Two medicines, side by side
Albuterol vs azithromycin
Albuterol is labeled for asthma; azithromycin for bacterial infections. Their labels share no use, so they are not alternatives to each other. Drugs@FDA records approvals of albuterol since 1981 and of azithromycin since 1991. Pharmacies paid $0.288 per albuterol sulfate 2 mg tablet 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). In FDA's classes, albuterol is a beta2-adrenergic agonist and azithromycin a macrolide antimicrobial.
Check it at the source: the albuterol FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 30, 2026); the azithromycin FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 4, 2025).
Highlights of the albuterol record
Albuterol (Ventolin) · label of April 30, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsAlbuterol Inhalation Solution is indicated for the relief of bronchospasm in patients 2 to 12 years of age with asthma (reversible obstructive airway disease).
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- May 1, 1981
- Generic labelers
- 40 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.288 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- Resolved
- Recalls
- 20
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 (Albuterol label of April 30, 2026, Azithromycin label of December 4, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do albuterol and azithromycin differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, albuterol is a beta2-adrenergic agonist and azithromycin a macrolide antimicrobial.
Generics: albuterol since 1989; azithromycin since 2005 (Drugs@FDA).
| Albuterol | Azithromycin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Asthma | Bacterial infections |
| Pharmacologic class | beta2-Adrenergic Agonist | 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) | May 1, 1981 | November 1, 1991 |
| First generic approved | January 30, 1989 | November 14, 2005 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 40 labelers | 55 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.288 per tablet (Albuterol sulfate 2 mg tablet) | $0.266 per tablet (Azithromycin 250 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -38% | -26% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | Resolved | A presentation being discontinued |
| Recalls recorded | 20 | 11 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 292,136 | 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 albuterol
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions