Two medicines, side by side
Cephalexin vs doxycycline
Cephalexin and doxycycline are both labeled for bacterial infections and urinary tract infections. Drugs@FDA records approvals of cephalexin since 1971 and of doxycycline since 1967. Pharmacies paid $0.120 per cephalexin 500 mg capsule and $0.118 per doxycycline hyclate 100 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. Doxycycline's other strengths are brand-only: $18.18 per Doryx mpc DR 60 mg tablet. In FDA's classes, cephalexin is a cephalosporin antibacterial and doxycycline a tetracycline-class drug.
Check it at the source: the cephalexin FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 31, 2020); the doxycycline FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 25, 2025).
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
Highlights of the doxycycline record
Doxycycline (Vibramycin) · label of July 25, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsTo reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain effectiveness of doxycycline capsules and other antibacterial drugs, doxycycline capsules 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 5, 1967
- Generic labelers
- 83 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.118 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 19
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Cephalexin label of December 31, 2020, Doxycycline label of July 25, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do cephalexin and doxycycline differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, cephalexin is a cephalosporin antibacterial and doxycycline a tetracycline-class drug.
Generics: cephalexin since 1976; doxycycline since 1973 (Drugs@FDA).
| Cephalexin | Doxycycline | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Bacterial infections, Urinary tract infections | Urinary tract infections, Bacterial infections, Acne |
| Pharmacologic class | Cephalosporin Antibacterial | Tetracycline-class Drug |
| How it works (label) | Cephalexin is a cephalosporin antibacterial drug [see Microbiology ( 12.4 )]. | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | 1.62 0.95 0.37 0.15 (μg/mL) Average Observed Values Maximum Concentration 3.61 μg/mL (± 0.9 sd) Time of Maximum Concentration 2.60 hr (± 1.10 sd) Elimination Rate Constant 0.049 per hr (± 0.030 sd) Half-Life 16.33 hr (± … |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | January 4, 1971 | December 5, 1967 |
| First generic approved | April 26, 1976 | June 18, 1973 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 35 labelers | 83 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.120 per capsule (Cephalexin 500 mg capsule) | $0.118 per tablet (Doxycycline hyclate 100 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -6% | -2% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | A presentation being discontinued |
| Recalls recorded | 22 | 19 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 21,515 | 69,571 |
| 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 cephalexin
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions