Two medicines, side by side
Erythromycin vs vancomycin
Erythromycin and vancomycin are both labeled for bacterial infections. Drugs@FDA records approvals of erythromycin since 1964 and of vancomycin since 1986. Pharmacies paid $1.96 per erythromycin 250 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. In FDA's classes, erythromycin is a macrolide and vancomycin a glycopeptide antibacterial.
Check it at the source: the erythromycin FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 1, 2024); the vancomycin FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 7, 2024).
Highlights of the erythromycin record
Erythromycin (Erythrocin) · label of August 1, 2024
Used for
From the label: indicationsTo reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of erythromycin tablets and other antibacterial drugs, erythromycin tablets 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
- June 25, 1964
- Generic labelers
- 38 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $1.96 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 2
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 (Erythromycin label of August 1, 2024, Vancomycin label of June 7, 2024); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do erythromycin and vancomycin differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, erythromycin is a macrolide and vancomycin a glycopeptide antibacterial.
Generics: erythromycin since 1964; vancomycin since 1964 (Drugs@FDA).
| Erythromycin | Vancomycin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Bacterial infections, Acne | Bacterial infections, Diarrhea |
| Pharmacologic class | Macrolide, Macrolide Antimicrobial | Glycopeptide Antibacterial |
| How it works (label) | n/a | Vancomycin is an antibacterial drug [see Microbiology (12.4) ]. |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | 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) | June 25, 1964 | April 15, 1986 |
| First generic approved | June 24, 1964 | November 6, 1964 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 38 labelers | 31 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $1.96 per tablet (Erythromycin 250 mg tablet) | $1.33 per capsule (Vancomycin HCl 125 mg capsule) |
| 12-month price change | +12% | +4% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | A presentation being discontinued |
| Recalls recorded | 2 | 49 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 18,956 | 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 erythromycin
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions