Two medicines, side by side
Cefprozil vs cefuroxime
Cefprozil and cefuroxime are both labeled for bacterial infections. Drugs@FDA records approvals of cefprozil since 1991 and of cefuroxime since 1983. Pharmacies paid $0.925 per cefprozil 500 mg tablet and $0.280 per cefuroxime axetil 250 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like.
Check it at the source: the cefprozil FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 5, 2024); the cefuroxime FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 29, 2024).
Highlights of the cefprozil record
Cefprozil (Cefzil) · label of May 5, 2024
Used for
From the label: indicationsTo reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of cefprozil and other antibacterial drugs, cefprozil 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 23, 1991
- Generic labelers
- 7 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.925 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 1
Highlights of the cefuroxime record
Cefuroxime (Zinacef) · label of April 29, 2024
Used for
From the label: indicationsCefuroxime axetil tablets are a cephalosporin antibacterial drug indicated for the treatment of the following infections due to susceptible bacteria: ( 1 ) Pharyngitis/tonsillitis (adults and pediatric patients) ( 1.1 ) Acute bacterial otitis media (pediatric patients) ( 1.2 ) Acute bacterial maxillary sinusitis (adults and pediatric patients) ( 1.3 ) Acute bacterial exacerbations of chronic bronchitis (adults and […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- October 19, 1983
- Generic labelers
- 19 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.280 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 1
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Cefprozil label of May 5, 2024, Cefuroxime label of April 29, 2024); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do cefprozil and cefuroxime differ on the record?
Both are in FDA's class cephalosporin antibacterials.
Generics: cefprozil since 2005; cefuroxime since 1986 (Drugs@FDA).
| Cefprozil | Cefuroxime | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Bacterial infections | Bacterial infections, Urinary tract infections |
| Pharmacologic class | Cephalosporin Antibacterial | Cephalosporin Antibacterial |
| How it works (label) | n/a | Cefuroxime axetil is an antibacterial drug [see Microbiology (12.4) ]. |
| Half-life (label) | The average plasma half-life in normal subjects was 1.3 hours, while the steady-state volume of distribution was estimated to be 0.23 L/kg. | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 23, 1991 | October 19, 1983 |
| First generic approved | November 14, 2005 | January 10, 1986 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 7 labelers | 19 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.925 per tablet (Cefprozil 500 mg tablet) | $0.280 per tablet (Cefuroxime axetil 250 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -11% | -3% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 1 | 1 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 780 | 15,670 |
| 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 cefprozil
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions