Two medicines, side by side
Cefuroxime vs clarithromycin
Cefuroxime and clarithromycin are both labeled for bacterial infections. Drugs@FDA records approvals of cefuroxime since 1983 and of clarithromycin since 1991. Pharmacies paid $0.280 per cefuroxime axetil 250 mg tablet and $0.466 per clarithromycin 500 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, cefuroxime is a cephalosporin antibacterial and clarithromycin a macrolide antimicrobial.
Check it at the source: the cefuroxime FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 29, 2024); the clarithromycin FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 9, 2026).
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 clarithromycin record
Clarithromycin (Biaxin) · label of April 9, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsClarithromycin is a macrolide antimicrobial indicated for mild to moderate infections caused by designated, susceptible bacteria in the following: Acute Bacterial Exacerbation of Chronic Bronchitis in Adults (1.1) Acute Maxillary Sinusitis (1.2) Community-Acquired Pneumonia (1.3) Pharyngitis/Tonsillitis (1.4) Uncomplicated Skin and Skin Structure Infections (1.5) Acute Otitis Media in Pediatric Patients (1.6) […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- October 31, 1991
- Generic labelers
- 26 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.466 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 3
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Cefuroxime label of April 29, 2024, Clarithromycin label of April 9, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do cefuroxime and clarithromycin differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, cefuroxime is a cephalosporin antibacterial and clarithromycin a macrolide antimicrobial.
How each works, in its label's words: Cefuroxime, “Cefuroxime axetil is an antibacterial drug [see Microbiology (12.4) ].”; Clarithromycin, “Clarithromycin is a macrolide antimicrobial drug [see Microbiology (12.4) ].”
Generics: cefuroxime since 1986; clarithromycin since 2004 (Drugs@FDA).
| Cefuroxime | Clarithromycin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Bacterial infections, Urinary tract infections | Bacterial infections, Acid reflux and ulcers |
| Pharmacologic class | Cephalosporin Antibacterial | Macrolide Antimicrobial |
| How it works (label) | Cefuroxime axetil is an antibacterial drug [see Microbiology (12.4) ]. | Clarithromycin is a macrolide antimicrobial drug [see Microbiology (12.4) ]. |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | The elimination half-life of clarithromycin was about 3 hours to 4 hours with 250 mg administered every 12 hours but increased to 5 hours to 7 hours with 500 mg administered every 8 hours to 12 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | October 19, 1983 | October 31, 1991 |
| First generic approved | January 10, 1986 | May 25, 2004 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 19 labelers | 26 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.280 per tablet (Cefuroxime axetil 250 mg tablet) | $0.466 per tablet (Clarithromycin 500 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -3% | +6% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 1 | 3 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 15,670 | 34,134 |
| 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