Two medicines, side by side
Ampicillin vs cefuroxime
Ampicillin and cefuroxime are both labeled for bacterial infections and urinary tract infections. Drugs@FDA records approvals of ampicillin since 1966 and of cefuroxime since 1983. Pharmacies paid $0.441 per ampicillin 500 mg capsule and $0.280 per cefuroxime axetil 250 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, ampicillin is a penicillin-class antibacterial and cefuroxime a cephalosporin antibacterial.
Check it at the source: the ampicillin FDA label on DailyMed (effective February 21, 2025); the cefuroxime FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 29, 2024).
Highlights of the ampicillin record
Ampicillin (Penbritin-S) · label of February 21, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsAmpicillin for injection is indicated in the treatment of infections caused by susceptible strains of the designated organisms in the following conditions: Respiratory Tract Infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae. Staphylococcus aureus (penicillinase and nonpenicillinase-producing), H. influenzae, and Group A beta-hemolytic streptococci. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 29, 1966
- Generic labelers
- 17 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.441 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 3
Highlights of the cefuroxime record
Cefuroxime (Zinacef) · label of April 29, 2024
Used for
From the label: indicationsCefuroxime axetil tablets are a cephalosporin antibacterial drug indicated for the treatment of the following infections due to susceptible bacteria: ( 1 ) Pharyngitis/tonsillitis (adults and pediatric patients) ( 1.1 ) Acute bacterial otitis media (pediatric patients) ( 1.2 ) Acute bacterial maxillary sinusitis (adults and pediatric patients) ( 1.3 ) Acute bacterial exacerbations of chronic bronchitis (adults and […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- October 19, 1983
- Generic labelers
- 19 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.280 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 1
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Ampicillin label of February 21, 2025, Cefuroxime label of April 29, 2024); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do ampicillin and cefuroxime differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, ampicillin is a penicillin-class antibacterial and cefuroxime a cephalosporin antibacterial.
Generics: ampicillin since 1971; cefuroxime since 1986 (Drugs@FDA).
| Ampicillin | Cefuroxime | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Bacterial infections, Urinary tract infections | Bacterial infections, Urinary tract infections |
| Pharmacologic class | Penicillin-class Antibacterial | Cephalosporin Antibacterial |
| How it works (label) | n/a | Cefuroxime axetil is an antibacterial drug [see Microbiology (12.4) ]. |
| Half-life (label) | Due to maturational changes in renal function, ampicillin half-life decreases as postmenstrual age (a sum of gestational age and postnatal age) increases for infants with postnatal age of less than 28 days. | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 29, 1966 | October 19, 1983 |
| First generic approved | March 3, 1971 | January 10, 1986 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 17 labelers | 19 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.441 per capsule (Ampicillin 500 mg capsule) | $0.280 per tablet (Cefuroxime axetil 250 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -8% | -3% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | A presentation being discontinued | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 3 | 1 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 8,240 | 15,670 |
| 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 ampicillin
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions