Two medicines, side by side
Clobetasol vs halobetasol
Clobetasol and halobetasol are both labeled for psoriasis. Drugs@FDA records approvals of clobetasol since 1985 and of halobetasol since 1990. Pharmacies paid $0.126 per gram (Clobetasol 0.05% ointment) and $0.620 per gram (Halobetasol prop 0.05% ointmnt) (NADAC, October 7, 2026).
Check it at the source: the clobetasol FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 21, 2026); the halobetasol FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 29, 2026).
Highlights of the clobetasol record
Clobetasol (Temovate) · label of April 21, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsClobetasol Propionate Topical Solution, 0.05% is indicated for short-term topical treatment of inflammatory and pruritic manifestations of moderate to severe corticosteroid-responsive dermatoses of the scalp. Treatment beyond 2 consecutive weeks is not recommended, and the total dosage should not exceed 50 mL/week because of the potential for the drug to suppress the HPA axis. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 27, 1985
- Generic labelers
- 39 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.126 per gram
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 18
Highlights of the halobetasol record
Halobetasol (Ultravate) · label of June 29, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsHalobetasol propionate ointment, 0.05% is a super-high potency corticosteroid indicated for the relief of the inflammatory and pruritic manifestations of corticosteroid responsive dermatoses. Treatment beyond two consecutive weeks is not recommended, and the total dosage should not exceed 50 g/week because of the potential for the drug to suppress the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 17, 1990
- Generic labelers
- 6 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.620 per gram
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 3
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Clobetasol label of April 21, 2026, Halobetasol label of June 29, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do clobetasol and halobetasol differ on the record?
Both are in FDA's class corticosteroids.
Generics: clobetasol since 1994; halobetasol since 2004 (Drugs@FDA).
| Clobetasol | Halobetasol | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Psoriasis, Pain | Psoriasis |
| 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) | December 27, 1985 | December 17, 1990 |
| First generic approved | February 16, 1994 | December 16, 2004 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 39 labelers | 6 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.126 per gram (Clobetasol 0.05% ointment) | $0.620 per gram (Halobetasol prop 0.05% ointmnt) |
| 12-month price change | -23% | -8% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 18 | 3 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 10,472 | 1,336 |
| 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 clobetasol
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions