Two medicines, side by side
Clotrimazole vs tolnaftate
Clotrimazole and tolnaftate are both labeled for fungal infections. Pharmacies paid $0.133 per gram (Clotrimazole 1% topical cream) and $0.119 per gram (Tolnaftate 1% cream) (NADAC, October 7, 2026).
Check it at the source: the clotrimazole FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 30, 2026); the tolnaftate FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 29, 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 tolnaftate record
Tolnaftate · label of January 29, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsproven clinically effective in the treatment of most athlete’s foot (tinea pedis) and ringworm (tinea corporis) helps prevent most athlete’s foot with daily use for effective relief of itching, burning, and cracking
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- n/a
- Generic labelers
- none listed
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.119 per gram
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Clotrimazole label of January 30, 2026, Tolnaftate label of January 29, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do clotrimazole and tolnaftate differ on the record?
Generics: clotrimazole since 1993; tolnaftate none approved (Drugs@FDA).
| Clotrimazole | Tolnaftate | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Fungal infections | Fungal infections |
| Pharmacologic class | Azole Antifungal | n/a |
| How it works (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | February 3, 1975 | n/a |
| First generic approved | July 16, 1993 | none |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 24 labelers | none listed |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.133 per gram (Clotrimazole 1% topical cream) | $0.119 per gram (Tolnaftate 1% cream) |
| 12-month price change | -6% | +7% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 0 | 0 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 12,230 | 1,394 |
| 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