Two medicines, side by side
Dexamethasone vs hydrocortisone
Dexamethasone and hydrocortisone are both labeled for osteoarthritis, asthma, allergies, crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, herpes and shingles, eczema (atopic dermatitis), leukemia and lymphoma and myeloma. Drugs@FDA records approvals of dexamethasone since 1958 and of hydrocortisone since 1951. Pharmacies paid $0.193 per dexamethasone 4 mg tablet and $0.0613 per gram (Hydrocortisone 1% cream) (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. Hydrocortisone's other strengths are brand-only: $51.43 per Solu-cortef 250 mg act-o-vial.
Check it at the source: the dexamethasone FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 6, 2025); the hydrocortisone FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 19, 2026).
Highlights of the dexamethasone record
Dexamethasone (Decadron) · label of June 6, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsAllergic States Control of severe or incapacitating allergic conditions intractable to adequate trials of conventional treatment in asthma, atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, drug hypersensitivity reactions, perennial or seasonal allergic rhinitis, and serum sickness. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- October 30, 1958
- Generic labelers
- 60 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.193 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- In shortage
- Recalls
- 8
Highlights of the hydrocortisone record
Hydrocortisone (Solu-Cortef) · label of August 19, 2026
Used for
From the label: indications• temporarily relieves itching associated with minor skin irritations, inflammation, and rashes due to: • eczema • psoriasis • poison ivy, oak, sumac • insect bites • detergents • jewelry • seborrheic dermatitis • cosmetics • soaps • temporarily relieves external anal and genital itching • other uses of this product should only be under the advice and supervision of a doctor
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 21, 1951
- Generic labelers
- 49 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0613 per gram
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 7
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Dexamethasone label of June 6, 2025, Hydrocortisone label of August 19, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do dexamethasone and hydrocortisone differ on the record?
Both are in FDA's class corticosteroids.
Generics: dexamethasone since 1971; hydrocortisone since 1971 (Drugs@FDA).
| Dexamethasone | Hydrocortisone | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Asthma, Eczema (atopic dermatitis), Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, Herpes and shingles, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, Multiple sclerosis, Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Psoriasis, Allergies, Anemia, Pain | Osteoarthritis, Asthma, Allergies, Herpes and shingles, Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, Eczema (atopic dermatitis) |
| 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) | October 30, 1958 | December 21, 1951 |
| First generic approved | October 20, 1971 | December 22, 1971 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 60 labelers | 49 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.193 per tablet (Dexamethasone 4 mg tablet) | $0.0613 per gram (Hydrocortisone 1% cream) |
| 12-month price change | -26% | +1% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | In shortage | A presentation being discontinued |
| Recalls recorded | 8 | 7 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 304,163 | 97,782 |
| 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)
Do their labels mention each other?
Dexamethasone label, drug interactionsIn addition, there have been cases reported in which concomitant use of amphotericin B and hydrocortisone was followed by cardiac enlargement and congestive heart failure.
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to dexamethasone
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions