Prescription medication · Topical Corticosteroid
fluocinonide
Also sold as Lidex, Vanos. This medicine treats skin problems like eczema, psoriasis, and allergies.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 5,460
- FDA reportsLightly reported
- 3
- Recall records
What the data shows
fluocinonide (Lidex) is a prescription Topical Corticosteroid, reported less often than most tracked drugs (5,460 FDA reports).
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
fluocinonide (Lidex) is a prescription Topical Corticosteroid. This medicine treats skin problems like eczema, psoriasis, and allergies.
Fluocinonide is a strong topical steroid medicine. It helps reduce swelling, itching, and redness of the skin.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$0.28/unit
Generic Available
Yes (23 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
This medicine treats skin problems like eczema, psoriasis, and allergies.
Common side effects
Burning, Itching, Irritation
Key warnings
Do not use fluocinonide if you are allergic to it.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from fluocinonide's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
Fluocinonide is a corticosteroid. It works by reducing inflammation in the skin. This helps to relieve itching and other symptoms.
How to Take It
Apply a thin layer to the affected skin areas. Gently rub it in. Do this 2 to 4 times a day, or as your doctor tells you. Do not use bandages or dressings unless your doctor tells you to.
This is a plain-language summary of fluocinonide's FDA labeling, not individualized dosing advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before changing how you take this medication.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. It is not known if fluocinonide can harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits.
This is a plain-language summary of fluocinonide's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber about pregnancy or breastfeeding on this medication.
Missed Dose
Apply it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
This is a plain-language summary of fluocinonide's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber what to do about your specific missed dose.
Storage
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 5,460 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for fluocinonide, by number of reports
- Psoriasis
Psoriasis
544 reports
- Rash
Rash
441 reports
- Itching
Itching
406 reports
- Tiredness
Tiredness
281 reports
- Diarrhea
Diarrhea
280 reports
- Feeling sick to your stomach
Feeling sick to your stomach
277 reports
- Pain
Pain
271 reports
- Headache
Headache
255 reports
- Joint pain 209
Joint pain
209 reports
- Eczema 173
Eczema
173 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.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for fluocinonide each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where fluocinonide sits
fluocinonide has more FDA adverse-event reports than 26% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is fluocinonide; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 5,460 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2004–2025.
Total Reports
5,460
Reports Mentioning Death
255
4.7% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
1,006
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | PSORIASIS | 544 |
| 3 | RASH | 440 |
| 4 | PRURITUS | 406 |
| 5 | FATIGUE | 281 |
| 6 | DIARRHOEA | 280 |
| 7 | NAUSEA | 277 |
| 8 | PAIN | 271 |
| 10 | HEADACHE | 255 |
| 11 | ARTHRALGIA | 209 |
| 13 | DERMATITIS ATOPIC | 173 |
| 15 | ERYTHEMA | 169 |
| 16 | DYSPNOEA | 168 |
| 17 | DIZZINESS | 167 |
| 18 | CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE | 161 |
| 19 | CONDITION AGGRAVATED | 160 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
Do not use fluocinonide if you are allergic to it. Tell your doctor if you have any skin infections before using this medicine. Using too much, for too long, can increase your risk for side effects.
Common Questions
Can I use this on my face?
How long should I use this medicine?
Can I use a bandage over the treated area?
What should I do if my skin gets more irritated?
Can I buy this over the counter?
Is it safe to use on children?
What happens if I swallow it?
Can I use it for a fungal infection?
Can I use it on open wounds?
What should I do if I get it in my eyes?
What are the common side effects of fluocinonide?
What drug class is fluocinonide?
Is fluocinonide safe during pregnancy?
Has fluocinonide been recalled?
Active Recalls
Failed Viscosity Specifications: Out of Specification results, above the specification limit, in viscosity, noted during stability testing.
SUN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES INC
Failed Viscosity Specifications: Out of Specification results, above the specification limit, in viscosity, noted during stability testing.
SUN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES INC
Failed Viscosity Specifications: Out of Specification results, above the specification limit, in viscosity, noted during stability testing.
SUN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES INC
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What the FDA Data Shows for fluocinonide
The FDA label for fluocinonide (sold under brand names such as Lidex, Vanos) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Topical Corticosteroid class. This medicine treats skin problems like eczema, psoriasis, and allergies. Official labeling lists 5 commonly reported side effects, including Burning, Itching, Irritation.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 5,460 voluntary reports. Interaction data is drawn directly from FDA-approved prescribing information. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.28.
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 (currently 3 recall records on file), and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
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. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: August 16, 2024
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 and last refreshed May 2026. See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a correction.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages