Desonide Ointment, 0.05% .5 mg/g Ointment
🆔 Identity & classification
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🏷️ RxNorm drug class
This medicine belongs to the Corticosteroid class.
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🏭 Manufacturer & labeler
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🩺 Clinical
Desonide is used to treat the redness, swelling, itching, and discomfort of various skin conditions, including psoriasis (a skin disease in which red, scaly patches form on some areas of the body and eczema (a skin disease that causes the skin to be dry and itchy and to sometimes develop red, scaly rashes). Desonide is in a class of medications called topical corticosteroids. It works by activating natural substances in the skin to reduce swelling, redness, and itching.
Read the full MedlinePlus article ↗- Desonide is a mild topical steroid used to calm inflamed, itchy skin. Desonide gel is specifically approved for mild to moderate atopic dermatitis — commonly called eczema — in bab...
- What skin problems is desonide actually used for?
- Apply a thin layer to the affected skin only — you don't need a thick coat. The gel is typically used twice a day; the cream or ointment may be used two to four times a day dependi...
- Desonide is meant to be used for the shortest time needed to get your skin under control. The gel form should not be used for more than 4 consecutive weeks. The cream and ointment...
Patient education
Supplement & herbal interactions
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🧪 Inactive Ingredients / Excipients
Inactive ingredients, also called excipients, are components of the drug product other than the active ingredient. They may include fillers, dyes, coatings, preservatives, flavors, or other formulation ingredients.
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Petrolatum is a purified mineral oil-based jelly derived from petroleum. In medicines, it acts as an emollient, lubricant, and moisture barrier to soften skin, reduce friction, and help prevent water loss from formulations.
1 inactive ingredient listed in the exact product block matched to this NDC.
Where does this data come from?
ingredient classCode="IACT" elements from the exact product block matched by this NDC. Label-section narrative from DailyMed / the openFDA label index is shown separately when available.Inactive ingredient FAQ
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💲 Pricing
A drug doesn't have one price. Each row is a different public payment system, and none is what you'd pay at the counter — that depends on your insurance. The ⓘ on each row explains what it measures.
| Price system | Per g | Per package |
|---|---|---|
| Retail pharmacies payNADAC · weekly | Not in the retail survey — common for institutional, discontinued, or low-volume packs. | |
| Medicaid paysCMS SDUD · 12 mo | No recent Medicaid claims on file for this NDC — rare and low-volume NDCs are suppressed in the public data. | |
| Medicare drug plans payPart D · Q2 2026 | $0.6421 | $9.63 / 15 g |
Where does this data come from?
🔁 Therapeutic equivalents
| Product | Labeler | Pack | NADAC/unit | TE | Status | Price vs. this |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Desonide Ointment, 0.05% .5 mg/g 21922-0004-04 | Encube | 1 tube | $0.392 | AB | Availability likely | — |
| Desonide .5 mg/g 45802-0423-35 | Padagis | 1 tube | $0.392 | AB | Availability likely | — |
| Desonide .5 mg/g 51672-1281-01 | Sun | 1 tube | $0.392 | AB | Availability likely | — |
| Desonide .5 mg/g 62332-0485-15 | Alembic | 1 tube | $0.392 | AB | Availability likely | — |
| Desonide .5 mg/g 72603-0164-01 | NORTHSTAR | 1 tube | $0.392 | AB | Availability likely | — |
| Desonide .5 mg/g 46708-0485-15 | Alembic | 1 tube | — | AB | FDA listed | — |
| Desonide Ointment, 0.05% .5 mg/g 63629-8481-01 | Bryant | 1 tube | — | AB | FDA listed | — |
| Desonide Ointment, 0.05% .5 mg/g 63629-8482-01 | Bryant | 1 tube | — | AB | FDA listed | — |
| Desonide Ointment, 0.05% .5 mg/gthis 72162-1272-02 | Bryant | 1 tube | — | AB | FDA listed | — |
Where does this data come from?
⏳ Availability & generic status
This product is an FDA-approved generic. Other versions of the same drug are listed under Therapeutic equivalents, least expensive first.
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📦 Packaging — all sizes for this product
| Package NDC | Description | Marketing start | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 72162-1272-02 You're viewing this | 1 TUBE in 1 CARTON (72162-1272-2) / 15 g in 1 TUBE | 2019-03-20 | Active |
| 72162-1272-06 | 1 TUBE in 1 CARTON (72162-1272-6) / 60 g in 1 TUBE | 2019-03-20 | Active |
Pack size FAQ
What quantity is in NDC 72162-1272-02?
What NDC number is used to bill for this package of Desonide Ointment, 0.05% .5 mg/g Ointment?
🧭 About this NDC listing & data coverage
What data is (and isn’t) available for this NDC — tap to expand
| NDC identity (package / product / labeler codes) | ✓ Available |
| Labeler | ✓ Available |
| Product & package description | ✓ Available |
| Marketing category & status | ✓ Available |
| Active ingredient / dosage form / route | ✓ Available |
| FDA label (SPL via DailyMed) | ✓ Available |
| Package photos | ✓ Available |
| Inactive ingredients (structured) | ✓ Available |
| NADAC pharmacy acquisition price (CMS) | — Not published for this NDC CMS publishes NADAC only for NDCs reported in its retail-pharmacy survey. |
| Orange Book / therapeutic-equivalence data | ✓ Available |
| HCPCS J-code billing crosswalk | — Not published for this NDC Most self-administered / retail products have no J-code — that is normal. |
| Medicaid utilization (CMS SDUD) | — Not published for this NDC CMS reports utilization only for NDCs with Medicaid claims above its privacy threshold. |
Questions about this listing
Why is there no price listed?
Is the NDC printed on the package the same as the 11-digit billing NDC?
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Where does this data come from?
📄 Full prescribing information FDA SPL
🎯 Indications and Usage ▾
INDICATIONS AND USAGE Desonide Ointment, 0.05% is a low potency corticosteroid indicated for the relief of the inflammatory and pruritic manifestations of corticosteroid responsive dermatoses. It should not be used for longer than two weeks unless directed by a physician.
⏱️ Dosage and Administration ▾
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Desonide Ointment, 0.05% should be applied to the affected area as a thin film from two to four times daily depending on the severity of the condition. As with other corticosteroids, therapy should be discontinued when control is achieved. If no improvement is seen within two weeks, reassessment of diagnosis may be necessary. Desonide Ointment, 0.05% should not be used with occlusive dressings.
⛔ Contraindications ▾
CONTRAINDICATIONS Desonide Ointment, 0.05% is contraindicated in those patients with a history of hypersensitivity to any of the components of the preparation.
🤒 Adverse Reactions ▾
ADVERSE REACTIONS In controlled clinical trials, the total incidence of adverse reactions associated with the use of Desonide Ointment, 0.05% was approximately 6%. These adverse reactions were erythema, induration, pruritus, irritation, oiliness, and peripheral edema. The following additional local adverse reactions have been reported infrequently with topical corticosteroids, and they may occur more frequently with the use of occlusive dressings and higher potency corticosteroids.
These reactions are listed in approximate decreasing order of occurrence: dryness, folliculitis, acneiform eruptions, perioral dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, secondary infection, skin atrophy, striae, miliaria, burning and hypopigmentation. To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS , contact Encube Ethicals Private Limited at 1-833-285-4151 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
🤰 Pregnancy ▾
PREGNANCY Teratogenic effect Pregnancy Category C - Corticosteroids have been shown to be teratogenic in laboratory animals when administered systemically at relatively low dosage levels. Some corticosteroids have been shown to be teratogenic after dermal application in laboratory animals. Animal reproductive studies have not been conducted with Desonide Ointment, 0.05%.
It is also not known whether Desonide Ointment, 0.05% can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproduction capacity. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Desonide Ointment, 0.05% should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.
🧒 Pediatric Use ▾
Paediatric Use Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established. Because of a higher ratio of skin surface area to body mass, pediatric patients are at a greater risk than adults of HPA axis suppression and Cushing’s syndrome when they are treated with topical corticosteroids. They are therefore also at greater risk of adrenal insufficiency during or after withdrawal of treatment.
Adverse effects including striae have been reported with inappropriate use of topical corticosteroids in infants and children. HPA axis suppression, Cushing’s syndrome, linear growth retardation, delayed weight gain and intracranial hypertension have been reported in children receiving topical corticosteroids. Manifestations of adrenal suppression in children include low plasma cortisol levels and absence of response to ACTH stimulation.
Manifestations of intracranial hypertension include bulging fontanelles, headaches, and bilateral papilledema.
🆘 Overdosage ▾
OVERDOSAGE Topically applied Desonide Ointment, 0.05% can be absorbed in sufficient amounts to produce systemic effects (see PRECAUTIONS ).
🧬 Clinical Pharmacology ▾
CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY Like other topical corticosteroids, desonide has anti-inflammatory, antipruritic, and vasoconstrictive properties. The mechanism of the anti-inflammatory activity of the topical steroids, in general, is unclear. However corticosteroids are thought to act by the induction of phospholipase A 2 inhibitory proteins, collectively called, lipocortins.
It is postulated that these proteins control the biosynthesis of potent mediators of inflammation such as prostaglandins and leukotrienes by inhibiting the release of their common precursor arachidonic acid. Arachidonic acid is released from membrane phospholipids by phospholipase A 2 . Pharmacokinetics The extent of percutaneous absorption of topical corticosteroids is determined by many factors, including the vehicle and the integrity of the epidermal barrier.
Occlusive dressings with hydrocortisone for up to 24 hours have not been demonstrated to increase penetration; however, occlusion of hydrocortisone for 96 hours markedly enhances penetration. Topical corticosteroids can be absorbed from normal intact skin. Inflammation and/or other disease processes in the skin may increase percutaneous absorption.
Studies performed with Desonide Ointment, 0.05% indicate that it is in the low range of potency as compared with other topical corticosteroids.
📦 How Supplied / Storage and Handling ▾
HOW SUPPLIED Desonide Ointment, 0.05% is available as follows: NDC 72162-1272-2: 15 g tube NDC 72162-1272-6: 60 g tube STORAGE Store at 20-25°C (68-77°F) [see USP Controlled Room Temperature]. Repackaged/Relabeled by: Bryant Ranch Prepack, Inc. Burbank, CA 91504
📋 Description ▾
DESCRIPTION Desonide Ointment, 0.05% contains desonide (Pregna-1,4-diene-3,20-dione,11,21-dihydroxy-16,17-[(1-methylethylidene)bis(oxy)]-,(11ß,16α)) a synthetic corticosteroid for topical dermatologic use. The corticosteroids constitute a class of primary synthetic steroids used topically as anti-inflammatory and antipruritic agents. Chemically, desonide, the active ingredient in Desonide Ointment, 0.05% is C 24 H 32 O 6 .
It has the following structural formula: The molecular weight of desonide is 416.51. It is white to off-white powder. The solubility of desonide in distilled water saturated with the ether is 184 mg/L.
Each gram of Desonide Ointment, 0.05% contains 0.5 milligram of desonide microdispersed in a base of white petrolatum.
💬 Information for Patients ▾
Information for Patients Patients using topical corticosteroids should receive the following information and instructions: This medication is to be used as directed by the physician. It is for external use only. Avoid contact with the eyes.
This medication should not be used for any disorder other than that for which it was prescribed. The treated skin area should not be bandaged, otherwise covered or wrapped, so as to be occlusive unless directed by the physician. Patients should report to their physician any signs of local adverse reactions.