Two medicines, side by side
Ceftriaxone vs ertapenem
Ceftriaxone and ertapenem are both labeled for urinary tract infections. Drugs@FDA records approvals of ceftriaxone since 1984 and of ertapenem since 2001. Pharmacies paid $1.44 per ceftriaxone 1 g vial and $26.63 per ertapenem 1 gram vial (NADAC, October 7, 2026). In FDA's classes, ceftriaxone is a cephalosporin antibacterial and ertapenem a penem antibacterial.
Check it at the source: the ceftriaxone FDA label on DailyMed (effective February 4, 2026); the ertapenem FDA label on DailyMed (effective February 4, 2026).
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
Highlights of the ertapenem record
Ertapenem (Invanz) · label of February 4, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsINVANZ is a penem antibacterial indicated in adult patients and pediatric patients (3 months of age and older) for the treatment of the following moderate to severe infections caused by susceptible bacteria: Complicated intra-abdominal infections. ( 1.1 ) Complicated skin and skin structure infections, including diabetic foot infections without osteomyelitis. ( 1.2 ) Community-acquired pneumonia. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- November 21, 2001
- Generic labelers
- 15 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $26.63 per vial
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Ceftriaxone label of February 4, 2026, Ertapenem label of February 4, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do ceftriaxone and ertapenem differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, ceftriaxone is a cephalosporin antibacterial and ertapenem a penem antibacterial.
How each works, in its label's words: Ceftriaxone, “Microbiology: Mechanism of Action Ceftriaxone is a bactericidal agent that acts by inhibition of bacterial cell wall synthesis.”; Ertapenem, “Ertapenem sodium is a carbapenem antibiotic [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.4) ].”
Half-life, in each label's words: Ceftriaxone, “Based on middle ear fluid ceftriaxone concentrations in the 23 to 25 hour and the 46 to 50 hour sampling time …”; Ertapenem, “The mean plasma half-life in healthy young adults is approximately 4 hours and the plasma clearance is approximately …”
Generics: ceftriaxone since 1987; ertapenem since 2018 (Drugs@FDA).
| Ceftriaxone | Ertapenem | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Urinary tract infections, Bacterial infections | Urinary tract infections |
| Pharmacologic class | Cephalosporin Antibacterial | Penem Antibacterial |
| How it works (label) | Microbiology: Mechanism of Action Ceftriaxone is a bactericidal agent that acts by inhibition of bacterial cell wall synthesis. | Ertapenem sodium is a carbapenem antibiotic [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.4) ]. |
| Half-life (label) | 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. | The mean plasma half-life in healthy young adults is approximately 4 hours and the plasma clearance is approximately 1.8 L/hour. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 21, 1984 | November 21, 2001 |
| First generic approved | April 30, 1987 | April 16, 2018 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 16 labelers | 15 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $1.44 per vial (Ceftriaxone 1 g vial) | $26.63 per vial (Ertapenem 1 gram vial) |
| 12-month price change | -4% | -19% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 20 | 0 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 38,242 | 7,339 |
| 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 ceftriaxone
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions