Mechanism of action<unk>  is an inactive prodrug which is metabolized rapidly to the active drug 21-desacetyldeflazacort. Relative potency<unk> 's potency is around 70–90% that of prednisone. A 2017 review found its activity of 7.5 mg of<unk>  is approximately equivalent to 25 mg cortisone, 20 mg hydrocortisone, 5 mg of prednisolone or prednisone, 4 mg of methylprednisolone or triamcinolone, or 0.75 mg of betamethasone or dexamethasone. The review noted that the drug has a high therapeutic index, being used at initial oral doses ranging from 6 to 90 mg, and probably requires a 50% higher dose to induce the same demineralizing effect as prednisolone. Thus it has "a smaller impact on calcium metabolism than any other synthetic corticosteroid, and therefore shows a lower risk of growth rate retardation in children and of osteoporosis" in the elderly, and comparatively small effects on carbohydrate metabolism, sodium retention, and hypokalemia.
Deflazacort
Toremifene
Nedocromil
Proxicromil
Tasimelteon
Pulmocide
Plerixafor
Imipraminoxide