Two medicines, side by side
Azithromycin vs cefadroxil
Azithromycin and cefadroxil are both labeled for bacterial infections. Pharmacies paid $0.266 per azithromycin 250 mg tablet and $0.269 per cefadroxil 500 mg capsule (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, azithromycin is a macrolide antimicrobial and cefadroxil a cephalosporin antibacterial.
Check it at the source: the azithromycin FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 4, 2025); the cefadroxil FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 1, 2026).
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
Highlights of the cefadroxil record
Cefadroxil · label of June 1, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsCefadroxil Capsules USP are indicated for the treatment of patients with infection caused by susceptible strains of the designated organisms in the following diseases: Urinary tract infections caused by E. coli, P. mirabilis, and Klebsiella species. Skin and skin structure infections caused by staphylococci and/or streptococci. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- n/a
- Generic labelers
- 19 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.269 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Azithromycin label of December 4, 2025, Cefadroxil label of June 1, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do azithromycin and cefadroxil differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, azithromycin is a macrolide antimicrobial and cefadroxil a cephalosporin antibacterial.
Generics: azithromycin since 2005; cefadroxil none approved (Drugs@FDA).
| Azithromycin | Cefadroxil | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Bacterial infections | Bacterial infections, Urinary tract infections |
| Pharmacologic class | Macrolide Antimicrobial | Cephalosporin Antibacterial |
| How it works (label) | Azithromycin is a macrolide antibacterial drug. [see Microbiology ( 12.4 )] | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | 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 … | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | November 1, 1991 | n/a |
| First generic approved | November 14, 2005 | none |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 55 labelers | 19 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.266 per tablet (Azithromycin 250 mg tablet) | $0.269 per capsule (Cefadroxil 500 mg capsule) |
| 12-month price change | -26% | -9% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | A presentation being discontinued | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 11 | 0 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 59,712 | 1,980 |
| 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 azithromycin
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions