Two medicines, side by side
Fluocinolone vs fluocinonide
Fluocinolone is labeled for psoriasis and eczema (atopic dermatitis); fluocinonide has no indication this site maps. Their labels share no use, so they are not alternatives to each other. Drugs@FDA records approvals of fluocinolone since 1963 and of fluocinonide since 1971. Pharmacies paid $0.171 per mL (Fluocinolone 0.01% scalp oil) and $0.243 per gram (Fluocinonide 0.05% cream) (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like.
Check it at the source: the fluocinolone FDA label on DailyMed (effective February 26, 2023); the fluocinonide FDA label on DailyMed (effective September 30, 2024).
Highlights of the fluocinolone record
Fluocinolone (Synalar) · label of February 26, 2023
Used for
From the label: indicationsFluocinolone acetonide topical oil, 0.01% is a low to medium potency corticosteroid indicated: In adult patients for the treatment of psoriasis of the scalp (scalp oil).
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- February 15, 1963
- Generic labelers
- 15 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.171 per mL
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 14
Highlights of the fluocinonide record
Fluocinonide (Lidex) · label of September 30, 2024
Used for
From the label: indicationsThe topical corticosteroids are indicated for the relief of the inflammatory and pruritic manifestations of corticosteroid-responsive dermatoses.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- June 30, 1971
- Generic labelers
- 25 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.243 per gram
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 8
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Fluocinolone label of February 26, 2023, Fluocinonide label of September 30, 2024); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do fluocinolone and fluocinonide differ on the record?
Both are in FDA's class corticosteroids.
Generics: fluocinolone since 1982; fluocinonide since 1987 (Drugs@FDA).
| Fluocinolone | Fluocinonide | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Psoriasis, Eczema (atopic dermatitis) | n/a |
| 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) | February 15, 1963 | June 30, 1971 |
| First generic approved | April 27, 1982 | June 10, 1987 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 15 labelers | 25 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.171 per mL (Fluocinolone 0.01% scalp oil) | $0.243 per gram (Fluocinonide 0.05% cream) |
| 12-month price change | -0.9% | -30% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | A presentation being discontinued |
| Recalls recorded | 14 | 8 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 3,748 | 5,594 |
| 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 fluocinolone
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions