Two medicines, side by side
Doxycycline vs amoxicillin
Doxycycline and amoxicillin are both labeled for bacterial infections. Drugs@FDA records approvals of doxycycline since 1967 and of amoxicillin since 1974. Pharmacies paid $0.118 per doxycycline hyclate 100 mg tablet and $0.0788 per amoxicillin 500 mg capsule (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, doxycycline is a tetracycline-class drug and amoxicillin a penicillin-class antibacterial.
Check it at the source: the doxycycline FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 25, 2025); the amoxicillin FDA label on DailyMed (effective February 22, 2024).
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
Highlights of the amoxicillin record
Amoxicillin (Amoxil) · label of February 22, 2024
Used for
From the label: indicationsAdults and Pediatric Patients • Upper Respiratory Tract Infections of the Ear, Nose, and Throat Amoxicillin is indicated in the treatment of infections due to susceptible (ONLY β-lactamase–negative) isolates of Streptococcus species. (α- and β-hemolytic isolates only), Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus spp. , or Haemophilus influenzae. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- January 18, 1974
- Generic labelers
- 38 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0788 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 12
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Doxycycline label of July 25, 2025, Amoxicillin label of February 22, 2024); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do doxycycline and amoxicillin differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, doxycycline is a tetracycline-class drug and amoxicillin a penicillin-class antibacterial.
Half-life, in each label's words: 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 …”; Amoxicillin, “Metabolism and Excretion The half-life of amoxicillin is 61.3 minutes.”
Generics: doxycycline since 1973; amoxicillin since 1974 (Drugs@FDA).
| Doxycycline | Amoxicillin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Urinary tract infections, Bacterial infections, Acne | Bacterial infections, Acid reflux and ulcers |
| Pharmacologic class | Tetracycline-class Drug | Penicillin-class Antibacterial |
| How it works (label) | n/a | Amoxicillin is an antibacterial drug [see Microbiology ( 12.4 )]. |
| Half-life (label) | 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 (± … | Metabolism and Excretion The half-life of amoxicillin is 61.3 minutes. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 5, 1967 | January 18, 1974 |
| First generic approved | June 18, 1973 | December 9, 1974 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 83 labelers | 38 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.118 per tablet (Doxycycline hyclate 100 mg tablet) | $0.0788 per capsule (Amoxicillin 500 mg capsule) |
| 12-month price change | -2% | -12% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | A presentation being discontinued | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 19 | 12 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 69,571 | 75,926 |
| 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 doxycycline
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions