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