Two medicines, side by side
Cefadroxil vs levofloxacin
Cefadroxil and levofloxacin are both labeled for bacterial infections and urinary tract infections. Pharmacies paid $0.269 per cefadroxil 500 mg capsule and $0.259 per levofloxacin 750 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, cefadroxil is a cephalosporin antibacterial and levofloxacin a fluoroquinolone antibacterial.
Check it at the source: the cefadroxil FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 1, 2026); the levofloxacin FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 10, 2024).
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 levofloxacin record
Levofloxacin (Levaquin) · label of July 10, 2024
SERIOUS ADVERSE REACTIONS INCLUDING TENDINITIS, TENDON RUPTURE, PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY, CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM EFFECTS AND EXACERBATION OF MYASTHENIA GRAVIS See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning.
Used for
From the label: indicationsLevofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone antibacterial indicated in adults (18 years of age and older) with infections caused by designated, susceptible bacteria and in pediatric patients where indicated ( 1 , 12.4 ). […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 20, 1996
- Generic labelers
- 44 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.259 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 13
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Cefadroxil label of June 1, 2026, Levofloxacin label of July 10, 2024); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do cefadroxil and levofloxacin differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, cefadroxil is a cephalosporin antibacterial and levofloxacin a fluoroquinolone antibacterial.
Only the levofloxacin label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: cefadroxil none approved; levofloxacin since 2010 (Drugs@FDA).
| Cefadroxil | Levofloxacin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Bacterial infections, Urinary tract infections | Bacterial infections, Urinary tract infections |
| Pharmacologic class | Cephalosporin Antibacterial | Fluoroquinolone Antibacterial |
| How it works (label) | n/a | Levofloxacin is a member of the fluoroquinolone class of antibacterial agents [see Microbiology ( 12.4 )]. |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | The mean terminal plasma elimination half-life of levofloxacin ranges from approximately 6 to 8 hours following single or multiple doses of levofloxacin given orally or intravenously. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | n/a | December 20, 1996 |
| First generic approved | none | December 20, 2010 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 19 labelers | 44 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.269 per capsule (Cefadroxil 500 mg capsule) | $0.259 per tablet (Levofloxacin 750 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -9% | -11% |
| Boxed warning | No | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 0 | 13 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 1,980 | 59,954 |
| 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