Two medicines, side by side
Betamethasone vs hydrocortisone
Betamethasone and hydrocortisone are both labeled for asthma, eczema (atopic dermatitis), leukemia and lymphoma and myeloma. Drugs@FDA records approvals of betamethasone since 1961 and of hydrocortisone since 1951. Pharmacies paid $0.418 per gram (Betamethasone dp 0.05% cream) and $0.0613 per gram (Hydrocortisone 1% cream) (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. Hydrocortisone's other strengths are brand-only: $51.43 per Solu-cortef 250 mg act-o-vial.
Check it at the source: the betamethasone FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 28, 2026); the hydrocortisone FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 19, 2026).
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 hydrocortisone record
Hydrocortisone (Solu-Cortef) · label of August 19, 2026
Used for
From the label: indications• temporarily relieves itching associated with minor skin irritations, inflammation, and rashes due to: • eczema • psoriasis • poison ivy, oak, sumac • insect bites • detergents • jewelry • seborrheic dermatitis • cosmetics • soaps • temporarily relieves external anal and genital itching • other uses of this product should only be under the advice and supervision of a doctor
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 21, 1951
- Generic labelers
- 49 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0613 per gram
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 7
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Betamethasone label of January 28, 2026, Hydrocortisone label of August 19, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do betamethasone and hydrocortisone differ on the record?
Both are in FDA's class corticosteroids.
Generics: betamethasone since 1979; hydrocortisone since 1971 (Drugs@FDA).
| Betamethasone | Hydrocortisone | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Asthma, Eczema (atopic dermatitis), Anemia, Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, Multiple sclerosis, Psoriasis | Osteoarthritis, Asthma, Allergies, Herpes and shingles, Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, 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 | December 21, 1951 |
| First generic approved | January 30, 1979 | December 22, 1971 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 28 labelers | 49 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.418 per gram (Betamethasone dp 0.05% cream) | $0.0613 per gram (Hydrocortisone 1% cream) |
| 12-month price change | -23% | +1% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | A presentation being discontinued |
| Recalls recorded | 13 | 7 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 10,812 | 97,782 |
| 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