Two medicines, side by side
Cefadroxil vs doxycycline
Cefadroxil and doxycycline are both labeled for bacterial infections and urinary tract infections. Pharmacies paid $0.269 per cefadroxil 500 mg capsule and $0.118 per doxycycline hyclate 100 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. Doxycycline's other strengths are brand-only: $18.18 per Doryx mpc DR 60 mg tablet. In FDA's classes, cefadroxil is a cephalosporin antibacterial and doxycycline a tetracycline-class drug.
Check it at the source: the cefadroxil FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 1, 2026); the doxycycline FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 25, 2025).
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 doxycycline record
Doxycycline (Vibramycin) · label of July 25, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsTo reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain effectiveness of doxycycline capsules and other antibacterial drugs, doxycycline capsules should be used only to treat or prevent 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
- December 5, 1967
- Generic labelers
- 83 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.118 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 19
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Cefadroxil label of June 1, 2026, Doxycycline label of July 25, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do cefadroxil and doxycycline differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, cefadroxil is a cephalosporin antibacterial and doxycycline a tetracycline-class drug.
Generics: cefadroxil none approved; doxycycline since 1973 (Drugs@FDA).
| Cefadroxil | Doxycycline | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Bacterial infections, Urinary tract infections | Urinary tract infections, Bacterial infections, Acne |
| Pharmacologic class | Cephalosporin Antibacterial | Tetracycline-class Drug |
| How it works (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | 1.62 0.95 0.37 0.15 (μg/mL) Average Observed Values Maximum Concentration 3.61 μg/mL (± 0.9 sd) Time of Maximum Concentration 2.60 hr (± 1.10 sd) Elimination Rate Constant 0.049 per hr (± 0.030 sd) Half-Life 16.33 hr (± … |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | n/a | December 5, 1967 |
| First generic approved | none | June 18, 1973 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 19 labelers | 83 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.269 per capsule (Cefadroxil 500 mg capsule) | $0.118 per tablet (Doxycycline hyclate 100 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -9% | -2% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | A presentation being discontinued |
| Recalls recorded | 0 | 19 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 1,980 | 69,571 |
| 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