Macrolide antibiotics: the complete list
All 4 macrolide antibiotics we track, ranked by our independent FDA recall-safety score. Unlike a plain list, every drug here carries its safety record, what it treats, whether a generic exists, and how long it stays in your body.
Macrolides are a class of antibiotics used to treat common bacterial infections of the chest, sinuses, throat, ears, and skin, along with atypical pneumonia (Mycoplasma, Legionella) and sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia. They include drugs like azithromycin, clarithromycin, and erythromycin, and are a frequent alternative for people allergic to penicillin.
How they work: They bind the bacterial 50S ribosomal subunit and stop the ribosome from adding amino acids to the growing protein chain, halting bacterial protein synthesis. They are mainly bacteriostatic, meaning they stop bacteria from multiplying rather than killing them outright.
What everyone taking one should know
Macrolides can prolong the QT interval, an electrical change in the heartbeat that raises the risk of dangerous rhythms including Torsades de pointes, ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation. The risk is higher in people who already have a prolonged QT, an irregular heartbeat, or low magnesium or potassium, or who take other QT-prolonging medicines. Tell your doctor about any heart-rhythm problem before taking one.
| Drug | Safety | Generic? | Treats |
|---|---|---|---|
| erythromycin | 72/100 | Yes | Acne Vulgaris, Campylobacter Infections |
| fidaxomicin | 72/100 | Brand only | Pseudomembranous Enterocolitis |
| azithromycin Half-life: about 68 hours | 70/100 | Yes | Chlamydia Infections, Haemophilus Infections |
| clarithromycin | 70/100 | Brand only | Bronchitis, Chlamydia Infections |
Ranked by our independent recall-safety score (higher is better), which reflects the FDA recall and enforcement record — not effectiveness. A higher score is not medical advice to switch; which drug is right for you is a prescriber’s decision.
Sources
Other drug classes: NSAIDs · Statins · Benzodiazepines · Opioids · Beta blockers · SSRIs · SNRIs · ACE inhibitors · ARBs · Proton pump inhibitors · Calcium channel blockers.
The list is built from the FDA’s Established Pharmacologic Class tags, so it reflects the drugs in this class that we track (one row per active ingredient). Safety scores come from the FDA recall and enforcement record. This is general reference information, not medical advice — do not start, stop or switch a medication based on it; talk to your prescriber or pharmacist.