Two medicines, side by side
Cefixime vs cephalexin
Cefixime and cephalexin are both labeled for bacterial infections and urinary tract infections. Drugs@FDA records approvals of cefixime since 1989 and of cephalexin since 1971. Pharmacies paid $10.03 per cefixime 400 mg capsule and $0.120 per cephalexin 500 mg capsule (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. How each works, in its label's words: Cefixime, “Cefixime is a semisynthetic cephalosporin antibacterial drug [see Microbiology ( 12.4 )].”; Cephalexin, “Cephalexin is a cephalosporin antibacterial drug [see Microbiology ( 12.4 )].”
Check it at the source: the cefixime FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 5, 2026); the cephalexin FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 31, 2020).
Highlights of the cefixime record
Cefixime (Suprax) · label of August 5, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsCefixime is a cephalosporin antibacterial drug indicated in the treatment of adults and pediatric patients six months and older with the following infections: Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections ( 1.1 ) Otitis Media ( 1.2 ) Pharyngitis and Tonsillitis ( 1.3 ) Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Bronchitis ( 1.4 ) Uncomplicated Gonorrhea (cervical/urethral) ( 1.5 ) Usage to Reduce Development of Drug-Resistant Bacteria […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- April 28, 1989
- Generic labelers
- 6 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $10.03 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 8
Highlights of the cephalexin record
Cephalexin (Keflex) · label of December 31, 2020
Used for
From the label: indicationsCephalexin is a cephalosporin antibacterial drug indicated for the treatment of the following infections caused by susceptible isolates of designated bacteria: Respiratory tract infection ( 1.1 ) Otitis media ( 1.2 ) Skin and skin structure infections ( 1.3 ) Bone infections ( 1.4 ) Genitourinary tract infections ( 1.5 ) To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- January 4, 1971
- Generic labelers
- 35 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.120 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 22
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Cefixime label of August 5, 2026, Cephalexin label of December 31, 2020); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do cefixime and cephalexin differ on the record?
How each works, in its label's words: Cefixime, “Cefixime is a semisynthetic cephalosporin antibacterial drug [see Microbiology ( 12.4 )].”; Cephalexin, “Cephalexin is a cephalosporin antibacterial drug [see Microbiology ( 12.4 )].”
Both are in FDA's class cephalosporin antibacterials.
Generics: cefixime since 2004; cephalexin since 1976 (Drugs@FDA).
| Cefixime | Cephalexin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Bacterial infections, Urinary tract infections | Bacterial infections, Urinary tract infections |
| Pharmacologic class | Cephalosporin Antibacterial | Cephalosporin Antibacterial |
| How it works (label) | Cefixime is a semisynthetic cephalosporin antibacterial drug [see Microbiology ( 12.4 )]. | Cephalexin is a cephalosporin antibacterial drug [see Microbiology ( 12.4 )]. |
| Half-life (label) | The serum half-life of cefixime in healthy subjects is independent of dosage form and averages 3 to 4 hours but may range up to 9 hours in some normal volunteers. | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | April 28, 1989 | January 4, 1971 |
| First generic approved | February 12, 2004 | April 26, 1976 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 6 labelers | 35 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $10.03 per capsule (Cefixime 400 mg capsule) | $0.120 per capsule (Cephalexin 500 mg capsule) |
| 12-month price change | -0.6% | -6% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 8 | 22 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 2,959 | 21,515 |
| 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 cefixime
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions