Two medicines, side by side
Clarithromycin vs cefdinir
Clarithromycin and cefdinir are both labeled for bacterial infections. Drugs@FDA records approvals of clarithromycin since 1991 and of cefdinir since 1997. Pharmacies paid $0.466 per clarithromycin 500 mg tablet and $0.458 per cefdinir 300 mg capsule (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, clarithromycin is a macrolide antimicrobial and cefdinir a cephalosporin antibacterial.
Check it at the source: the clarithromycin FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 9, 2026); the cefdinir FDA label on DailyMed (effective October 14, 2025).
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
Highlights of the cefdinir record
Cefdinir (Omnicef) · label of October 14, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsTo reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of cefdinir capsules and other antibacterial drugs, cefdinir 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 4, 1997
- Generic labelers
- 26 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.458 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 11
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Clarithromycin label of April 9, 2026, Cefdinir label of October 14, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do clarithromycin and cefdinir differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, clarithromycin is a macrolide antimicrobial and cefdinir a cephalosporin antibacterial.
Generics: clarithromycin since 2004; cefdinir since 2006 (Drugs@FDA).
| Clarithromycin | Cefdinir | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Bacterial infections, Acid reflux and ulcers | Bacterial infections |
| Pharmacologic class | Macrolide Antimicrobial | Cephalosporin Antibacterial |
| How it works (label) | Clarithromycin is a macrolide antimicrobial drug [see Microbiology (12.4) ]. | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | 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. | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | October 31, 1991 | December 4, 1997 |
| First generic approved | May 25, 2004 | May 19, 2006 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 26 labelers | 26 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.466 per tablet (Clarithromycin 500 mg tablet) | $0.458 per capsule (Cefdinir 300 mg capsule) |
| 12-month price change | +6% | +0.7% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 3 | 11 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 34,134 | 7,628 |
| 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 clarithromycin
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions