Medicines labeled for the same conditions
Alternatives to tetracycline
23 other medicines are given the same way (oral) and in the same FDA class as tetracycline or labeled mainly for the same use (bacterial infections); 1 is in its class, tetracycline-class antimicrobials: demeclocycline; the others include 7 cephalosporin antibacterials, 2 penicillin-class antibacterials and 2 macrolide antimicrobials (FDA labels read October 8, 2026). In the same class, the lowest pharmacy cost is $2.27 per demeclocycline 150 mg tablet (what pharmacies paid in the NADAC survey; strengths differ).
Which medicines are labeled for the same conditions as tetracycline?
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tetracyclinetetracycline-class antimicrobial | this medicine | 10 labelers | $0.247 per capsule 250 mg capsule | No | No current entry |
| Demeclocyclinetetracycline-class antimicrobial · same class | Bacterial infections | 5 labelers | $2.27 per tablet 150 mg tablet | No | No current entry |
| Amoxicillinpenicillin-class antibacterial | Bacterial infections | 38 labelers | $0.0788 per capsule 500 mg capsule | No | No current entry |
| Azithromycinmacrolide antimicrobial | Bacterial infections | 47 labelers | $0.266 per tablet 250 mg tablet | No | A presentation being discontinued |
| Cephalexincephalosporin antibacterial | Bacterial infections | 36 labelers | $0.120 per capsule 500 mg capsule | No | No current entry |
| 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 | 42 labelers | $0.0448 per tablet Sulfamethoxazole-tmp ds tablet | No | No current entry |
| Levofloxacinfluoroquinolone antibacterial | Bacterial infections | 35 labelers | $0.259 per tablet 750 mg tablet | Yes | No current entry |
| Cefdinircephalosporin antibacterial | Bacterial infections | 26 labelers | $0.458 per capsule 300 mg capsule | No | 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 |
| Cefuroximecephalosporin antibacterial | Bacterial infections | 17 labelers | $0.280 per tablet 250 mg tablet | No | No current entry |
| Cefadroxilcephalosporin antibacterial | Bacterial infections | 19 labelers | $0.269 per capsule 500 mg capsule | No | No current entry |
| Cefpodoximecephalosporin antibacterial | Bacterial infections | 11 labelers | $1.04 per tablet 100 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 |
| Cefprozilcephalosporin antibacterial | Bacterial infections | 7 labelers | $0.925 per tablet 500 mg tablet | No | No current entry |
| Linezolidoxazolidinone antibacterial | Bacterial infections | 16 labelers | $1.44 per tablet 600 mg tablet | No | No current entry |
| Cefiximecephalosporin antibacterial | Bacterial infections | 6 labelers | $10.03 per capsule 400 mg capsule | No | No current entry |
| Trimethoprimdihydrofolate reductase inhibitor antibacterial | Bacterial 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 |
| Tobramycinaminoglycoside antibacterial | Bacterial infections | none listed | n/a | No | A presentation being discontinued |
| Cycloserine | Bacterial infections | 1 labeler | n/a | No | No current entry |
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?
- Tetracycline: the full record
- label, generics, price, shortages, recalls
- Amoxicillin vs tetracycline
- two records side by side
- Azithromycin vs tetracycline
- two records side by side
- Cephalexin vs tetracycline
- two records side by side
- Metronidazole vs tetracycline
- two records side by side