Two medicines, side by side
Clotrimazole vs econazole
Clotrimazole and econazole are both labeled for fungal infections. Drugs@FDA records approvals of clotrimazole since 1975 and of econazole since 1982. Pharmacies paid $0.133 per gram (Clotrimazole 1% topical cream) and $0.351 per gram (Econazole nitrate 1% cream) (NADAC, October 7, 2026).
Check it at the source: the clotrimazole FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 30, 2026); the econazole FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 22, 2026).
Highlights of the clotrimazole record
Clotrimazole (Cvs) · label of January 30, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsClotrimazole cream USP is indicated for the topical treatment of candidiasis due to Candida albicans and tinea versicolor due to Malassezia furfur. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- February 3, 1975
- Generic labelers
- 24 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.133 per gram
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
Highlights of the econazole record
Econazole (Spectazole) · label of June 22, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsEconazole nitrate cream is indicated for topical application in the treatment of tinea pedis, tinea cruris, and tinea corporis caused by Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton tonsurans, Microsporum canis, Microsporum audouini, Microsporum gypseum, and Epidermophyton floccosum, in the treatment of cutaneous candidiasis, and in the treatment of tinea versicolor.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 23, 1982
- Generic labelers
- 6 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.351 per gram
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 2
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Clotrimazole label of January 30, 2026, Econazole label of June 22, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do clotrimazole and econazole differ on the record?
Both are in FDA's class azole antifungals.
Generics: clotrimazole since 1993; econazole since 2002 (Drugs@FDA).
| Clotrimazole | Econazole | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Fungal infections | Fungal infections |
| Pharmacologic class | Azole Antifungal | Azole Antifungal |
| How it works (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | February 3, 1975 | December 23, 1982 |
| First generic approved | July 16, 1993 | November 26, 2002 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 24 labelers | 6 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.133 per gram (Clotrimazole 1% topical cream) | $0.351 per gram (Econazole nitrate 1% cream) |
| 12-month price change | -6% | +7% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 0 | 2 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 12,230 | 920 |
| 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 clotrimazole
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions