Two medicines, side by side
Betamethasone vs fluocinolone
Betamethasone and fluocinolone are both labeled for psoriasis and eczema (atopic dermatitis). Drugs@FDA records approvals of betamethasone since 1961 and of fluocinolone since 1963. Pharmacies paid $0.418 per gram (Betamethasone dp 0.05% cream) and $0.171 per mL (Fluocinolone 0.01% scalp oil) (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like.
Check it at the source: the betamethasone FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 28, 2026); the fluocinolone FDA label on DailyMed (effective February 26, 2023).
Highlights of the betamethasone record
Betamethasone (Celestone) · label of January 28, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsTopical corticosteroids are indicated for the relief of the inflammatory and pruritic manifestations of corticosteroid-responsive dermatoses.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- April 17, 1961
- Generic labelers
- 28 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.418 per gram
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 13
Highlights of the fluocinolone record
Fluocinolone (Synalar) · label of February 26, 2023
Used for
From the label: indicationsFluocinolone acetonide topical oil, 0.01% is a low to medium potency corticosteroid indicated: In adult patients for the treatment of psoriasis of the scalp (scalp oil).
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- February 15, 1963
- Generic labelers
- 15 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.171 per mL
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 14
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Betamethasone label of January 28, 2026, Fluocinolone label of February 26, 2023); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do betamethasone and fluocinolone differ on the record?
Both are in FDA's class corticosteroids.
Generics: betamethasone since 1979; fluocinolone since 1982 (Drugs@FDA).
| Betamethasone | Fluocinolone | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Asthma, Eczema (atopic dermatitis), Anemia, Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, Multiple sclerosis, Psoriasis | Psoriasis, Eczema (atopic dermatitis) |
| Pharmacologic class | Corticosteroid | Corticosteroid |
| How it works (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | April 17, 1961 | February 15, 1963 |
| First generic approved | January 30, 1979 | April 27, 1982 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 28 labelers | 15 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.418 per gram (Betamethasone dp 0.05% cream) | $0.171 per mL (Fluocinolone 0.01% scalp oil) |
| 12-month price change | -23% | -0.9% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 13 | 14 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 10,812 | 3,748 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to betamethasone
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions