Two medicines, side by side
Clarithromycin vs tetracycline
Clarithromycin and tetracycline are both labeled for bacterial infections. Drugs@FDA records approvals of clarithromycin since 1991 and of tetracycline since 1953. Pharmacies paid $0.466 per clarithromycin 500 mg tablet 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, clarithromycin is a macrolide antimicrobial and tetracycline a tetracycline-class antimicrobial.
Check it at the source: the clarithromycin FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 9, 2026); the tetracycline FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 18, 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 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 (Clarithromycin label of April 9, 2026, Tetracycline label of March 18, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do clarithromycin and tetracycline differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, clarithromycin is a macrolide antimicrobial and tetracycline a tetracycline-class antimicrobial.
Generics: clarithromycin since 2004; tetracycline since 1954 (Drugs@FDA).
| Clarithromycin | Tetracycline | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Bacterial infections, Acid reflux and ulcers | Bacterial infections |
| Pharmacologic class | Macrolide Antimicrobial | Tetracycline-class Antimicrobial |
| 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 | November 19, 1953 |
| First generic approved | May 25, 2004 | September 17, 1954 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 26 labelers | 10 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.466 per tablet (Clarithromycin 500 mg tablet) | $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 | 3 | 2 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 34,134 | 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 clarithromycin
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions