Best Macrolide for acne vulgaris
Top-rated pick: Erythromycin Ethylsuccinate — pharmaranks score 70/100, the highest of the 6 Macrolide drugs used for acne vulgaris, ranked by our independent FDA recall-safety score. Compare them with all treatments for acne vulgaris or the full Macrolide class. Not medical advice — always consult a professional.
Quick answer: Of the 6 macrolide drugs we rate for acne vulgaris, none are yet flagged as generics in our price data, and most are suspension. Our ranking reflects each drug’s FDA recall-safety record — not clinical effectiveness for acne vulgaris; the right choice depends on your situation, so confirm it with your prescriber.
How macrolide work
Macrolide antibiotics latch onto the bacterial ribosome's 50S subunit, the cell's protein-building machine, and block the growing protein chain from being assembled. Without the proteins they need, the bacteria stop multiplying, which lets the immune system clear the infection.
Other drug classes for acne vulgaris
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Top macrolide for acne vulgaris: 1. Erythromycin Ethylsuccinate · 2. Erythrocin · 3. E.E.S.
| # | Drug | Rating | Type | Form | Generic? | Pharmacy pays | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 70/100 | Prescription | Suspension | No data | — | View → | |
| 2 | 60/100 | Prescription | Injectable | No data | — | View → | |
| 3 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Suspension | No data | — | View → | |
| 4 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Tablet | No data | — | View → | |
| 5 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Suspension | No data | — | View → | |
| 6 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Injectable | No data | — | View → |
Full ranking · 6 drugs
erythromycin ethylsuccinate
PrescriptionFDA-sourced
Erythromycin Ethylsuccinate is a macrolide used to treat Acne Vulgaris, Campylobacter Infections, Chancroid, Chlamydia Infections.
erythrocin
PrescriptionFDA-sourced
Erythrocin (Erythromycin Lactobionate) is a macrolide used to treat Acne Vulgaris, Campylobacter Infections, Chancroid, Chlamydia Infections.
e.e.s.
PrescriptionFDA-sourced
E.E.S. (Erythromycin Ethylsuccinate) is a macrolide used to treat Acne Vulgaris, Campylobacter Infections, Chancroid, Chlamydia Infections.
e.e.s. 400
PrescriptionFDA-sourced
E.E.S. 400 (Erythromycin Ethylsuccinate) is a macrolide used to treat Acne Vulgaris, Campylobacter Infections, Chancroid, Chlamydia Infections.
eryped
PrescriptionFDA-sourced
Eryped (Erythromycin Ethylsuccinate) is a macrolide used to treat Acne Vulgaris, Campylobacter Infections, Chancroid, Chlamydia Infections.
erythromycin lactobionate
PrescriptionFDA-sourced
Erythromycin Lactobionate is a macrolide used to treat Acne Vulgaris, Campylobacter Infections, Chancroid, Chlamydia Infections.
Frequently asked
- What is the best macrolide for acne vulgaris?
- By our independent recall-safety rating — not an efficacy measure — erythromycin ethylsuccinate ranks highest among Macrolide drugs used for acne vulgaris. Always consult a professional.
- Which macrolide drugs treat acne vulgaris?
- pharmaranks lists 6 Macrolide products used for acne vulgaris, per NIH RxClass drug-classification data — each independently rated and ranked above.
- How are these ranked?
- By our independent score, currently based on FDA regulatory recall-safety data (the methodology blends additional sources as they come online). See the How we rate page.