptable split between glucocorticoid activity and undesired mineralocorticoid activity. Weight for weight, methylprednisolone has five times the anti-inflammatory activity of hydrocortisone and at least 25% greater anti-inflammatory activity than prednisolone but, unlike the latter two corticosteroids, has virtually no mineralocorticoid activity; therefore the risk of mineralocorticoid induced side effects is relatively low.