Two medicines, side by side
Acetaminophen vs azithromycin
Acetaminophen is labeled for fever, cough and cold and pain; azithromycin for bacterial infections. Their labels share no use, so they are not alternatives to each other. Drugs@FDA records approvals of acetaminophen since 1968 and of azithromycin since 1991. Pharmacies paid $0.0339 per unit (Acetaminophen 500 mg caplet) and $0.266 per azithromycin 250 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. Azithromycin's other strengths are brand-only: $98.51 per mL (Azasite 1% eye drops). Only the acetaminophen label carries a boxed warning.
Check it at the source: the acetaminophen FDA label on DailyMed (effective November 13, 2024); the azithromycin FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 4, 2025).
Highlights of the acetaminophen record
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) · label of November 13, 2024
Used for
From the label: indicationstemporarily relieves minor aches and pains due to: minor pain of arthritis muscular aches backache premenstrual and menstrual cramps the common cold headache toothache temporarily reduces fever
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- November 7, 1968
- Generic labelers
- 89 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0339 per unit
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 19
Highlights of the azithromycin record
Azithromycin (Zithromax) · label of December 4, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsAzithromycin tablets are macrolide antibacterial drug indicated for the treatment of patients with mild to moderate infections caused by susceptible strains of the designated microorganisms in the specific conditions listed below. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- November 1, 1991
- Generic labelers
- 55 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.266 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 11
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Acetaminophen label of November 13, 2024, Azithromycin label of December 4, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do acetaminophen and azithromycin differ on the record?
Only the acetaminophen label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: acetaminophen since 1986; azithromycin since 2005 (Drugs@FDA).
| Acetaminophen | Azithromycin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Fever, Cough and cold, Pain | Bacterial infections |
| Pharmacologic class | n/a | Macrolide Antimicrobial |
| How it works (label) | n/a | Azithromycin is a macrolide antibacterial drug. [see Microbiology ( 12.4 )] |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | Elimination Plasma concentrations of azithromycin following single 500 mg oral and IV doses declined in a polyphasic pattern resulting in a mean apparent plasma clearance of 630 mL/min and terminal elimination half-life … |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | November 7, 1968 | November 1, 1991 |
| First generic approved | December 1, 1986 | November 14, 2005 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 89 labelers | 55 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0339 per unit (Acetaminophen 500 mg caplet) | $0.266 per tablet (Azithromycin 250 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | +5% | -26% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | A presentation being discontinued |
| Recalls recorded | 19 | 11 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 445,075 | 59,712 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to acetaminophen
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions