Two medicines, side by side
Clindamycin vs doxycycline
Clindamycin and doxycycline are both labeled for bacterial infections and acne. Drugs@FDA records approvals of clindamycin since 1970 and of doxycycline since 1967. Pharmacies paid $0.137 per gram (Clindamycin ph 1% gel) and $0.118 per doxycycline hyclate 100 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. Doxycycline's other strengths are brand-only: $18.18 per Doryx mpc DR 60 mg tablet. In FDA's classes, clindamycin is a lincosamide antibacterial and doxycycline a tetracycline-class drug.
Check it at the source: the clindamycin FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 10, 2026); the doxycycline FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 25, 2025).
Highlights of the clindamycin record
Clindamycin (Cleocin) · label of March 10, 2026
Clostridioides difficile -associated diarrhea (CDAD) has been reported with use of nearly all antibacterial agents, including clindamycin hydrochloride and may range in severity from mild diarrhea to fatal colitis. Treatment with antibacterial agents alters the normal flora of the colon, leading to overgrowth of C. difficile.
Used for
From the label: indicationsClindamycin is indicated in the treatment of serious infections caused by susceptible anaerobic bacteria. Clindamycin is also indicated in the treatment of serious infections due to susceptible strains of streptococci, pneumococci, and staphylococci. Its use should be reserved for penicillin-allergic patients or other patients for whom, in the judgment of the physician, a penicillin is inappropriate. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- February 22, 1970
- Generic labelers
- 60 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.137 per gram
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- In shortage
- Recalls
- 24
Highlights of the doxycycline record
Doxycycline (Vibramycin) · label of July 25, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsTo reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain effectiveness of doxycycline capsules and other antibacterial drugs, doxycycline 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 5, 1967
- Generic labelers
- 83 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.118 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 19
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Clindamycin label of March 10, 2026, Doxycycline label of July 25, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do clindamycin and doxycycline differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, clindamycin is a lincosamide antibacterial and doxycycline a tetracycline-class drug.
Half-life, in each label's words: Clindamycin, “Excretion The average biological half-life is 2.4 hours.”; Doxycycline, “1.62 0.95 0.37 0.15 (μg/mL) Average Observed Values Maximum Concentration 3.61 μg/mL (± 0.9 sd) Time of Maximum …”
Only the clindamycin label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: clindamycin since 1982; doxycycline since 1973 (Drugs@FDA).
| Clindamycin | Doxycycline | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Bacterial infections, Acne | Urinary tract infections, Bacterial infections, Acne |
| Pharmacologic class | Lincosamide Antibacterial | Tetracycline-class Drug |
| How it works (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | Excretion The average biological half-life is 2.4 hours. | 1.62 0.95 0.37 0.15 (μg/mL) Average Observed Values Maximum Concentration 3.61 μg/mL (± 0.9 sd) Time of Maximum Concentration 2.60 hr (± 1.10 sd) Elimination Rate Constant 0.049 per hr (± 0.030 sd) Half-Life 16.33 hr (± … |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | February 22, 1970 | December 5, 1967 |
| First generic approved | February 8, 1982 | June 18, 1973 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 60 labelers | 83 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.137 per gram (Clindamycin ph 1% gel) | $0.118 per tablet (Doxycycline hyclate 100 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -10% | -2% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | No |
| Shortage now | In shortage | A presentation being discontinued |
| Recalls recorded | 24 | 19 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 8,968 | 69,571 |
| 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 clindamycin
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions