Two medicines, side by side
Cefuroxime vs azithromycin
Cefuroxime and azithromycin are both labeled for bacterial infections. Drugs@FDA records approvals of cefuroxime since 1983 and of azithromycin since 1991. Pharmacies paid $0.280 per cefuroxime axetil 250 mg tablet and $0.266 per azithromycin 250 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026). Azithromycin's other strengths are brand-only: $98.51 per mL (Azasite 1% eye drops). In FDA's classes, cefuroxime is a cephalosporin antibacterial and azithromycin a macrolide antimicrobial.
Check it at the source: the cefuroxime FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 29, 2024); the azithromycin FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 4, 2025).
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
Highlights of the azithromycin record
Azithromycin (Zithromax) · label of December 4, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsAzithromycin tablets are macrolide antibacterial drug indicated for the treatment of patients with mild to moderate infections caused by susceptible strains of the designated microorganisms in the specific conditions listed below. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- November 1, 1991
- Generic labelers
- 55 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.266 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 11
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Cefuroxime label of April 29, 2024, Azithromycin label of December 4, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do cefuroxime and azithromycin differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, cefuroxime is a cephalosporin antibacterial and azithromycin a macrolide antimicrobial.
How each works, in its label's words: Cefuroxime, “Cefuroxime axetil is an antibacterial drug [see Microbiology (12.4) ].”; Azithromycin, “Azithromycin is a macrolide antibacterial drug. [see Microbiology ( 12.4 )]”
Generics: cefuroxime since 1986; azithromycin since 2005 (Drugs@FDA).
| Cefuroxime | Azithromycin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Bacterial infections, Urinary tract infections | Bacterial infections |
| Pharmacologic class | Cephalosporin Antibacterial | Macrolide Antimicrobial |
| How it works (label) | Cefuroxime axetil is an antibacterial drug [see Microbiology (12.4) ]. | Azithromycin is a macrolide antibacterial drug. [see Microbiology ( 12.4 )] |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | Elimination Plasma concentrations of azithromycin following single 500 mg oral and IV doses declined in a polyphasic pattern resulting in a mean apparent plasma clearance of 630 mL/min and terminal elimination half-life … |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | October 19, 1983 | November 1, 1991 |
| First generic approved | January 10, 1986 | November 14, 2005 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 19 labelers | 55 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.280 per tablet (Cefuroxime axetil 250 mg tablet) | $0.266 per tablet (Azithromycin 250 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -3% | -26% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | A presentation being discontinued |
| Recalls recorded | 1 | 11 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 15,670 | 59,712 |
| 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 cefuroxime
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions