Prescription medication · Vitamin D / Corticosteroid Combination

calcipotriene/betamethasone

Also sold as Enstilar, Taclonex. This ointment treats plaque psoriasis.

Data updated 2026-05-15

2,282
FDA reports
$21.19
Brand price (NADAC)

calcipotriene/betamethasone (Enstilar) is a prescription Vitamin D / Corticosteroid Combination. This ointment treats plaque psoriasis.

Calcipotriene and Betamethasone Dipropionate Ointment is a medicine that combines a vitamin D-like drug and a steroid. It is used on the skin to treat plaque psoriasis.

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Drug Pricing (NADAC)

Brand Price

$21.19/unit

Generic Available

No

Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →

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What it does

This ointment treats plaque psoriasis.

Common side effects

Itching, Scaly rash, Headache

Key warnings

This medicine can cause high calcium levels in your blood and urine.

The sections below are summarized in plain English from calcipotriene/betamethasone's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.

How It Works

This medicine has two active ingredients. Calcipotriene is similar to vitamin D and slows down skin cell growth. Betamethasone is a steroid that reduces swelling and itching.

Side Effects (from patient reports)

Based on 2,282 FDA adverse event reports.

Most-reported reactions

Adverse reactions in FAERS for calcipotriene/betamethasone, by number of reports

reports

What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.

Source FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS)

Serious Warnings

This medicine can cause high calcium levels in your blood and urine. If this happens, stop using the medicine until your calcium levels are normal. This medicine can also affect your adrenal glands, which can cause them to not make enough steroid hormones. Long-term use may increase the risk of cataracts and glaucoma.

Common Questions

How much ointment can I use each week?
Adults should not use more than 100 grams per week. Patients ages 12 to 17 years should not use more than 60 grams per week.
Can I cover the treated area with a bandage?
Do not use with occlusive dressings (airtight bandages) unless your doctor tells you to.
Where should I avoid using this ointment?
Avoid using it on your face, groin, or armpits, or if the skin is thin in the treatment area.
Is this medicine safe to swallow?
No, this medicine is not for oral use.
Can I use this in my eyes?
No, this medicine is not for ophthalmic (eye) use.
Can I use this medicine inside my vagina?
No, this medicine is not for intravaginal use.
What should I do if I experience vision problems?
If you have visual symptoms, see an eye doctor.
What if the medicine doesn't seem to be working?
Contact your doctor if the medicine does not seem to be working.
Can I use this on more than 30% of my body?
Treatment of more than 30% of your body surface area is not recommended.
What should I do if I accidentally use too much?
Contact your doctor if you accidentally use too much of this medicine.
What are the common side effects of calcipotriene/betamethasone?
The registry lists Itching, Scaly rash, Headache, Stuffy or runny nose, Psoriasis among the most-reported FAERS reaction terms for calcipotriene/betamethasone. The compiled record contains 2,282 FDA adverse-event reports. These counts are not an individual symptom assessment.
What drug class is calcipotriene/betamethasone?
calcipotriene/betamethasone belongs to the Vitamin D / Corticosteroid Combination drug class. It requires a prescription (Rx). This ointment treats plaque psoriasis.
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for calcipotriene/betamethasone?
The FDA label for calcipotriene/betamethasone contains product-specific pregnancy or breastfeeding language. PlainMeds does not apply that source text to an individual.

Related Medications in Vitamin D / Corticosteroid Combination

Other drugs grouped near calcipotriene/betamethasone - same-class peers and common alternatives.

adapalene

Differin

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apremilast

Otezla

Apremilast (Otezla/Otezla XR) is a medicine that can help adults and children manage psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis.

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azelaic acid

Finacea, Azelex

Azelaic acid gel is a topical medicine that helps treat rosacea.

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benzoyl peroxide

Benzac, PanOxyl

Benzoyl peroxide is a topical medicine that fights germs on your skin.

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betamethasone

Diprosone, Luxiq

Betamethasone dipropionate cream is a strong steroid medicine used on the skin.

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Compare calcipotriene/betamethasone vs adapalene side-by-side →

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What the FDA Data Shows for calcipotriene/betamethasone

The FDA label for calcipotriene/betamethasone (sold under brand names such as Enstilar, Taclonex) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Vitamin D / Corticosteroid Combination class. This ointment treats plaque psoriasis. Official labeling lists 5 commonly reported side effects, including Itching, Scaly rash, Headache.

Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 2,282 voluntary reports. Interaction data is drawn directly from FDA-approved prescribing information. NADAC pricing from CMS.

Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.

Data Sources

Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).

FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. This registry does not provide medication decisions.

Last updated: December 7, 2023

PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.

All federal data sources used on this page