Two medicines, side by side
Cephalexin vs erythromycin
Cephalexin and erythromycin are both labeled for bacterial infections. Drugs@FDA records approvals of cephalexin since 1971 and of erythromycin since 1964. Pharmacies paid $0.120 per cephalexin 500 mg capsule and $1.96 per erythromycin 250 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, cephalexin is a cephalosporin antibacterial and erythromycin a macrolide.
Check it at the source: the cephalexin FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 31, 2020); the erythromycin FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 1, 2024).
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 erythromycin record
Erythromycin (Erythrocin) · label of August 1, 2024
Used for
From the label: indicationsTo reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of erythromycin tablets and other antibacterial drugs, erythromycin tablets 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
- June 25, 1964
- Generic labelers
- 38 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $1.96 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 2
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Cephalexin label of December 31, 2020, Erythromycin label of August 1, 2024); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do cephalexin and erythromycin differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, cephalexin is a cephalosporin antibacterial and erythromycin a macrolide.
Generics: cephalexin since 1976; erythromycin since 1964 (Drugs@FDA).
| Cephalexin | Erythromycin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Bacterial infections, Urinary tract infections | Bacterial infections, Acne |
| Pharmacologic class | Cephalosporin Antibacterial | Macrolide, Macrolide Antimicrobial |
| How it works (label) | Cephalexin is a cephalosporin antibacterial drug [see Microbiology ( 12.4 )]. | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | January 4, 1971 | June 25, 1964 |
| First generic approved | April 26, 1976 | June 24, 1964 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 35 labelers | 38 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.120 per capsule (Cephalexin 500 mg capsule) | $1.96 per tablet (Erythromycin 250 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -6% | +12% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 22 | 2 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 21,515 | 18,956 |
| 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