Two medicines, side by side
Cefadroxil vs cephalexin
Cefadroxil and cephalexin are both labeled for bacterial infections and urinary tract infections. Pharmacies paid $0.269 per cefadroxil 500 mg capsule and $0.120 per cephalexin 500 mg capsule (NADAC, October 7, 2026).
Check it at the source: the cefadroxil FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 1, 2026); the cephalexin FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 31, 2020).
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
Highlights of the cephalexin record
Cephalexin (Keflex) · label of December 31, 2020
Used for
From the label: indicationsCephalexin is a cephalosporin antibacterial drug indicated for the treatment of the following infections caused by susceptible isolates of designated bacteria: Respiratory tract infection ( 1.1 ) Otitis media ( 1.2 ) Skin and skin structure infections ( 1.3 ) Bone infections ( 1.4 ) Genitourinary tract infections ( 1.5 ) To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- January 4, 1971
- Generic labelers
- 35 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.120 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 22
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Cefadroxil label of June 1, 2026, Cephalexin label of December 31, 2020); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do cefadroxil and cephalexin differ on the record?
Both are in FDA's class cephalosporin antibacterials.
Generics: cefadroxil none approved; cephalexin since 1976 (Drugs@FDA).
| Cefadroxil | Cephalexin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Bacterial infections, Urinary tract infections | Bacterial infections, Urinary tract infections |
| Pharmacologic class | Cephalosporin Antibacterial | Cephalosporin Antibacterial |
| How it works (label) | n/a | Cephalexin is a cephalosporin antibacterial drug [see Microbiology ( 12.4 )]. |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | n/a | January 4, 1971 |
| First generic approved | none | April 26, 1976 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 19 labelers | 35 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.269 per capsule (Cefadroxil 500 mg capsule) | $0.120 per capsule (Cephalexin 500 mg capsule) |
| 12-month price change | -9% | -6% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 0 | 22 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 1,980 | 21,515 |
| 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 cefadroxil
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions