Two medicines, side by side
Ketoconazole vs selenium sulfide
Ketoconazole and selenium sulfide are both labeled for fungal infections. Drugs@FDA records approvals of ketoconazole since 1981 and of selenium sulfide since 1951. Pharmacies paid $0.249 per gram (Ketoconazole 2% cream) and $0.0141 per mL (Anti-dandruff 1% shampoo) (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like.
Check it at the source: the ketoconazole FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 28, 2026); the selenium sulfide FDA label on DailyMed (effective February 24, 2026).
Highlights of the ketoconazole record
Ketoconazole (Nizoral) · label of January 28, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsKetoconazole Cream 2% is indicated for the topical treatment of tinea corporis, tinea cruris and tinea pedis caused by Trichophyton rubrum, T. mentagrophytes and Epidermophyton floccosum; in the treatment of tinea (pityriasis) versicolor caused by Malassezia furfur (Pityrosporum orbiculare); in the treatment of cutaneous candidiasis caused by Candida spp. and in the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- June 12, 1981
- Generic labelers
- 30 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.249 per gram
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 3
Highlights of the selenium sulfide record
Selenium sulfide (Selsun) · label of February 24, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationshelps prevent recurrence of itching, irritation, redness, flaking and scaling associated with dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- May 17, 1951
- Generic labelers
- 1 labeler
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0141 per mL
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Ketoconazole label of January 28, 2026, Selenium sulfide label of February 24, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do ketoconazole and selenium sulfide differ on the record?
Generics: ketoconazole since 1999; selenium sulfide since 1974 (Drugs@FDA).
| Ketoconazole | Selenium sulfide | |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | June 12, 1981 | May 17, 1951 |
| First generic approved | June 15, 1999 | January 21, 1974 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 30 labelers | 1 labeler |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.249 per gram (Ketoconazole 2% cream) | $0.0141 per mL (Anti-dandruff 1% shampoo) |
| 12-month price change | -11% | -8% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 3 | 0 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 17,282 | 936 |
| 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 ketoconazole
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions