Two medicines, side by side
Desonide vs betamethasone
Desonide and betamethasone are both labeled for eczema (atopic dermatitis). Drugs@FDA records approvals of desonide since 1972 and of betamethasone since 1961. Pharmacies paid $0.252 per gram (Desonide 0.05% cream) and $0.418 per gram (Betamethasone dp 0.05% cream) (NADAC, October 7, 2026).
Check it at the source: the desonide FDA label on DailyMed (effective February 3, 2026); the betamethasone FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 28, 2026).
Highlights of the desonide record
Desonide (Tridesilon) · label of February 3, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsDesonide cream USP, 0.05% is a low potency corticosteroid indicated for the relief of the inflammatory and pruritic manifestations of corticosteroid responsive dermatoses. It should not be used for longer than two weeks unless directed by a physician.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- January 4, 1972
- Generic labelers
- 12 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.252 per gram
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 2
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
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Desonide label of February 3, 2026, Betamethasone label of January 28, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do desonide and betamethasone differ on the record?
Both are in FDA's class corticosteroids.
Generics: desonide since 1988; betamethasone since 1979 (Drugs@FDA).
| Desonide | Betamethasone | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Eczema (atopic dermatitis) | Asthma, Eczema (atopic dermatitis), Anemia, Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, Multiple sclerosis, 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) | January 4, 1972 | April 17, 1961 |
| First generic approved | June 15, 1988 | January 30, 1979 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 12 labelers | 28 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.252 per gram (Desonide 0.05% cream) | $0.418 per gram (Betamethasone dp 0.05% cream) |
| 12-month price change | -21% | -23% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 2 | 13 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 4,960 | 10,812 |
| 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 desonide
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions