Azithromycin Injection shortage
Azithromycin Injection is currently listed in shortage by the FDA. The FDA lists 1 affected product. This page was last refreshed from FDA data on Sep 18, 2026.
Pfizer is stopping production of azithromycin injection (500 mg/5 mL), and the change may be permanent. The same medicine is still listed by other manufacturers who have not reported a shortage, including as Zithromax (azithromycin) injection.
Don’t stop or change your therapy on your own — talk with your prescriber about the plan that fits you, and ask your pharmacist what’s actually available (see options).
Do you take this drug? See the ‘What to do’ recommendation from Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD →What’s in shortage — at a glance
These figures count only the manufacturers that reported this shortage to the FDA — not every company that makes Azithromycin Injection. Other makers that haven’t reported a problem are shown in the green card below.
Shortage timeline
-
Jan 20, 2026Currently in shortage1 of 1 product affected.
-
Jan 20, 2026First reported to the FDA1 product first listed.
Built from FDA posting and update dates. The end date FDA publishes is the posting/update date, not a true resolution date, so durations are approximate.
What exactly is on backorder — by manufacturer
Manufacturer: Pfizer Inc. 📞 844-646-4398 1 NDC click to expand
| Status | NDC / product | Strength | Availability | Related information | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| To Be Discontinued | Zithromax IV, Injection, 500 mg/5 mL (NDC 0069-3150-83) | — | — | Discontinuation of the manufacture of the drug. | — |
These rows are manufacturer reports to the FDA for Azithromycin Injection — they do not necessarily cover every manufacturer that makes this drug. A company appears here only if it told the FDA it has a supply problem, so other makers may still have stock. That’s the basis for the Where else can I get Azithromycin Injection? options further down this page.
Why is Azithromycin Injection in shortage?
Pfizer has let the FDA know that they are permanently stopping the manufacturing of their brand-name Zithromax IV (azithromycin injection), specifically the 500 mg/5 mL vial. This is a full discontinuation of that product by Pfizer — meaning they won't be making it anymore going forward.
It's worth noting that Pfizer did not share a specific public reason for why they made this decision — just that the manufacturing of this particular product is being discontinued. This report only reflects Pfizer's product, so it doesn't speak to what other manufacturers may be doing with their own versions of azithromycin injection.
Based on the manufacturer-reported reason(s) and notes on file with the FDA for Azithromycin Injection, summarized in plain English by HelloPharmacist. A drug can be short for more than one reason, and the FDA updates these as manufacturers report changes.
What should I do if I take Azithromycin Injection?
Azithromycin injection (500 mg/5 mL) is currently on the FDA drug-shortage list. I want to walk you through what this means for you.
The one strength covered by this report, 500 mg/5 mL, has no available source right now. The reason listed is that the manufacturer, Pfizer Inc., is discontinuing its version of this product (Zithromax IV). Because this is a discontinuation rather than a short-term delay, this particular supply problem may be permanent. That makes a conversation with your prescriber or pharmacist the right next step.
Please keep in mind that this report reflects only the one manufacturer that filed it. The same medicine — azithromycin injection, 500 mg/5 mL — is still listed from several other makers, so your pharmacy may be able to source one of those, though it may not be sitting in local stock.
Here is what I suggest:
- Do not stop, skip, or change how you receive this medicine on your own.
- Ask your pharmacy to check wholesalers and other manufacturers for the same medicine from a different maker.
- If your exact product cannot be found, ask your prescriber or pharmacist about a clinician-chosen option.
Manufacturer contact numbers are listed on this page for reference; pharmacies usually handle those calls.
This is general, national information and may not match your local pharmacy's actual stock.
- Don’t stop or change the medication on your own — talk to your prescriber first.
- If this is part of an ongoing or essential regimen (for example HIV treatment or prevention, seizure, heart, transplant, diabetes or mental-health medicines), do not skip or ration doses — contact your pharmacist or prescriber right away to arrange continued supply before you run out.
- Ask your pharmacy to check other manufacturers, strengths, package sizes, and nearby stores.
- Ask your prescriber whether a different strength, formulation, or the brand/generic version is appropriate.
Uses, dosing, side effects, prices, and the complete FDA label — written in plain English and pharmacist-reviewed.
Where else can I get Azithromycin Injection?
FDA shortages are manufacturer-reported — a company only shows up on the shortage list if it told the FDA it has a supply problem, so not every maker of Azithromycin Injection is necessarily short. Below we pull together the other still-marketed options that are not reported in shortage: the same medicine from manufacturers that haven’t reported a problem, and alternative dosage forms. These may still be out of stock at your pharmacy, and only your prescriber or pharmacist can decide what’s right for you.
Same medicine, other manufacturers (not reported short)
Same active ingredient, dosage form & route as the shortage (matched on the FDB HICL ingredient code), from makers that have not filed a shortage with the FDA:
| Product | Strength | Form / route | Manufacturer | NDC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zithromax | AZITHROMYCIN DIHYDRATE 500 mg/5mL | Injection, Powder, Lyophilized, For Solution · Intravenous | Pfizer Laboratories Div Pfizer Inc | 00069-0400-10 |
| Azithromycin | AZITHROMYCIN MONOHYDRATE 500 mg/5mL | Injection, Powder, Lyophilized, For Solution · Intravenous | Sagent Pharmaceuticals | 25021-0180-10 |
| Azithromycin | AZITHROMYCIN MONOHYDRATE 500 mg/1 | Injection, Powder, Lyophilized, For Solution · Intravenous | Eugia US LLC | 55150-0174-10 |
| Azithromycin | AZITHROMYCIN MONOHYDRATE 500 mg/5mL | Injection, Powder, Lyophilized, For Solution · Intravenous | Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc. | 62756-0512-44 |
| Azithromycin | AZITHROMYCIN MONOHYDRATE 500 mg/5mL | Injection, Powder, Lyophilized, For Solution · Intravenous | Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC | 63323-0398-10 |
| Azithromycin Monohydrate | AZITHROMYCIN MONOHYDRATE 500 mg/10mL | Injection, Powder, Lyophilized, For Solution · Intravenous | Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited | 70095-0025-02 |
| Azithromycin | AZITHROMYCIN DIHYDRATE 500 mg/5mL | Injection, Powder, Lyophilized, For Solution · Intravenous | Slate Run Pharmaceuticals | 70436-0019-82 |
| Azithromycin | AZITHROMYCIN MONOHYDRATE 500 mg/5mL | Injection, Powder, Lyophilized, For Solution · Intravenous | Athenex Pharmaceutical Division, LLC. | 70860-0100-10 |
Alternative dosage forms of Azithromycin
A different form of the same drug (for example a solution when capsules are short). A form change is a clinical decision — ask your prescriber:
Therapeutic equivalents & pricing 11 productsclick to expand
Orange Book–rated equivalents of the affected strengths, with the latest NADAC price (a federal retail-acquisition benchmark, not your copay) and an evidence-based availability label. Cheapest first.
| Product | Manufacturer | Package | NADAC $/unit | AB rating | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Azithromycin 500 mg | Eugia | 10 vials | $3.527 | AP | Availability likely |
| Azithromycin 500 mg/5mL | Fresenius | 10 vials | $3.527 | AP | Availability likely |
| Azithromycin monohydrate 500 mg/10mL | Sun | 10 vials | $3.527 | AP | Availability likely |
| Azithromycin 500 mg/5mL | Slate | 10 vials | $3.527 | AP | Availability likely |
| Azithromycin 500 mg/5mL | Athenex | 10 vials | $3.527 | AP | Availability likely |
| Zithromax 500 mg/5mL | Pfizer | 10 vials | — | — | FDA listed |
| Zithromax 500 mg/5mL | Pfizer | 10 vials | — | — | FDA listed |
| Azithromycin 500 mg/5mL | Sagent | 10 vials | — | AP | FDA listed |
| Azithromycin 500 mg/5mL | Sun | 10 vials | — | — | FDA listed |
| Azithromycin monohydrate 500 mg/10mL | Gland | 10 vials | — | AP | FDA listed |
| Azithromycin 500 mg/5mL | Athenex | 10 vials | — | AP | FDA listed |
Equivalents share the same ingredient, strength, dosage form and route; an AB rating means the FDA considers them substitutable. NADAC is a national retail-pharmacy acquisition benchmark from CMS — not what you pay. Availability is inferred from recent pricing, not a stock check.
Other drugs in the same treatment class
These are different medicines — not other versions of Azithromycin Injection — that fall in the same broad treatment class (macrolide antibiotics) . They are not automatic substitutes: they can differ in how they work, dosing, effectiveness, side effects and what they’re approved to treat. Do not switch on your own. This list is for information only — ask your prescriber or pharmacist whether any of them is appropriate for you.
Identity & classification
Where does this data come from?
Other anti-infective shortages
Azithromycin Injection shortage FAQs
Is Azithromycin Injection in shortage?
Which products are affected?
When will Azithromycin Injection be available again?
Can I still get Azithromycin somewhere?
What should I do if I take Azithromycin Injection?
Still have a question about the Azithromycin Injection shortage?
Ask a pharmacist about this shortage →View Azithromycin Injection on the FDA drug-shortage database →
Where does this data come from?
/drug/shortages) — drug, manufacturer & contact, NDC/product, status, availability, reason, therapeutic category and posting/update dates. Current / To Be Discontinued = active; Resolved is kept for history. The Supply-Risk rating is assessed per active ingredient and adds the FDA NDC Directory (still-marketed manufacturers by ingredient & form); same-medicine and equivalent products use First Databank classification + CMS NADAC pricing; Medicaid use + most-affected states come from CMS Medicaid State Drug Utilization Data. Reference only — confirm current status with the manufacturer or FDA before acting on it.