Two medicines, side by side
Cefdinir vs ceftriaxone
Cefdinir and ceftriaxone are both labeled for bacterial infections. Drugs@FDA records approvals of cefdinir since 1997 and of ceftriaxone since 1984. Pharmacies paid $0.458 per cefdinir 300 mg capsule and $1.44 per ceftriaxone 1 g vial (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like.
Check it at the source: the cefdinir FDA label on DailyMed (effective October 14, 2025); the ceftriaxone FDA label on DailyMed (effective February 4, 2026).
Highlights of the cefdinir record
Cefdinir (Omnicef) · label of October 14, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsTo reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of cefdinir capsules and other antibacterial drugs, cefdinir 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 4, 1997
- Generic labelers
- 26 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.458 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 11
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 (Cefdinir label of October 14, 2025, Ceftriaxone label of February 4, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do cefdinir and ceftriaxone differ on the record?
Both are in FDA's class cephalosporin antibacterials.
Generics: cefdinir since 2006; ceftriaxone since 1987 (Drugs@FDA).
| Cefdinir | Ceftriaxone | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Bacterial infections | Urinary tract infections, Bacterial infections |
| Pharmacologic class | Cephalosporin Antibacterial | Cephalosporin Antibacterial |
| How it works (label) | n/a | Microbiology: Mechanism of Action Ceftriaxone is a bactericidal agent that acts by inhibition of bacterial cell wall synthesis. |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | 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) | December 4, 1997 | December 21, 1984 |
| First generic approved | May 19, 2006 | April 30, 1987 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 26 labelers | 16 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.458 per capsule (Cefdinir 300 mg capsule) | $1.44 per vial (Ceftriaxone 1 g vial) |
| 12-month price change | +0.7% | -4% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 11 | 20 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 7,628 | 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 cefdinir
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions