Two medicines, side by side
Prednisolone vs dexamethasone
Prednisolone and dexamethasone are both labeled for osteoarthritis, asthma, allergies, crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, herpes and shingles, eczema (atopic dermatitis), multiple sclerosis, leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma and anemia. Drugs@FDA records approvals of prednisolone since 1955 and of dexamethasone since 1958. Pharmacies paid $4.72 per mL (Prednisolone ac 1% eye drop) and $0.193 per dexamethasone 4 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. Prednisolone's other strengths are brand-only: $30.66 per mL (Pred mild 0.12% eye drops).
Check it at the source: the prednisolone FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 25, 2026); the dexamethasone FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 6, 2025).
Highlights of the prednisolone record
Prednisolone (Pred) · label of June 25, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsPrednisolone Sodium Phosphate Oral Solution is indicated in the following conditions: 1. Allergic States Control of severe or incapacitating allergic conditions intractable to adequate trials of conventional treatment in adult and pediatric populations with: seasonal or perennial allergic rhinitis; asthma; contact dermatitis; atopic dermatitis; serum sickness; drug hypersensitivity reactions. 2. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- May 22, 1955
- Generic labelers
- 25 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $4.72 per mL
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 9
Highlights of the dexamethasone record
Dexamethasone (Decadron) · label of June 6, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsAllergic States Control of severe or incapacitating allergic conditions intractable to adequate trials of conventional treatment in asthma, atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, drug hypersensitivity reactions, perennial or seasonal allergic rhinitis, and serum sickness. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- October 30, 1958
- Generic labelers
- 60 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.193 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- In shortage
- Recalls
- 8
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Prednisolone label of June 25, 2026, Dexamethasone label of June 6, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do prednisolone and dexamethasone differ on the record?
Both are in FDA's class corticosteroids.
Generics: prednisolone since 1971; dexamethasone since 1971 (Drugs@FDA).
| Prednisolone | Dexamethasone | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Anemia, Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, Multiple sclerosis, Osteoarthritis, Asthma, Allergies, Herpes and shingles, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, Eczema (atopic dermatitis), Organ transplant rejection | Asthma, Eczema (atopic dermatitis), Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, Herpes and shingles, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, Multiple sclerosis, Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Psoriasis, Allergies, Anemia, Pain |
| Pharmacologic class | Corticosteroid | Corticosteroid |
| How it works (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | Prednisolone is 70-90% protein-bound in the plasma and it is eliminated from the plasma with a half-life of 2 to 4 hours. | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | May 22, 1955 | October 30, 1958 |
| First generic approved | November 24, 1971 | October 20, 1971 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 25 labelers | 60 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $4.72 per mL (Prednisolone ac 1% eye drop) | $0.193 per tablet (Dexamethasone 4 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | +4% | -26% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | In shortage |
| Recalls recorded | 9 | 8 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 191,407 | 304,163 |
| 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 prednisolone
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions