Triamcinolone Acetonide vs Desoximetasone: side effects in FDA adverse event reports
At a glance
| Triamcinolone Acetonide | Desoximetasone | |
|---|---|---|
| Drug class | Corticosteroid | Corticosteroid |
| Brand names | – | – |
| FAERS reports | 30,695 | 18,941 |
| Serious | 46% | 95% |
| Death outcome | 3,066 | 5,061 |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
Signals both drugs share
| Reaction | Triamcinolone Acetonide | Desoximetasone | Label screen (A / B) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duodenal ulcer perforation | 927 · PRR 98.7 | 4,932 · PRR 2,326.2 | Labeled (related wording) / Not in label — unassessed |
| Subcutaneous drug absorption impaired | 74 · PRR 107.3 | 206 · PRR 677.2 | Labeled (related wording) / Not in label — unassessed |
| Rheumatic fever | 776 · PRR 147.6 | 3,101 · PRR 2,794.8 | Likely indication confounding / Not in label — unassessed |
| Facet joint syndrome | 734 · PRR 207.6 | 1,760 · PRR 1,420.8 | Not in label — unassessed / Not in label — unassessed |
| Peripheral venous disease | 539 · PRR 106.5 | 1,275 · PRR 521.8 | Not in label — unassessed / Not in label — unassessed |
| Deep vein thrombosis postoperative | 365 · PRR 156.3 | 1,310 · PRR 2,284.0 | Not in label — unassessed / Not in label — unassessed |
| Dislocation of vertebra | 285 · PRR 100.3 | 941 · PRR 818.4 | Not in label — unassessed / Not in label — unassessed |
| Adjustment disorder with depressed mood | 275 · PRR 107.9 | 949 · PRR 995.0 | Not in label — unassessed / Not in label — unassessed |
| Lupus vulgaris | 260 · PRR 191.1 | 766 · PRR 2,044.1 | Not in label — unassessed / Not in label — unassessed |
| Retinitis | 277 · PRR 135.9 | 634 · PRR 682.4 | Not in label — unassessed / Not in label — unassessed |
| Seronegative arthritis | 145 · PRR 101.3 | 320 · PRR 443.2 | Likely indication confounding / Not in label — unassessed |
| Swollen joint count | 65 · PRR 245.6 | 122 · PRR 1,100.4 | Not in label — unassessed / Not in label — unassessed |
| Hypocholesterolaemia | 96 · PRR 310.5 | 75 · PRR 357.5 | Not in label — unassessed / Not in label — unassessed |
| Hepatic enzyme | 64 · PRR 581.8 | 71 · PRR 1,156.6 | Not in label — unassessed / Not in label — unassessed |
| Sleep disorder due to general medical condition, hypersomnia type | 26 · PRR 239.6 | 24 · PRR 349.3 | Likely indication confounding / Not in label — unassessed |
Labeled signals distinctive to Triamcinolone Acetonide
- Hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis suppression — n=43, PRR 94.2 Labeled (related wording)
- Conjunctival ulcer — n=17, PRR 96.9 Labeled (related wording)
Labeled signals distinctive to Desoximetasone
- Folliculitis — n=3,857, PRR 664.2 Labeled adverse reaction
Common questions
Which has more reported side effects, Triamcinolone Acetonide or Desoximetasone?
Triamcinolone Acetonide has 30,695 FAERS reports and Desoximetasone 18,941. More reports does not mean more dangerous: volume follows how widely and how long a drug has been used, prescription vs over-the-counter status, and publicity. The seriousness share (46% vs 95%) is a better like-for-like signal of the kind of problems reported.
Which side effects do Triamcinolone Acetonide and Desoximetasone share?
Both drugs carry disproportionality signals for duodenal ulcer perforation, subcutaneous drug absorption impaired, rheumatic fever, facet joint syndrome, peripheral venous disease. Shared signals often reflect a shared drug class or the condition both are used for.
Is Triamcinolone Acetonide or Desoximetasone safer?
FAERS cannot answer that: it has no denominator and no comparator. Use this page to see which risks are already on each label and which signals are unlabeled, then check the prescribing information and your clinician for your situation.
Sources: openFDA FAERS pair statistics (OpenPV build 2026-09-14), FDA labels via openFDA, openFDA count queries for seriousness and deaths. Pair chosen because it is a commonly searched comparison. Generated 2026-10-08.