Prescription and over-the-counter medicine
Chlorhexidine Brand names: Antiseptic, Scrub, Bactoshield, Dyna-Hex, Hibiclens
Chlorhexidine (Scrub) is a prescription and over-the-counter medicine with an FDA approval on record since 1976. FDA's NDC Directory lists it from 32 generic labelers, and pharmacies paid $0.0073 per mL (Chlorhexidine 0.12% rinse) in the October 7, 2026 NADAC survey.
- Generic listed
Check it at the source: the chlorhexidine FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 8, 2025, Xttrium Laboratories, Inc.); the NDA 17768 record on Drugs@FDA; every chlorhexidine label on DailyMed.
Highlights of the record
FDA label of December 8, 2025; NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA and Orange Book, October 8, 2026; NADAC October 7, 2026
Used for
From the label: indications and usagesurgical hand scrub: significantly reduces the number of microorganisms on the hands and forearms prior to surgery or patient care healthcare personnel handwash: helps reduce bacteria that potentially can cause disease patient preoperative skin preparation: preparation of the patient's skin prior to surgery skin wound and general skin cleansing
Forms and strengths
- 500 mg
- 0.04 mg/ml
- 0.12 mg/ml
- 0.75 mg/100ml
- 1.2 mg/ml
- 2 mg/100ml
- 2 g/100ml
- 4 g/100ml
- 4 mg/100ml
- 20 mg/ml
- 40 mg/ml
- 40 g/1000ml
Solution; liquid; rinse; cloth.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- September 17, 1976 Hibiclens, Molnlycke Hlth; Drugs@FDA’s file, where older or withdrawn approvals can be missing
- Generic approvals
- 16 first July 24, 1986; 7 with a marketed status in Drugs@FDA
- Labelers listed (NDC)
- 55 of which 32 under generic applications, 28 under brand applications, repackagers included; 3 more under the over-the-counter monograph, without an application
- Last listed patent
- October 2, 2027 Chlorhexidine Gluconate cloth; not a generic launch date
Supply and safety
- Pharmacy cost (NADAC)
- $0.0073 per mL Chlorhexidine 0.12% rinse
- Shortage (FDA)
- No current entry
- Recalls by its makers (FDA)
- 6 since 2016 0 Class I among all firms' recalls; latest August 18, 2026
- FAERS reports
- 9,234 through July 30, 2026
What is chlorhexidine used for?
From the label: indications and usagesurgical hand scrub: significantly reduces the number of microorganisms on the hands and forearms prior to surgery or patient care healthcare personnel handwash: helps reduce bacteria that potentially can cause disease patient preoperative skin preparation: preparation of the patient's skin prior to surgery skin wound and general skin cleansing
Source: FDA drug label (Bactoshield CHG), Xttrium Laboratories, Inc., effective December 8, 2025 (SPL set edfd2be7-b14b-7bd1-e053-2a95a90aa668), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
Is there a generic for chlorhexidine (Scrub)?
The FDA approved the first generic chlorhexidine on July 24, 1986. 16 generic applications are approved; 7 of them carry a current (not discontinued) marketing status in Drugs@FDA; that status is not evidence that the generic is on sale.
FDA's NDC Directory lists chlorhexidine from 32 labelers under a generic (ANDA) application and from 28 brand labelers. A listing means the company has registered the product for sale; it does not show that every pharmacy stocks it.
The Orange Book lists no patent for Dyna-Hex 4 solution; a patent listed only for Chlorhexidine Gluconate cloth runs to October 2, 2027. A patent or exclusivity date is not the date a generic goes on sale: court cases and settlements move it either way.
- 1976 earliest approval on file
- 1986 first generic approved
- 2027 last listed patent
- red ticks recalls
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory and the Orange Book (openFDA bulk files, October 8, 2026)
What do pharmacies pay for chlorhexidine (Scrub)?
In CMS's NADAC survey of October 7, 2026, pharmacies paid $0.0073 per mL (Chlorhexidine 0.12% rinse), down 2% from $0.0075 on October 8, 2025. The chart's scale runs from the lowest to the highest price shown, not from zero. NADAC is what retail pharmacies paid their wholesalers, per unit, in CMS's monthly survey; what a patient pays depends on insurance and the pharmacy.
- Chlorhexidine 0.12% rinse (generic)
- Dyna-hex 4% liquid (brand)
| Strength and form | Brand or generic | Pharmacy cost | 30 tablets, or one pen or vial | 12-month change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antiseptic skin cleanser 4% | Generic | $0.0366 per mL | n/a | +15% |
| Betasept 4% surgical scrub | Generic | $0.0366 per mL | n/a | +15% |
| Chlorhexidine 0.12% rinse | Generic | $0.0073 per mL | n/a | -2% |
| Chlorhexidine 4% liquid | Generic | $0.0285 per mL | n/a | -6% |
| Ft antiseptic skin cleansr 4% | Generic | $0.0366 per mL | n/a | +15% |
| Gnp antiseptic skin cleansr 4% | Generic | $0.0178 per mL | n/a | -10% |
| Dyna-hex 2% solution | Brand | $0.024 per mL | n/a | n/a |
| Dyna-hex 4% liquid | Brand | $0.0323 per mL | n/a | +2% |
Source: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) survey, October 7, 2026: what retail pharmacies paid per unit; not a counter price
Has chlorhexidine been recalled?
The FDA's Enforcement Report lists 6 recalls naming chlorhexidine since 2016: 0 Class I (the most serious), 4 Class II, 2 Class III; 1 still ongoing. A recall names products and lots, not every product of the medicine.
| Started | Class | Company | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 18, 2026 | Class II | Sage Products, LLC | Cross Contamination with Other Products |
| May 14, 2021 | Class III | Medline Industries Inc | Superpotent Drug: Product is above specification for active ingredient, 2% Chlorhexidine Gluconate. |
| June 1, 2017 | Class II | Xttrium Laboratories Inc | CGMP Deviations |
| July 29, 2016 | Class II | Sage Products LLC | CGMP Deviations: potential contamination of products manufactured on the same equipment and lines as the contaminated product. |
| March 23, 2016 | Class II | Akorn, Inc. | Failed impurities/degradation specifications: Out-of-specification result (for multiple batches) for an unknown impurity of Chlorhexidine gluconate. |
| February 12, 2016 | Class III | Ecolab Inc | Subpotent drug |
Source: FDA Enforcement Report (drug recalls) via openFDA, through October 8, 2026
What does the chlorhexidine label say about other medicines?
The chlorhexidine label names no other medicine on this site. The labels of 1 other medicine name chlorhexidine. The sentences are the labels' own; a label lists what its studies and reports found, not every interaction.
Source: FDA drug label (Bactoshield CHG), Xttrium Laboratories, Inc., effective December 8, 2025 (SPL set edfd2be7-b14b-7bd1-e053-2a95a90aa668), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What do FAERS reports show for chlorhexidine?
The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System holds 9,234 reports that list chlorhexidine among the medicines taken, through July 30, 2026, each a report of something that happened, not proof the medicine caused it; 2,797 are coded as a death and 4,251 as a hospital stay. Counts follow how widely a medicine is used and watched, and they are not a measure of how risky it is.
Reports received each year
The most reported reactions
Source: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) via openFDA, reports through July 30, 2026
What next?
- Chlorhexidine side effects
- the label's list beside FAERS reports
- Check an interaction
- what two or more labels say about each other