Two medicines, side by side
Cefadroxil vs nitrofurantoin
Cefadroxil and nitrofurantoin are both labeled for bacterial infections and urinary tract infections. Pharmacies paid $0.269 per cefadroxil 500 mg capsule and $0.165 per nitrofurantoin mcr 50 mg capsule (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 nitrofurantoin a nitrofuran antibacterial.
Check it at the source: the cefadroxil FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 1, 2026); the nitrofurantoin FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 24, 2026).
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 nitrofurantoin record
Nitrofurantoin (Macrobid) · label of June 24, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsNitrofurantoin capsules (monohydrate/macrocrystals) are indicated only for the treatment of acute uncomplicated urinary tract infections (acute cystitis) caused by susceptible strains of Escherichia coli or Staphylococcus saprophyticus. Nitrofurantoin is not indicated for the treatment of pyelonephritis or perinephric abscesses. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- February 6, 1953
- Generic labelers
- 47 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.165 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 13
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Cefadroxil label of June 1, 2026, Nitrofurantoin label of June 24, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do cefadroxil and nitrofurantoin differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, cefadroxil is a cephalosporin antibacterial and nitrofurantoin a nitrofuran antibacterial.
Generics: cefadroxil none approved; nitrofurantoin since 1970 (Drugs@FDA).
| Cefadroxil | Nitrofurantoin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Bacterial infections, Urinary tract infections | Urinary tract infections, Bacterial infections |
| Pharmacologic class | Cephalosporin Antibacterial | Nitrofuran Antibacterial |
| How it works (label) | n/a | Mechanism of Action The mechanism of the antimicrobial action of nitrofurantoin is unusual among antibacterials. |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | n/a | February 6, 1953 |
| First generic approved | none | September 30, 1970 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 19 labelers | 47 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.269 per capsule (Cefadroxil 500 mg capsule) | $0.165 per capsule (Nitrofurantoin mcr 50 mg capsule) |
| 12-month price change | -9% | -12% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | A presentation being discontinued |
| Recalls recorded | 0 | 13 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 1,980 | 22,755 |
| 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