Two medicines, side by side
Azithromycin vs tetracycline
Azithromycin and tetracycline are both labeled for bacterial infections. Drugs@FDA records approvals of azithromycin since 1991 and of tetracycline since 1953. Pharmacies paid $0.266 per azithromycin 250 mg tablet and $0.247 per tetracycline 250 mg capsule (NADAC, October 7, 2026). 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 tetracycline a tetracycline-class antimicrobial.
Check it at the source: the azithromycin FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 4, 2025); the tetracycline FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 18, 2025).
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 tetracycline record
Tetracycline (Achromycin) · label of March 18, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsTo reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of tetracycline hydrochloride and other antibacterial drugs, tetracycline hydrochloride should be used only to treat infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by susceptible bacteria. When culture and susceptibility information are available, they should be considered in selecting or modifying antibacterial therapy. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- November 19, 1953
- Generic labelers
- 10 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.247 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 2
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Azithromycin label of December 4, 2025, Tetracycline label of March 18, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do azithromycin and tetracycline differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, azithromycin is a macrolide antimicrobial and tetracycline a tetracycline-class antimicrobial.
Generics: azithromycin since 2005; tetracycline since 1954 (Drugs@FDA).
| Azithromycin | Tetracycline | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Bacterial infections | Bacterial infections |
| Pharmacologic class | Macrolide Antimicrobial | Tetracycline-class Antimicrobial |
| 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 | November 19, 1953 |
| First generic approved | November 14, 2005 | September 17, 1954 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 55 labelers | 10 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.266 per tablet (Azithromycin 250 mg tablet) | $0.247 per capsule (Tetracycline 250 mg capsule) |
| 12-month price change | -26% | -65% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | A presentation being discontinued | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 11 | 2 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 59,712 | 767 |
| 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