Two medicines, side by side
Clotrimazole vs ketoconazole
Clotrimazole and ketoconazole are both labeled for fungal infections. Drugs@FDA records approvals of clotrimazole since 1975 and of ketoconazole since 1981. Pharmacies paid $0.133 per gram (Clotrimazole 1% topical cream) and $0.249 per gram (Ketoconazole 2% cream) (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like.
Check it at the source: the clotrimazole FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 30, 2026); the ketoconazole FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 28, 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 ketoconazole record
Ketoconazole (Nizoral) · label of January 28, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsKetoconazole Cream 2% is indicated for the topical treatment of tinea corporis, tinea cruris and tinea pedis caused by Trichophyton rubrum, T. mentagrophytes and Epidermophyton floccosum; in the treatment of tinea (pityriasis) versicolor caused by Malassezia furfur (Pityrosporum orbiculare); in the treatment of cutaneous candidiasis caused by Candida spp. and in the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- June 12, 1981
- Generic labelers
- 30 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.249 per gram
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 3
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Clotrimazole label of January 30, 2026, Ketoconazole label of January 28, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do clotrimazole and ketoconazole differ on the record?
Both are in FDA's class azole antifungals.
Generics: clotrimazole since 1993; ketoconazole since 1999 (Drugs@FDA).
| Clotrimazole | Ketoconazole | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | June 12, 1981 |
| First generic approved | July 16, 1993 | June 15, 1999 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 24 labelers | 30 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.133 per gram (Clotrimazole 1% topical cream) | $0.249 per gram (Ketoconazole 2% cream) |
| 12-month price change | -6% | -11% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 0 | 3 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 12,230 | 17,282 |
| 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