Two medicines, side by side
Lincomycin vs gentamicin
Lincomycin and gentamicin are both labeled for bacterial infections. Drugs@FDA records approvals of lincomycin since 1964 and of gentamicin since 1970. Only the lincomycin label carries a boxed warning.
Check it at the source: the lincomycin FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 10, 2025); the gentamicin FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 22, 2024).
Highlights of the lincomycin record
Lincomycin (Lincocin) · label of March 10, 2025
Clostridioides difficile associated diarrhea (CDAD) has been reported with use of nearly all antibacterial agents, including LINCOCIN 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: indicationsLINCOCIN is 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
- December 29, 1964
- Generic labelers
- 8 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- Not in the survey
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 0
Highlights of the gentamicin record
Gentamicin (Garamycin) · label of July 22, 2024
Used for
From the label: indicationsGentamicin sulfate ophthalmic solution is indicated in the topical treatment of ocular bacterial infections including conjunctivitis, keratitis, keratoconjunctivitis, corneal ulcers, blepharitis, blepharoconjunctivitis, acute meibomianitis, and dacryocystitis, caused by susceptible strains of the following microorganisms: Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Enterobacter aerogenes, Escherichia coli, Haemophilus influenzae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Serratia marcescens. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- June 19, 1970
- Generic labelers
- 24 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $1.30 per mL
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 9
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Lincomycin label of March 10, 2025, Gentamicin label of July 22, 2024); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do lincomycin and gentamicin differ on the record?
Only the lincomycin label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: lincomycin since 1991; gentamicin since 1966 (Drugs@FDA).
| Lincomycin | Gentamicin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Bacterial infections | Bacterial infections |
| Pharmacologic class | n/a | Aminoglycoside Antibacterial |
| How it works (label) | Mechanism of Action Lincomycin inhibits bacterial protein synthesis by binding to the 23S RNA of the 50S subunit of the bacterial ribosome. Lincomycin is predominantly bacteriostatic in vitro. | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | The biological half-life after intramuscular or intravenous administration is 5.4 ± 1.0 hours. | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 29, 1964 | June 19, 1970 |
| First generic approved | April 16, 1991 | March 15, 1966 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 8 labelers | 24 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | n/a | $1.30 per mL (Gentamicin 80 mg/2 mL vial) |
| 12-month price change | n/a | -21% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | No |
| Shortage now | A presentation being discontinued | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 0 | 9 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 293 | 15,709 |
| 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 lincomycin
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions