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Desonide

Prescription ANDA TE AB Official labelling
Informational index, not medical advice. Content is reproduced from public FDA and NLM data. Always confirm against the manufacturer's current prescribing information. Report adverse events to FDA MedWatch.

Overview

Brand name
Desonide
Generic name
Desonide
Dosage form
Lotion
Route
Topical
Marketing category
ANDA · ANDA
Labeler
Actavis Pharma, Inc.
Product type
Human Prescription Drug
DEA schedule
Not scheduled
Active ingredients
1
NDC product codes
5
Packages
9
Data completeness
82% of corroborating sources present

Active ingredients

Source: NDC Directory
Active ingredients and strengths as listed in the NDC Directory.
Ingredient Strength RxCUI Monograph
Desonide .5 mg/mL 204135 View

Forms, strengths and routes

Source: NDC Directory
Dosage form
Lotion
Route of administration
Topical
Presentations
14

Pharmacologic classes are listed in the class section below.

Pharmacologic class

Source: NDC Directory
Established pharmacologic classes (EPC), mechanisms of action (MoA), chemical structures (CS) and physiologic effects (PE).
Class Type Browse
Corticosteroid Hormone Receptor Agonists [MoA] MoA All 215 members
Corticosteroid [EPC] EPC All 215 members

Regulatory status

Source: Drugs@FDANDC Directory
Application number
072354
Application type
ANDA · Abbreviated New Drug Application
Approval date
January 24, 1992
Sponsor
GALDERMA LABS LP
Products on application
1
Submissions recorded
8
Products approved under application 072354.
Product Trade name Form Strength Ingredient Status TE Flags
072354-001 DESOWEN LOTION DESONIDE Discontinued AB

Therapeutic equivalence

Source: Orange Book
TE code
AB
Reference Listed Drug
No
Reference Standard
No

What this rating means: Therapeutically equivalent — bioequivalence demonstrated by in vivo or in vitro testing

Codes beginning with “A” indicate products the FDA considers therapeutically equivalent. Codes beginning with “B” indicate bioequivalence has not been established. See methodology.

Approval history

Source: Drugs@FDA
Most recent submissions on application 072354.
Type No. Action Status Date Review
Supplement 9 Labeling Approved April 13, 2015 Standard
Supplement 6 Labeling Approved June 12, 1998 —
Supplement 5 Manufacturing (CMC) Approved June 12, 1998 —
Supplement 4 Labeling Approved July 28, 1995 —
Supplement 3 Manufacturing (CMC) Approved July 28, 1995 —
Supplement 2 Manufacturing (CMC) Approved November 1, 1994 —
Supplement 1 Labeling Approved May 19, 1993 —
Original application 1 Approved January 24, 1992 —

Review documents

  • 0 · Original application · January 27, 2012

Prescribing information

Source: openFDA Drug Labeling

Reproduced verbatim from the Structured Product Labeling submitted to the FDA (effective 20260123). This is the manufacturer's labelling text, not a summary and not advice.

HUMAN PRESCRIPTION DRUG · 20260123 HUMAN PRESCRIPTION DRUG · 20250908 HUMAN PRESCRIPTION DRUG · 20250908

Indications and Usage

openFDA Drug Labeling

INDICATIONS AND USAGE: Desonide Cream and Lotion are low to medium potency corticosteroids indicated for the relief of the inflammatory and pruritic manifestations of corticosteroid responsive dermatoses.

Dosage and Administration

openFDA Drug Labeling

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION: Desonide Cream or Lotion should be applied to the affected areas as a thin film two or three times daily depending on the severity of the condition. SHAKE LOTION WELL BEFORE USING. As with other corticosteroids, therapy should be discontinued when control is achieved. If no improvement is seen within 2 weeks, reassessment of diagnosis may be necessary. Desonide Cream and Lotion should not be used with occlusive dressings.

Contraindications

openFDA Drug Labeling

CONTRAINDICATIONS: Desonide Cream and Lotion are contraindicated in those patients with a history of hypersensitivity to any of the components of the preparations.

Adverse Reactions

openFDA Drug Labeling

ADVERSE REACTIONS In controlled clinical trials, the total incidence of adverse reactions associated with the use of desonide was approximately 8%. These were: stinging and burning approximately 3%, irritation, contact dermatitis, condition worsened, peeling of skin, itching, intense transient erythema, and dryness/scaliness, each less than 2%. The following additional local adverse reactions have been reported infrequently with other topical corticosteroids, and they may occur more frequently with the use of occlusive dressings, especially with higher potency corticosteroids. These reactions are listed in an approximate decreasing order of occurrence: folliculitis, acneiform eruptions, hypopigmentation, perioral dermatitis, secondary infection, skin atrophy, striae, and miliaria. To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Alembic Pharmaceuticals, Inc. at 1-866-210-9797 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

Description

openFDA Drug Labeling

DESCRIPTION: Desonide Cream 0.05% and Lotion 0.05% contain desonide (Pregna-1,4-diene-3,20-dione,11,21-dihydroxy-16,17 [(1-methylethylidene)bis(oxy)]-,(11β,16α)- a synthetic nonfluorinated corticosteroid for topical dermatologic use. The corticosteroids constitute a class of primarily synthetic steroids used topically as anti-inflammatory and anti-pruritic agents. Chemically, desonide is C 24 H 32 O 6 . It has the following structural formula: Desonide has the molecular weight of 416.51. It is a white to off white odorless powder which is soluble in methanol and practically insoluble in water. Each gram of Desonide Cream contains 0.5 mg of desonide in a base of citric acid, emulsifying wax, isopropyl palmitate, polysorbate 60, potassium sorbate, propyl gallate, propylene glycol, purified water, sodium hydroxide, sorbic acid, stearic acid, and synthetic beeswax. Each gram of Desonide Lotion contains 0.5 mg of desonide in a base of cetyl alcohol, edetate sodium, glyceryl stearate SE, light mineral oil, methylparaben, propylene glycol, propylparaben, purified water, sodium lauryl sulfate, sorbitan monostearate, and stearyl alcohol. May contain citric acid and/or sodium hydroxide for pH adjustment. desowen-structure-01

OVERDOSAGE: Topically applied Desonide Cream and Lotion can be absorbed in sufficient amounts to produce systemic effects (See PRECAUTIONS ).

How Supplied / Storage and Handling

openFDA Drug Labeling

HOW SUPPLIED Desonide Lotion USP, 0.05% is supplied in 59 mL and 118 mL bottles containing: 2 fl oz (59 mL) NDC 62332-550-59 4 fl oz (118 mL) NDC 62332-550-18 Storage Conditions: Store between 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F) [See USP Controlled Room Temperature]. Manufactured for: Alembic Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Bedminster, NJ 07921, USA Manufactured by: Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited (Derma Division), Karakhadi, Vadodara 391450, India. Mfg. License No.: G/25/2216 Revised: 07/2025

Adverse event reports

Source: openFDA FAERS
4,961
FAERS reports mentioning this drug
as of 2026-09-25T03:42:24+00:00
A report count is not a risk measure. FAERS accepts voluntary and mandatory reports without establishing causation, and reporting is influenced by how widely a drug is used, how long it has been marketed, and media attention. FDA states that reports “do not prove that the drug caused the event”. Compare rates, not totals.

Attributed to this product's most-reported active ingredient: DESONIDE. Combination products with more than six active ingredients are not attributed, because a report count summed across a long ingredient list measures the list, not the medicine.

Packaging and NDCs

Source: NDC Directory
Every National Drug Code package associated with this medication. The NDC is the identifier used for dispensing, billing and pharmacovigilance in the United States.
Package NDC Product NDC Labeler Description Marketing start
0472-0803-02 0472-0803 Actavis Pharma, Inc. 1 BOTTLE in 1 CARTON (0472-0803-02) / 59 mL in 1 BOTTLE May 28, 2009
0472-0803-04 0472-0803 Actavis Pharma, Inc. 1 BOTTLE in 1 CARTON (0472-0803-04) / 118 mL in 1 BOTTLE May 28, 2009
62332-550-18 62332-550 Alembic Pharmaceuticals Inc. 1 BOTTLE in 1 CARTON (62332-550-18) / 118 mL in 1 BOTTLE August 28, 2020
62332-550-59 62332-550 Alembic Pharmaceuticals Inc. 1 BOTTLE in 1 CARTON (62332-550-59) / 59 mL in 1 BOTTLE August 28, 2020
46708-550-18 46708-550 Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited 1 BOTTLE in 1 CARTON (46708-550-18) / 118 mL in 1 BOTTLE March 26, 2025
46708-550-59 46708-550 Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited 1 BOTTLE in 1 CARTON (46708-550-59) / 59 mL in 1 BOTTLE March 26, 2025
63629-8739-1 63629-8739 Bryant Ranch Prepack 1 BOTTLE in 1 CARTON (63629-8739-1) / 59 mL in 1 BOTTLE August 19, 2021
51672-4079-4 51672-4079 Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc. 1 BOTTLE in 1 CARTON (51672-4079-4) / 59 mL in 1 BOTTLE October 31, 2014
51672-4079-8 51672-4079 Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc. 1 BOTTLE in 1 CARTON (51672-4079-8) / 118 mL in 1 BOTTLE October 31, 2014
0472-0803 0472-0803 Actavis Pharma, Inc. — May 28, 2009
62332-550 62332-550 Alembic Pharmaceuticals Inc. — August 28, 2020
46708-550 46708-550 Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited — March 26, 2025
63629-8739 63629-8739 Bryant Ranch Prepack — May 28, 2009
51672-4079 51672-4079 Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc. — October 31, 2014

Sources for this page

Every dataset that contributed a fact to this page.
Dataset Agency Used for
NDC Directory FDA Identity, ingredients, strengths, forms, routes, labelers, packages
Drugs@FDA FDA Application, sponsor, submissions, review documents, marketing status
Orange Book FDA Therapeutic equivalence codes, reference drug flags, patents, exclusivity
Drug Labeling FDA / NLM Prescribing information reproduced above
FAERS FDA Adverse event report counts

Generated September 25, 2026 · 12 sections on this page.