Two medicines, side by side
Cefprozil vs cephalexin
Cefprozil and cephalexin are both labeled for bacterial infections. Drugs@FDA records approvals of cefprozil since 1991 and of cephalexin since 1971. Pharmacies paid $0.925 per cefprozil 500 mg tablet and $0.120 per cephalexin 500 mg capsule (NADAC, October 7, 2026).
Check it at the source: the cefprozil FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 5, 2024); the cephalexin FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 31, 2020).
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 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 (Cefprozil label of May 5, 2024, Cephalexin label of December 31, 2020); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do cefprozil and cephalexin differ on the record?
Both are in FDA's class cephalosporin antibacterials.
Generics: cefprozil since 2005; cephalexin since 1976 (Drugs@FDA).
| Cefprozil | Cephalexin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Bacterial infections | Bacterial infections, Urinary tract infections |
| Pharmacologic class | Cephalosporin Antibacterial | Cephalosporin Antibacterial |
| How it works (label) | n/a | Cephalexin is a cephalosporin 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 | January 4, 1971 |
| First generic approved | November 14, 2005 | April 26, 1976 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 7 labelers | 35 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.925 per tablet (Cefprozil 500 mg tablet) | $0.120 per capsule (Cephalexin 500 mg capsule) |
| 12-month price change | -11% | -6% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 1 | 22 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 780 | 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 cefprozil
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions