Two medicines, side by side
Hydrocortisone vs triamcinolone
Hydrocortisone and triamcinolone are both labeled for osteoarthritis, asthma, allergies, eczema (atopic dermatitis), leukemia and lymphoma and myeloma. Drugs@FDA records approvals of hydrocortisone since 1951 and of triamcinolone since 1957. Pharmacies paid $0.0613 per gram (Hydrocortisone 1% cream) and $0.0452 per gram (Triamcinolone 0.1% 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. Triamcinolone's other strengths are brand-only: $2.33 per mL (Kenalog-10 50 mg/5 mL vial).
Check it at the source: the hydrocortisone FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 19, 2026); the triamcinolone FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 28, 2026).
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
Highlights of the triamcinolone record
Triamcinolone (Kenalog) · 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
- December 3, 1957
- Generic labelers
- 73 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0452 per gram
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- Listed; available
- Recalls
- 27
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Hydrocortisone label of August 19, 2026, Triamcinolone label of January 28, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do hydrocortisone and triamcinolone differ on the record?
Both are in FDA's class corticosteroids.
Generics: hydrocortisone since 1971; triamcinolone since 1972 (Drugs@FDA).
| Hydrocortisone | Triamcinolone | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Osteoarthritis, Asthma, Allergies, Herpes and shingles, Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, Eczema (atopic dermatitis) | Asthma, Eczema (atopic dermatitis), Anemia, Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, Allergies, Fever, Pain, Osteoarthritis |
| 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) | December 21, 1951 | December 3, 1957 |
| First generic approved | December 22, 1971 | April 26, 1972 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 49 labelers | 73 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0613 per gram (Hydrocortisone 1% cream) | $0.0452 per gram (Triamcinolone 0.1% cream) |
| 12-month price change | +1% | -18% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | A presentation being discontinued | Listed; available |
| Recalls recorded | 7 | 27 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 97,782 | 31,591 |
| 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?
Triamcinolone label, drug interactionsAmphotericin B: There have been cases reported in which concomitant use of Amphotericin B and hydrocortisone was followed by cardiac enlargement and congestive heart failure (s ee Potassium Depleting Agents).
Triamcinolone label, drug interactionsThere 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 hydrocortisone
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions