Two medicines, side by side
Miconazole vs clotrimazole
Miconazole and clotrimazole are both labeled for fungal infections. Drugs@FDA records approvals of miconazole since 1974 and of clotrimazole since 1975. Pharmacies paid $0.120 per gram (Miconazole 2% topical cream) and $0.133 per gram (Clotrimazole 1% topical cream) (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like.
Check it at the source: the miconazole FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 21, 2026); the clotrimazole FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 30, 2026).
Highlights of the miconazole record
Miconazole (Monistat) · label of July 21, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationstreats vaginal yeast infections relieves external itching and irritation due to a vaginal yeast infection
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- January 8, 1974
- Generic labelers
- 43 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.120 per gram
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 1
Highlights of the clotrimazole record
Clotrimazole (Cvs) · label of January 30, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsClotrimazole cream USP is indicated for the topical treatment of candidiasis due to Candida albicans and tinea versicolor due to Malassezia furfur. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- February 3, 1975
- Generic labelers
- 24 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.133 per gram
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Miconazole label of July 21, 2026, Clotrimazole label of January 30, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do miconazole and clotrimazole differ on the record?
Both are in FDA's class azole antifungals.
Generics: miconazole since 1992; clotrimazole since 1993 (Drugs@FDA).
| Miconazole | Clotrimazole | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Fungal infections | Fungal infections |
| Pharmacologic class | Azole Antifungal | Azole Antifungal |
| How it works (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | January 8, 1974 | February 3, 1975 |
| First generic approved | October 30, 1992 | July 16, 1993 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 43 labelers | 24 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.120 per gram (Miconazole 2% topical cream) | $0.133 per gram (Clotrimazole 1% topical cream) |
| 12-month price change | +0.5% | -6% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 1 | 0 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 8,710 | 12,230 |
| 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 miconazole
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions