Two medicines, side by side
Cephalexin vs tetracycline
Cephalexin and tetracycline are both labeled for bacterial infections. Drugs@FDA records approvals of cephalexin since 1971 and of tetracycline since 1953. Pharmacies paid $0.120 per cephalexin 500 mg capsule and $0.247 per tetracycline 250 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 tetracycline a tetracycline-class antimicrobial.
Check it at the source: the cephalexin FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 31, 2020); the tetracycline FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 18, 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 tetracycline record
Tetracycline (Achromycin) · label of March 18, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsTo reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of tetracycline hydrochloride and other antibacterial drugs, tetracycline hydrochloride should be used only to treat 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
- November 19, 1953
- Generic labelers
- 10 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.247 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 2
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Cephalexin label of December 31, 2020, Tetracycline label of March 18, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do cephalexin and tetracycline differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, cephalexin is a cephalosporin antibacterial and tetracycline a tetracycline-class antimicrobial.
Generics: cephalexin since 1976; tetracycline since 1954 (Drugs@FDA).
| Cephalexin | Tetracycline | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Bacterial infections, Urinary tract infections | Bacterial infections |
| Pharmacologic class | Cephalosporin Antibacterial | Tetracycline-class 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 | November 19, 1953 |
| First generic approved | April 26, 1976 | September 17, 1954 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 35 labelers | 10 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.120 per capsule (Cephalexin 500 mg capsule) | $0.247 per capsule (Tetracycline 250 mg capsule) |
| 12-month price change | -6% | -65% |
| 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 | 767 |
| 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