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Two medicines, side by side

Mometasone vs triamcinolone

Mometasone and triamcinolone are both labeled for asthma and allergies. Drugs@FDA records approvals of mometasone since 1987 and of triamcinolone since 1957. Pharmacies paid $0.354 per gram (Mometasone furoate 0.1% cream) and $0.0452 per gram (Triamcinolone 0.1% cream) (NADAC, October 7, 2026). Triamcinolone's other strengths are brand-only: $2.33 per mL (Kenalog-10 50 mg/5 mL vial).

Check it at the source: the mometasone FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 19, 2026); the triamcinolone FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 28, 2026).

Highlights of the mometasone record

Mometasone (Allergy) · label of August 19, 2026

Used for

From the label: indications

temporarily relieves these symptoms of hay fever or other upper respiratory allergies: • nasal congestion • runny nose • sneezing • itchy nose

On the market

Earliest approval on file
April 30, 1987
Generic labelers
16 labelers
Pharmacy cost
$0.354 per gram

Supply and safety

Shortage
No current entry
Recalls
8

Highlights of the triamcinolone record

Triamcinolone (Kenalog) · label of January 28, 2026

Used for

From the label: indications

Topical 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 (Mometasone 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 mometasone and triamcinolone differ on the record?

Both are in FDA's class corticosteroids.

Generics: mometasone since 2002; triamcinolone since 1972 (Drugs@FDA).

MometasoneTriamcinolone
Labeled forAllergies, AsthmaAsthma, Eczema (atopic dermatitis), Anemia, Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, Allergies, Fever, Pain, Osteoarthritis
Pharmacologic classCorticosteroidCorticosteroid
How it works (label)n/an/a
Half-life (label)n/an/a
Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA)April 30, 1987December 3, 1957
First generic approvedMarch 18, 2002April 26, 1972
Generic labelers (NDC)16 labelers73 labelers
Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ)$0.354 per gram (Mometasone furoate 0.1% cream)$0.0452 per gram (Triamcinolone 0.1% cream)
12-month price change-3%-18%
Boxed warningNoNo
Shortage nowNo current entryListed; available
Recalls recorded827
FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used)41,53131,591
DEA schedulenonenone

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 mometasone
every medicine labeled for the same conditions