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fluocinonide Side Effects

Also known as: Lidex, Vanos

Analysis of 5,460 adverse event reports submitted to the FDA from 2004 to 2025.

Total Reports

5,460

Death-Related

255

4.7% of reports

Hospitalizations

1,006

18.4% of reports

Top Indication

Product Used For Unknown Indication

Most Reported Adverse Reactions

DRUG INEFFECTIVE
746
PSORIASIS
544
RASH
440
PRURITUS
406
FATIGUE
281
DIARRHOEA
280
NAUSEA
277
PAIN
271
OFF LABEL USE
265
HEADACHE
255
ARTHRALGIA
209
PRODUCT USE IN UNAPPROVED INDICATION
207
DERMATITIS ATOPIC
173
PRODUCT DOSE OMISSION ISSUE
173
ERYTHEMA
169
DYSPNOEA
168
DIZZINESS
167
CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE
161
CONDITION AGGRAVATED
160
SKIN EXFOLIATION
160

Who Reports Side Effects

Gender Distribution

Female 3,063 (60%)
Male 2,027 (40%)
Unknown 16

Age Distribution

0-17 166 (5%)
18-44 619 (20%)
45-64 1,196 (39%)
65-74 659 (21%)
75+ 466 (15%)

Reporting Trend by Year

2004 2025

Reactions in Death Reports

Top reactions reported in 255 reports where death was an outcome. These are voluntarily reported and do not establish causation.

Reaction Reports
DEATH 127
CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE 25
ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY 21
RENAL FAILURE 19
END STAGE RENAL DISEASE 16
HYPOTENSION 15
MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION 15
SEPSIS 15
DYSPNOEA 14
OFF LABEL USE 13
ASTHENIA 12
CARDIAC ARREST 11
PNEUMONIA 11
RESPIRATORY FAILURE 11
FATIGUE 10
DISEASE PROGRESSION 9
NEPHROGENIC ANAEMIA 9
PAIN 9
DIARRHOEA 8
NAUSEA 8

Reactions in Hospitalization Reports

Top reactions in 1,006 reports where hospitalization was an outcome.

Reaction Reports
PNEUMONIA 91
DYSPNOEA 89
PAIN 87
FATIGUE 74
NAUSEA 70
DIARRHOEA 69
RASH 65
VOMITING 59
PYREXIA 56
DIZZINESS 55
FALL 55
ANXIETY 52
ASTHENIA 51
ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY 50
HEADACHE 49
HYPERTENSION 46
MALAISE 46
RENAL FAILURE 45
URINARY TRACT INFECTION 44
COUGH 43

Nearby — Related Medications

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What the FAERS Data Reveals About fluocinonide Side Effects

The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) contains 5,460 voluntary reports linked to fluocinonide and its brand equivalents (Lidex, Vanos), spanning 2004 through 2025. Of those, 255 (4.7%) listed death as an outcome and 1,006 (18.4%) involved hospitalization. The most common indication reported alongside adverse events was Product Used For Unknown Indication.

Demographic breakdowns help contextualize who is being exposed to the drug. Of reports with known sex, 60% were female and 40% male; age distribution skews toward 45-64, with 1,196 reports in that bracket. The single most reported reaction is drug ineffective with 746 submissions, followed by psoriasis and rash.

FAERS is a signal-detection tool, not a scorecard. Reports are voluntary, and a single case may list multiple suspect drugs, so numbers above should not be read as incidence rates or per-patient risk. Widely prescribed drugs naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies even when individual risk is low. These aggregates are useful for spotting patterns that merit further pharmacovigilance, not for choosing between medications. This page is for educational reference only and is not medical advice — speak with a licensed clinician about any side-effect concerns.