Two medicines, side by side
Doxycycline vs tretinoin
Doxycycline and tretinoin are both labeled for acne. Drugs@FDA records approvals of doxycycline since 1967 and of tretinoin since 1971. Pharmacies paid $0.118 per doxycycline hyclate 100 mg tablet and $0.506 per gram (Tretinoin 0.025% cream) (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 tretinoin a retinoid.
Check it at the source: the doxycycline FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 25, 2025); the tretinoin FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 17, 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 tretinoin record
Tretinoin (Retin-A) · label of May 17, 2024
Used for
From the label: indicationsRETIN-A is indicated for topical application in the treatment of acne vulgaris. The safety and efficacy of the long-term use of this product in the treatment of other disorders have not been established.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- October 20, 1971
- Generic labelers
- 23 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.506 per gram
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 2
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Doxycycline label of July 25, 2025, Tretinoin label of May 17, 2024); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do doxycycline and tretinoin differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, doxycycline is a tetracycline-class drug and tretinoin a retinoid.
Generics: doxycycline since 1973; tretinoin since 1998 (Drugs@FDA).
| Doxycycline | Tretinoin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Urinary tract infections, Bacterial infections, Acne | Acne |
| Pharmacologic class | Tetracycline-class Drug | Retinoid |
| How it works (label) | n/a | n/a |
| 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 (± … | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 5, 1967 | October 20, 1971 |
| First generic approved | June 18, 1973 | June 19, 1998 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 83 labelers | 23 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.118 per tablet (Doxycycline hyclate 100 mg tablet) | $0.506 per gram (Tretinoin 0.025% cream) |
| 12-month price change | -2% | -49% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | A presentation being discontinued | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 19 | 2 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 69,571 | 8,069 |
| 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