Two medicines, side by side
Ciprofloxacin vs clarithromycin
Ciprofloxacin and clarithromycin are both labeled for bacterial infections. Drugs@FDA records approvals of ciprofloxacin since 1987 and of clarithromycin since 1991. Pharmacies paid $0.123 per ciprofloxacin HCl 500 mg tablet and $0.466 per clarithromycin 500 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026). Ciprofloxacin's other strengths are brand-only: $1.25 per mL (Cipro 5% suspension). In FDA's classes, ciprofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone antibacterial and clarithromycin a macrolide antimicrobial.
Check it at the source: the ciprofloxacin FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 2, 2026); the clarithromycin FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 9, 2026).
Highlights of the ciprofloxacin record
Ciprofloxacin (Cipro) · label of March 2, 2026
SERIOUS ADVERSE REACTIONS INCLUDING TENDINITIS, TENDON RUPTURE, PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY, CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM EFFECTS AND EXACERBATION OF MYASTHENIA GRAVIS
Fluoroquinolones, including CIPRO ® , have been associated with disabling and potentially irreversible serious adverse reactions that have occurred together [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )], including:
Tendinitis and tendon rupture [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )].
Peripheral neuropathy [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 )].
Used for
From the label: indicationsCIPRO is a fluoroquinolone antibacterial indicated in adults (18 years of age and older) with the following infections caused by designated, susceptible bacteria and in pediatric patients where indicated: • Skin and Skin Structure Infections ( 1.1 ) • Bone and Joint Infections ( 1.2 ) • Complicated Intra-Abdominal Infections ( 1.3 ) • Infectious Diarrhea ( 1.4 ) • Typhoid Fever (Enteric Fever) ( 1.5 ) • […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- October 22, 1987
- Generic labelers
- 54 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.123 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 14
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 (Ciprofloxacin label of March 2, 2026, Clarithromycin label of April 9, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do ciprofloxacin and clarithromycin differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, ciprofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone antibacterial and clarithromycin a macrolide antimicrobial.
How each works, in its label's words: Ciprofloxacin, “Ciprofloxacin is a member of the fluoroquinolone class of antibacterial agents [see Microbiology ( 12.4 )].”; Clarithromycin, “Clarithromycin is a macrolide antimicrobial drug [see Microbiology (12.4) ].”
Half-life, in each label's words: Ciprofloxacin, “The serum elimination half-life in subjects with normal renal function is approximately 4 hours.”; Clarithromycin, “The elimination half-life of clarithromycin was about 3 hours to 4 hours with 250 mg administered every 12 hours but …”
Only the ciprofloxacin label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: ciprofloxacin since 2004; clarithromycin since 2004 (Drugs@FDA).
| Ciprofloxacin | Clarithromycin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Diarrhea, Urinary tract infections, Bacterial infections | Bacterial infections, Acid reflux and ulcers |
| Pharmacologic class | Fluoroquinolone Antibacterial, Quinolone Antimicrobial | Macrolide Antimicrobial |
| How it works (label) | Ciprofloxacin is a member of the fluoroquinolone class of antibacterial agents [see Microbiology ( 12.4 )]. | Clarithromycin is a macrolide antimicrobial drug [see Microbiology (12.4) ]. |
| Half-life (label) | The serum elimination half-life in subjects with normal renal function is approximately 4 hours. | 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 22, 1987 | October 31, 1991 |
| First generic approved | March 16, 2004 | May 25, 2004 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 54 labelers | 26 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.123 per tablet (Ciprofloxacin HCl 500 mg tablet) | $0.466 per tablet (Clarithromycin 500 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -9% | +6% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 14 | 3 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 96,726 | 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 ciprofloxacin
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions