Appendix D: Topical corticosteroids for the treatment of atopic eczema, grouped by potency

Tables 2 to 5 list the topical corticosteroids in each potency category. The net cost is taken from BNF 47 (March 2004), using the largest pack sizes available (for example, where 100 g is the largest pack size, the cost is calculated using the 100 g price multiplied by 0.3).

Table 2 Topical corticosteroids of mild potency

BNF chemical name

Manufacturer

Product name

Posology from SPCs, where available

Net cost per 30 g/30 ml for each strength (does not include VAT or dispensing fee)

Hydrocortisone

  • Alpharma

  • BCM Specials

  • Bell Sons & Co. (Druggists)

  • Bioglan Laboratories

  • Bioglan Pharmaceuticals

  • Biorex Laboratories

  • Co-Pharma

  • Diomed Developments

  • Galpharm Healthcare

  • Lagap Pharmaceuticals

  • Norton Pharmaceuticals

  • Novartis

  • Pinewood Laboratories

  • Reckitt Benckiser Healthcare (UK)

  • Roussel Laboratories

  • Thornton & Ross

  • Waymade

Generic hydrocortisone cream 0.5%, 1%, ointment 0.5%, 1%

N/A

£0.66, £0.74, £0.65, £0.76

Hydrocortisone

GlaxoSmithKline

Efcortelan cream/ointment 0.5%, 1%, 2.5%

2 to 3 times daily

£0.66, £0.81, £1.83

Hydrocortisone

Yamanouchi

Mildison Lipocream 1%

2 to 3 times daily

£2.63

Hydrocortisone

Dermal

Dioderm cream 0.1%

Twice daily

£2.69

Fluocinolone acetonide

GP Pharma

Synalar cream 1/10, 0.0025%

2 to 3 times daily

£1.15

Table 3 Topical corticosteroids of moderate potency

BNF chemical name

Manufacturer

Product name

Posology from SPCs, where available

Net cost per 30 g/30 ml for each strength (does not include VAT or dispensing fee)

Alclometasone dipropionate

Pliva

Modrasone cream/ointment 0.05%

2 to 3 times daily

£1.69

Betamethasone valerate

GlaxoSmithKline

Betnovate RD cream/ointment 0.025%

2 to 3 times daily

£1.08

Clobetasone butyrate

GlaxoSmithKline

Eumovate cream/ointment 0.05%

Up to 4 times daily

£1.70

Desoximetasone

Stiefel

Stiedex LP oily cream 0.05%

2 to 3 times daily

£2.46

Fluocinolone acetonide

GP Pharma

Synalar cream/ointment 1/4, 0.00625%

2 to 3 times daily

£1.22

Fluocortolone

Meadow

Ultralanum Plain cream/ointment 0.25%

N/A

£1.77

Fludroxycortide

Typharm

Haelan cream/ointment 0.0125%

2–3 times daily

£1.63

Table 4 Potent topical corticosteroids

BNF chemical name

Manufacturer

Product name

Posology from SPCs, where available

Net cost per 30 g/30 ml for each strength (does not include VAT or dispensing fee)

Beclometasone dipropionate

GlaxoSmithKline

Propaderm cream/ointment 0.025%

Twice daily

£1.74

Betamethasone dipropionate

Schering Plough

Diprosone cream/ointment 0.05%, lotion 0.05%

1 to 2 times daily

£2.05, £2.61

Betamethasone valerate

GlaxoSmithKline

Betnovate cream/ointment 0.1%, lotion 0.1%, scalp application 0.1%

2 to 3 times daily

£1.31, £1.57, £1.71

Betamethasone valerate

Celltech

Bettamousse foam 0.12%

Twice daily

£2.25

Betamethasone valerate

Dermal

Betacap scalp application 0.1%

Twice daily

£1.27

Betamethasone valerate

Dowelhurst, Futuna

Generic betamethasone valerate cream 0.1%, ointment 0.1%

N/A

£1.54, £1.69

Diflucortolone valerate

Meadow

Nerisone cream/ointment 0.1%, oily cream 0.1%

N/A

£1.59, £2.56

Fluocinolone acetonide

GP Pharma

Synalar cream/ointment 0.025%, gel 0.025%

2 to 3 times daily

£1.74, £2.57

Fluocinonide

GP Pharma

Metosyn FAPG cream 0.05%, ointment 0.05%

3 to 4 times daily

£1.54, £1.52

Fluticasone propionate

GlaxoSmithKline

Cutivate cream 0.05%

Once daily

£4.59

Fluticasone propionate

GlaxoSmithKline

Cutivate ointment 0.05%

Twice daily

£4.59

Hydrocortisone butyrate

Yamanouchi

Locoid Lipocream 0.1%

2 to 3 times daily

£2.38

Hydrocortisone butyrate

Yamanouchi

Locoid cream/ointment 0.1%, scalp lotion 0.1%

2 to 4 times daily

£2.27, £3.15

Hydrocortisone butyrate

Yamanouchi

Locoid Crelo 0.1%

2 to 3 times daily

£2.72

Mometasone furoate

Schering Plough

Elocon cream/ointment 0.1%, scalp lotion 0.1%

Once daily

£4.22, £4.88

Table 5 Very potent topical corticosteroids

BNF chemical name

Manufacturer

Product name

Posology from SPCs, where available

Net cost per 30 g/30 ml for each strength (does not include VAT or dispensing fee)

Clobetasol propionate

GlaxoSmithKline

Dermovate cream/ointment 0.05%, scalp application 0.05%

1 to 2 times daily

£2.48, £3.27

Diflucortolone valerate

Schering Health/Meadow

Nerisone Forte ointment/oily cream 0.3%

N/A

£4.18

Halcinonide

Bristol-Myers Squibb

Halciderm cream 0.1%

2 to 3 times daily

£3.40