Medicines labeled for the same conditions
Alternatives to cefuroxime
26 other medicines are given the same way (oral) and in the same FDA class as cefuroxime or labeled mainly for the same use (bacterial infections); 6 are in its class, cephalosporin antibacterials: cephalexin, cefdinir, cefadroxil, cefpodoxime and 2 more; the others include 2 penicillin-class antibacterials, 2 macrolide antimicrobials and 2 fluoroquinolone antibacterials (FDA labels read October 8, 2026). In the same class, the lowest pharmacy cost is $0.120 per cephalexin 500 mg capsule (what pharmacies paid in the NADAC survey; strengths differ).
Which medicines are labeled for the same conditions as cefuroxime?
The first 24 of the 26, the same class first. Bacterial infections lists all 51 medicines labeled for it, by any route. Each row shows the conditions both labels name. They are listed as public records, not as substitutes: whether one can replace another depends on the person and is a prescriber's decision.
| Medicine and FDA class | Shared indication | Generic labelers (oral) | Pharmacy cost | Boxed warning | Shortage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cefuroximecephalosporin antibacterial | this medicine | 17 labelers | $0.280 per tablet 250 mg tablet | No | No current entry |
| Cephalexincephalosporin antibacterial · same class | Bacterial infections, Urinary tract infections | 36 labelers | $0.120 per capsule 500 mg capsule | No | No current entry |
| Cefdinircephalosporin antibacterial · same class | Bacterial infections | 26 labelers | $0.458 per capsule 300 mg capsule | No | No current entry |
| Cefadroxilcephalosporin antibacterial · same class | Bacterial infections, Urinary tract infections | 19 labelers | $0.269 per capsule 500 mg capsule | No | No current entry |
| Cefpodoximecephalosporin antibacterial · same class | Bacterial infections | 11 labelers | $1.04 per tablet 100 mg tablet | No | No current entry |
| Cefprozilcephalosporin antibacterial · same class | Bacterial infections | 7 labelers | $0.925 per tablet 500 mg tablet | No | No current entry |
| Cefiximecephalosporin antibacterial · same class | Bacterial infections, Urinary tract infections | 6 labelers | $10.03 per capsule 400 mg capsule | No | No current entry |
| Doxycyclinetetracycline-class drug | Bacterial infections, Urinary tract infections | 71 labelers | $0.118 per tablet 100 mg tablet | No | A presentation being discontinued |
| Amoxicillinpenicillin-class antibacterial | Bacterial infections | 38 labelers | $0.0788 per capsule 500 mg capsule | No | No current entry |
| Amoxicillin and clavulanatebeta lactamase inhibitor | Bacterial infections, Urinary tract infections | 31 labelers | $0.0693 per mL 600-42.9 mg/5 mL sus | No | No current entry |
| Azithromycinmacrolide antimicrobial | Bacterial infections | 47 labelers | $0.266 per tablet 250 mg tablet | No | A presentation being discontinued |
| Nitrofurantoinnitrofuran antibacterial | Bacterial infections, Urinary tract infections | 47 labelers | $0.165 per capsule 50 mg capsule | No | A presentation being discontinued |
| Metronidazolenitroimidazole antimicrobial | Bacterial infections | 40 labelers | $0.102 per tablet 250 mg tablet | Yes | In shortage |
| Clindamycinlincosamide antibacterial | Bacterial infections | 40 labelers | $0.103 per capsule 150 mg capsule | Yes | In shortage |
| Sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprimsulfonamide antimicrobial | Bacterial infections, Urinary tract infections | 42 labelers | $0.0448 per tablet Sulfamethoxazole-tmp ds tablet | No | No current entry |
| Levofloxacinfluoroquinolone antibacterial | Bacterial infections, Urinary tract infections | 35 labelers | $0.259 per tablet 750 mg tablet | Yes | No current entry |
| Erythromycinmacrolide | Bacterial infections | 22 labelers | $1.96 per tablet 250 mg tablet | No | No current entry |
| Clarithromycinmacrolide antimicrobial | Bacterial infections | 26 labelers | $0.466 per tablet 500 mg tablet | No | No current entry |
| Vancomycinglycopeptide antibacterial | Bacterial infections | 8 labelers | $1.33 per capsule 125 mg capsule | No | A presentation being discontinued |
| Moxifloxacinfluoroquinolone antibacterial | Bacterial infections | 15 labelers | $1.34 per tablet 400 mg tablet | Yes | A presentation being discontinued |
| Linezolidoxazolidinone antibacterial | Bacterial infections | 16 labelers | $1.44 per tablet 600 mg tablet | No | No current entry |
| Tetracyclinetetracycline-class antimicrobial | Bacterial infections | 10 labelers | $0.247 per capsule 250 mg capsule | No | No current entry |
| Demeclocyclinetetracycline-class antimicrobial | Bacterial infections, Urinary tract infections | 5 labelers | $2.27 per tablet 150 mg tablet | No | No current entry |
| Trimethoprimdihydrofolate reductase inhibitor antibacterial | Bacterial infections, Urinary tract infections | 4 labelers | $1.31 per tablet 100 mg tablet | No | No current entry |
| Ampicillinpenicillin-class antibacterial | Bacterial infections | 3 labelers | $0.441 per capsule 500 mg capsule | No | A presentation being discontinued |
Source: FDA drug labels (indications) via openFDA; FDA NDC Directory; CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026; FDA Drug Shortage Database (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What do pharmacies pay for each?
The headline NADAC price per unit of each medicine's most widely listed form; strengths differ, so compare like with like on each record.
Source: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) survey, October 7, 2026: what retail pharmacies paid per unit; not a counter price
What next?
- Cefuroxime: the full record
- label, generics, price, shortages, recalls
- Cefuroxime vs cephalexin
- two records side by side
- Cefuroxime vs cefdinir
- two records side by side
- Cefadroxil vs cefuroxime
- two records side by side
- Cefuroxime vs cefpodoxime
- two records side by side