FDA pharmacologic class
Retinoid
9 medicines are in FDA's class of retinoids: isotretinoin (Accutane), tretinoin (Retin-A), adapalene (Differin), acitretin, tazarotene (Arazlo), bexarotene (Targretin), palovarotene (Sohonos), alitretinoin (Panretin) and 1 more; 6 combination products also contain one. 8 of the 15 are listed from generic labelers (FDA NDC Directory, October 8, 2026). The lowest pharmacy cost is adapalene 0.3% gel at $0.504 per gram (NADAC).
Which medicines are retinoid?
| Medicine | Brand names | Generic labelers (all forms) | Pharmacy cost | Boxed warning | Shortage | Recalls since 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isotretinoin | Absorica, Zenatane, Accutane | 13 labelers | $11.94 per capsule 10 mg capsule | Yes | No current entry | 16 |
| Tretinoin | Retin-A, Altreno, Atralin | 23 labelers | $0.506 per gram 0.025% cream | No | No current entry | 2 |
| Adapalene | Differin | 33 labelers | $0.504 per gram 0.3% gel | No | No current entry | 0 |
| Acitretin | none listed | 8 labelers | $2.59 per capsule 10 mg capsule | Yes | No current entry | 0 |
| Tazarotene | Tazorac, Arazlo, Fabior | 7 labelers | $6.11 per gram 0.1% gel | No | No current entry | 1 |
| Adapalene and benzoyl peroxide | Differin, Epiduo | 11 labelers | $0.626 per gram 0.3-2.5% | No | No current entry | 0 |
| Bexarotene | Targretin | 7 labelers | n/a | Yes | No current entry | 1 |
| Clindamycin and tretinoin | Ziana | 3 labelers | $3.91 per gram 1.2%-0.025% | No | No current entry | 0 |
| Palovarotene | Sohonos | none listed | n/a | Yes | A presentation being discontinued | 0 |
| Benzoyl peroxide and tretinoin | Twyneo | none listed | $31.66 per gram 0.1%-3% cream pump | No | No current entry | 0 |
| Adapalene and benzoyl peroxide and clindamycin | Cabtreo | none listed | n/a | No | No current entry | 1 |
| Alitretinoin | Panretin | none listed | n/a | No | No current entry | 0 |
| Fluocinolone and hydroquinone and tretinoin | Tri-Luma | none listed | $7.83 per gram Tri-luma cream | No | No current entry | 0 |
| Halobetasol and tazarotene | Duobrii | none listed | n/a | No | No current entry | 0 |
| Trifarotene | Aklief | none listed | $16.36 per gram 0.005% cream | No | No current entry | 0 |
Source: FDA Established Pharmacologic Class (NDC Directory, openFDA); CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026; FDA shortages and recalls (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What do pharmacies pay?
Each medicine's most widely listed form, per unit, in the NADAC survey: what pharmacies paid, not what a patient pays; strengths differ, so compare like with like.
Source: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) survey, October 7, 2026: what retail pharmacies paid per unit; not a counter price