Two medicines, side by side
Cefazolin vs ceftriaxone
Cefazolin and ceftriaxone are both labeled for urinary tract infections. Drugs@FDA records approvals of cefazolin since 1973 and of ceftriaxone since 1984. Pharmacies paid $1.07 per cefazolin 1 g vial and $1.44 per ceftriaxone 1 g vial (NADAC, October 7, 2026). How each works, in its label's words: Cefazolin, “Mechanism of Action Cefazolin is a bactericidal agent that acts by inhibition of bacterial cell wall synthesis.”; Ceftriaxone, “Microbiology: Mechanism of Action Ceftriaxone is a bactericidal agent that acts by inhibition of bacterial cell wall synthesis.”
Check it at the source: the cefazolin FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 14, 2026); the ceftriaxone FDA label on DailyMed (effective February 4, 2026).
Highlights of the cefazolin record
Cefazolin (Ancef) · label of May 14, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsCefazolin for Injection, USP is indicated in the treatment of the following serious infections due to susceptible organisms: Respiratory Tract Infections: Due to S. pneumoniae, Klebsiella species, H. influenzae, S. aureus (penicillin-sensitive and penicillin-resistant), and group A beta-hemolytic streptococci. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- October 4, 1973
- Generic labelers
- 15 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $1.07 per vial
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 10
Highlights of the ceftriaxone record
Ceftriaxone (Rocephin) · label of February 4, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsBefore instituting treatment with Ceftriaxone for injection, USP, appropriate specimens should be obtained for isolation of the causative organism and for determination of its susceptibility to the drug. Therapy may be instituted prior to obtaining results of susceptibility testing. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 21, 1984
- Generic labelers
- 16 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $1.44 per vial
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 20
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Cefazolin label of May 14, 2026, Ceftriaxone label of February 4, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do cefazolin and ceftriaxone differ on the record?
How each works, in its label's words: Cefazolin, “Mechanism of Action Cefazolin is a bactericidal agent that acts by inhibition of bacterial cell wall synthesis.”; Ceftriaxone, “Microbiology: Mechanism of Action Ceftriaxone is a bactericidal agent that acts by inhibition of bacterial cell wall synthesis.”
Both are in FDA's class cephalosporin antibacterials.
Half-life, in each label's words: Cefazolin, “The serum half-life for Cefazolin for Injection is approximately 1.8 hours following IV administration and …”; Ceftriaxone, “Based on middle ear fluid ceftriaxone concentrations in the 23 to 25 hour and the 46 to 50 hour sampling time …”
Generics: cefazolin since 1973; ceftriaxone since 1987 (Drugs@FDA).
| Cefazolin | Ceftriaxone | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Urinary tract infections | Urinary tract infections, Bacterial infections |
| Pharmacologic class | Cephalosporin Antibacterial | Cephalosporin Antibacterial |
| How it works (label) | Mechanism of Action Cefazolin is a bactericidal agent that acts by inhibition of bacterial cell wall synthesis. | Microbiology: Mechanism of Action Ceftriaxone is a bactericidal agent that acts by inhibition of bacterial cell wall synthesis. |
| Half-life (label) | The serum half-life for Cefazolin for Injection is approximately 1.8 hours following IV administration and approximately 2 hours following IM administration. | Based on middle ear fluid ceftriaxone concentrations in the 23 to 25 hour and the 46 to 50 hour sampling time intervals, a half-life of 25 hours was calculated. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | October 4, 1973 | December 21, 1984 |
| First generic approved | November 2, 1973 | April 30, 1987 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 15 labelers | 16 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $1.07 per vial (Cefazolin 1 g vial) | $1.44 per vial (Ceftriaxone 1 g vial) |
| 12-month price change | +10% | -4% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 10 | 20 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 11,982 | 38,242 |
| 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 cefazolin
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions