Two medicines, side by side
Clarithromycin vs levofloxacin
Clarithromycin and levofloxacin are both labeled for bacterial infections. Drugs@FDA records approvals of clarithromycin since 1991 and of levofloxacin since 1996. Pharmacies paid $0.466 per clarithromycin 500 mg tablet and $0.259 per levofloxacin 750 mg tablet (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 levofloxacin a fluoroquinolone antibacterial.
Check it at the source: the clarithromycin FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 9, 2026); the levofloxacin FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 10, 2024).
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 levofloxacin record
Levofloxacin (Levaquin) · label of July 10, 2024
SERIOUS ADVERSE REACTIONS INCLUDING TENDINITIS, TENDON RUPTURE, PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY, CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM EFFECTS AND EXACERBATION OF MYASTHENIA GRAVIS See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning.
Used for
From the label: indicationsLevofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone antibacterial indicated in adults (18 years of age and older) with infections caused by designated, susceptible bacteria and in pediatric patients where indicated ( 1 , 12.4 ). […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 20, 1996
- Generic labelers
- 44 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.259 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 13
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Clarithromycin label of April 9, 2026, Levofloxacin label of July 10, 2024); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do clarithromycin and levofloxacin differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, clarithromycin is a macrolide antimicrobial and levofloxacin a fluoroquinolone antibacterial.
How each works, in its label's words: Clarithromycin, “Clarithromycin is a macrolide antimicrobial drug [see Microbiology (12.4) ].”; Levofloxacin, “Levofloxacin is a member of the fluoroquinolone class of antibacterial agents [see Microbiology ( 12.4 )].”
Half-life, in each label's words: Clarithromycin, “The elimination half-life of clarithromycin was about 3 hours to 4 hours with 250 mg administered every 12 hours but …”; Levofloxacin, “The mean terminal plasma elimination half-life of levofloxacin ranges from approximately 6 to 8 hours following single …”
Only the levofloxacin label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: clarithromycin since 2004; levofloxacin since 2010 (Drugs@FDA).
| Clarithromycin | Levofloxacin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Bacterial infections, Acid reflux and ulcers | Bacterial infections, Urinary tract infections |
| Pharmacologic class | Macrolide Antimicrobial | Fluoroquinolone Antibacterial |
| How it works (label) | Clarithromycin is a macrolide antimicrobial drug [see Microbiology (12.4) ]. | Levofloxacin is a member of the fluoroquinolone class of antibacterial agents [see Microbiology ( 12.4 )]. |
| 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. | The mean terminal plasma elimination half-life of levofloxacin ranges from approximately 6 to 8 hours following single or multiple doses of levofloxacin given orally or intravenously. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | October 31, 1991 | December 20, 1996 |
| First generic approved | May 25, 2004 | December 20, 2010 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 26 labelers | 44 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.466 per tablet (Clarithromycin 500 mg tablet) | $0.259 per tablet (Levofloxacin 750 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | +6% | -11% |
| Boxed warning | No | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 3 | 13 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 34,134 | 59,954 |
| 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