Two medicines, side by side
Doxycycline vs vancomycin
Doxycycline and vancomycin are both labeled for bacterial infections. Drugs@FDA records approvals of doxycycline since 1967 and of vancomycin since 1986. Pharmacies paid $0.118 per doxycycline hyclate 100 mg tablet and $1.33 per vancomycin HCl 125 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 vancomycin a glycopeptide antibacterial.
Check it at the source: the doxycycline FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 25, 2025); the vancomycin FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 7, 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 vancomycin record
Vancomycin (Vancocin Hydrochloride) · label of June 7, 2024
Used for
From the label: indicationsVancomycin Hydrochloride for Injection is a glycopeptide antibacterial indicated in adult and pediatric patients (neonates and older) for the treatment of: • Septicemia ( 1.1 ) • Infective Endocarditis ( 1.2 ) • Skin and Skin Structure Infections ( 1.3 ) • Bone Infections ( 1.4 ) • Lower Respiratory Tract Infections ( 1.5 ) To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- April 15, 1986
- Generic labelers
- 31 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $1.33 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 49
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Doxycycline label of July 25, 2025, Vancomycin label of June 7, 2024); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do doxycycline and vancomycin differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, doxycycline is a tetracycline-class drug and vancomycin a glycopeptide 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 …”; Vancomycin, “The mean elimination half-life of vancomycin from plasma is 4 to 6 hours in subjects with normal renal function.”
Generics: doxycycline since 1973; vancomycin since 1964 (Drugs@FDA).
| Doxycycline | Vancomycin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Urinary tract infections, Bacterial infections, Acne | Bacterial infections, Diarrhea |
| Pharmacologic class | Tetracycline-class Drug | Glycopeptide Antibacterial |
| How it works (label) | n/a | Vancomycin 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 (± … | The mean elimination half-life of vancomycin from plasma is 4 to 6 hours in subjects with normal renal function. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 5, 1967 | April 15, 1986 |
| First generic approved | June 18, 1973 | November 6, 1964 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 83 labelers | 31 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.118 per tablet (Doxycycline hyclate 100 mg tablet) | $1.33 per capsule (Vancomycin HCl 125 mg capsule) |
| 12-month price change | -2% | +4% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | A presentation being discontinued | A presentation being discontinued |
| Recalls recorded | 19 | 49 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 69,571 | 65,529 |
| 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