Two medicines, side by side
Cephalexin vs minocycline
Cephalexin and minocycline are both labeled for urinary tract infections. Drugs@FDA records approvals of cephalexin since 1971 and of minocycline since 1971. Pharmacies paid $0.120 per cephalexin 500 mg capsule and $0.343 per minocycline 100 mg capsule (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 minocycline a tetracycline-class drug.
Check it at the source: the cephalexin FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 31, 2020); the minocycline FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 2, 2026).
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 minocycline record
Minocycline (Minocin) · label of April 2, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsMinocycline hydrochloride capsules, USP are indicated in the treatment of the following infections due to susceptible strains of the designated microorganisms: Rocky Mountain spotted fever, typhus fever and the typhus group, Q fever, rickettsialpox and tick fevers caused by rickettsiae. Respiratory tract infections caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Lymphogranuloma venereum caused by Chlamydia trachomatis. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- June 30, 1971
- Generic labelers
- 21 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.343 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 3
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Cephalexin label of December 31, 2020, Minocycline label of April 2, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do cephalexin and minocycline differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, cephalexin is a cephalosporin antibacterial and minocycline a tetracycline-class drug.
Generics: cephalexin since 1976; minocycline since 1990 (Drugs@FDA).
| Cephalexin | Minocycline | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Bacterial infections, Urinary tract infections | Urinary tract infections |
| 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 | The serum half-life in the normal volunteers ranged from 11.1 to 22.1 hours (average 15.5 hours). |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | January 4, 1971 | June 30, 1971 |
| First generic approved | April 26, 1976 | July 31, 1990 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 35 labelers | 21 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.120 per capsule (Cephalexin 500 mg capsule) | $0.343 per capsule (Minocycline 100 mg capsule) |
| 12-month price change | -6% | +0.2% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 22 | 3 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 21,515 | 16,577 |
| 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