Two medicines, side by side
Nitrofurantoin vs fluconazole
Nitrofurantoin and fluconazole are both labeled for urinary tract infections. Drugs@FDA records approvals of nitrofurantoin since 1953 and of fluconazole since 1990. Pharmacies paid $0.165 per nitrofurantoin mcr 50 mg capsule and $0.380 per fluconazole 200 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, nitrofurantoin is a nitrofuran antibacterial and fluconazole an azole antifungal.
Check it at the source: the nitrofurantoin FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 24, 2026); the fluconazole FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 7, 2026).
Highlights of the nitrofurantoin record
Nitrofurantoin (Macrobid) · label of June 24, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsNitrofurantoin capsules (monohydrate/macrocrystals) are indicated only for the treatment of acute uncomplicated urinary tract infections (acute cystitis) caused by susceptible strains of Escherichia coli or Staphylococcus saprophyticus. Nitrofurantoin is not indicated for the treatment of pyelonephritis or perinephric abscesses. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- February 6, 1953
- Generic labelers
- 47 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.165 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 13
Highlights of the fluconazole record
Fluconazole (Diflucan) · label of April 7, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsFluconazole tablets are indicated for the treatment of: Vaginal candidiasis (vaginal yeast infections due to Candida ). Oropharyngeal and esophageal candidiasis. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- January 29, 1990
- Generic labelers
- 41 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.380 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 18
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Nitrofurantoin label of June 24, 2026, Fluconazole label of April 7, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do nitrofurantoin and fluconazole differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, nitrofurantoin is a nitrofuran antibacterial and fluconazole an azole antifungal.
Generics: nitrofurantoin since 1970; fluconazole since 2004 (Drugs@FDA).
| Nitrofurantoin | Fluconazole | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Urinary tract infections, Bacterial infections | Fungal infections, Urinary tract infections |
| Pharmacologic class | Nitrofuran Antibacterial | Azole Antifungal |
| How it works (label) | Mechanism of Action The mechanism of the antimicrobial action of nitrofurantoin is unusual among antibacterials. | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | Peak plasma concentrations (C max ) in fasted normal volunteers occur between 1 and 2 hours with a terminal plasma elimination half-life of approximately 30 hours (range: 20 to 50 hours) after oral administration. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | February 6, 1953 | January 29, 1990 |
| First generic approved | September 30, 1970 | July 29, 2004 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 47 labelers | 41 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.165 per capsule (Nitrofurantoin mcr 50 mg capsule) | $0.380 per tablet (Fluconazole 200 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -12% | -10% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | A presentation being discontinued | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 13 | 18 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 22,755 | 69,671 |
| 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 nitrofurantoin
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions