Does azithromycin contain wheat or gluten as an excipient?

We cross-check each azithromycin product label against four data sources: DailyMed (FDA Structured Product Labels), the European Medicines Agency centrally-authorised medicines database, the Plogsted curated gluten-free drug list, and the 2024 Mangione et al. pediatric pharmacy NDC analysis. Inactive ingredients are scanned against a 146-entry red-flag dictionary covering wheat, barley, rye, malt, source-ambiguous starches, and FDA gluten-free attestation phrases. Of 19 product labels we cross-checked, 1 list a gluten-derived ingredient outright. Generics from different manufacturers can differ — check which manufacturer's version your pharmacy dispensed before assuming any fill is safe.

Can different manufacturers' generic versions of azithromycin have different gluten status?

Yes. Generics in the United States must use the same active ingredient as the brand, but they are not required to use the same inactive ingredients. Two generics of azithromycin from different manufacturers can use entirely different starch sources, binders, and fillers. A pharmacy may also switch which manufacturer it dispenses between fills without notifying you. Each manufacturer-specific entry below corresponds to a separately-filed product label.

DailyMed checked live · reference data updated May 17, 2026 · 19 product labels screened

Is azithromycin gluten-free?

Some formulations contain gluten. Of 19 product labels we cross-checked, 1 list a gluten-derived ingredient outright. Generics from different manufacturers can differ — check which manufacturer's version your pharmacy dispensed before assuming any fill is safe.

Drug context

About azithromycin

Azithromycin is a macrolide antibiotic used for respiratory, skin, and STI infections, sold under brand names including Zithromax, Z-Pak.

Why this matters

Different manufacturers, different ingredients

Generics of azithromycin use the same active ingredient, but they aren't required to use the same inactive ingredients. Your pharmacy may switch which manufacturer they dispense between fills, sometimes without telling you. The list below shows each manufacturer's product label as a separate entry, because that's the granularity that actually matters when you're celiac.

The labels

The 19 we checked

01

Greenstone manufacturer-attested gluten-free

Plogsted list · Azithromycin Oral Suspension all strengths [Greenstone] · label dated 2019-04-23

Manufacturer confirmed gluten-free (Plogsted 2019-04-23)
View source label →
02

Teva manufacturer-attested gluten-free

Plogsted list · Azithromycin Oral Suspension all strengths (corn maltodex .) [Teva] · label dated 2019-04-23

Manufacturer confirmed gluten-free (Plogsted 2019-04-23)

Worth a call to the maker: Maltodextrin
View source label →
03

Greenstone contains gluten

Mangione 2024 · azithromycin 250 mg [Greenstone] · label dated 2025-06-09

Gluten on the label: Manufacturer-declared gluten content (Matson et al. 2025 (peer-reviewed): the manufacturer of this NDC confirmed that the product contains gluten.)
View source label →
04

Sandoz worth a call to confirm

Plogsted list · Azithromycin Tab all strengths [Sandoz] · label dated 2019-04-23
View source label →
05

Greenstone worth a call to confirm

Plogsted list · Azithromycin Tab all strengths [Greenstone] · label dated 2019-04-23
View source label →
06

Pliva worth a call to confirm

Plogsted list · Azithromycin Tab all strengths [Pliva] · label dated 2019-04-23
View source label →
07

WOCKHARDT worth a call to confirm

Plogsted list · Azithromycin Tab all strengths [WOCKHARDT] · label dated 2019-04-23
View source label →
08

Teva worth a call to confirm

Plogsted list · Azithromycin Tab all strengths [Teva] · label dated 2019-04-23
View source label →
09

Pfizer worth a call to confirm

Plogsted list · Azithromycin Tab all strengths [Pfizer] · label dated 2019-04-23
View source label →
10

Rising Pharma Holdings, Inc. nothing flagged on the label

US label (DailyMed) · AZITHROMYCIN TABLET, FILM COATED [RISING PHARMA HOLDINGS, INC.] · label dated Jun 03, 2026

Inactive ingredients CELLULOSE, MICROCRYSTALLINE · CROSCARMELLOSE SODIUM · HYPROMELLOSES · MAGNESIUM STEARATE · POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL, UNSPECIFIED · SILICON DIOXIDE · SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE · STARCH, CORN · TALC · TITANIUM DIOXIDE
View source label →
11

Coupler LLC nothing flagged on the label

US label (DailyMed) · AZITHROMYCIN TABLET, FILM COATED [COUPLER LLC] · label dated May 06, 2026

Inactive ingredients CALCIUM PHOSPHATE, DIBASIC, ANHYDROUS · CROSCARMELLOSE SODIUM · D&C RED NO. 30 · HYPROMELLOSE 2910 (15 MPA.S) · LACTOSE MONOHYDRATE · MAGNESIUM STEARATE · SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE · TITANIUM DIOXIDE · TRIACETIN
View source label →
12

Sportpharm LLC nothing flagged on the label

US label (DailyMed) · AZITHROMYCIN TABLET, FILM COATED [SPORTPHARM LLC] · label dated Apr 27, 2026

Inactive ingredients ANHYDROUS DIBASIC CALCIUM PHOSPHATE · CROSCARMELLOSE SODIUM · FD&C BLUE NO. 2 · HYPROMELLOSE 2910 (15 MPA.S) · LACTOSE MONOHYDRATE · MAGNESIUM STEARATE · MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE · POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL 4000 · SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE · STARCH, CORN · TITANIUM DIOXIDE · TRISODIUM CITRATE DIHYDRATE
View source label →
13

Aurobindo Pharma Limited nothing flagged on the label

US label (DailyMed) · AZITHROMYCIN TABLET, FILM COATED [AUROBINDO PHARMA LIMITED] · label dated Apr 20, 2026

Inactive ingredients ANHYDROUS DIBASIC CALCIUM PHOSPHATE · CROSCARMELLOSE SODIUM · HYPROMELLOSE 2910 (15 MPA.S) · LACTOSE MONOHYDRATE · MAGNESIUM STEARATE · SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE · STARCH, CORN · TITANIUM DIOXIDE · TRIACETIN
View source label →
14

Precision Dose, Inc. nothing flagged on the label

US label (DailyMed) · AZITHROMYCIN DIHYDRATE TABLET, FILM COATED [PRECISION DOSE, INC.] · label dated Apr 17, 2026

Inactive ingredients ANHYDROUS DIBASIC CALCIUM PHOSPHATE · FD&C BLUE NO. 1 · FD&C RED NO. 40 · FD&C YELLOW NO. 6 · SOYBEAN LECITHIN · STARCH, CORN · croscarmellose sodium · magnesium stearate · polyethylene glycol 3350 · polyvinyl alcohol, unspecified · talc · titanium dioxide
View source label →
15

Precision Dose, Inc. nothing flagged on the label

US label (DailyMed) · AZITHROMYCIN DIHYDRATE TABLET, FILM COATED [PRECISION DOSE, INC.] · label dated Apr 13, 2026

Inactive ingredients ANHYDROUS DIBASIC CALCIUM PHOSPHATE · FD&C BLUE NO. 1 · FD&C RED NO. 40 · FD&C YELLOW NO. 6 · SOYBEAN LECITHIN · STARCH, CORN · croscarmellose sodium · magnesium stearate · polyethylene glycol 3350 · polyvinyl alcohol, unspecified · talc · titanium dioxide
View source label →
16

Preferred Pharmaceuticals Inc. nothing flagged on the label

US label (DailyMed) · AZITHROMYCIN TABLET, FILM COATED [PREFERRED PHARMACEUTICALS INC.] · label dated Jul 03, 2026

Inactive ingredients MAGNESIUM STEARATE · MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE · POLYVINYL ALCOHOL, UNSPECIFIED · SILICON DIOXIDE · SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE · SODIUM STARCH GLYCOLATE TYPE A POTATO · SOYBEAN LECITHIN · STARCH, CORN · TALC · TITANIUM DIOXIDE · XANTHAN GUM
View source label →
17

REMEDYREPACK INC. nothing flagged on the label

US label (DailyMed) · AZITHROMYCIN TABLET, FILM COATED [REMEDYREPACK INC.] · label dated Jul 02, 2026

Inactive ingredients ANHYDROUS DIBASIC CALCIUM PHOSPHATE · CROSCARMELLOSE SODIUM · HYPROMELLOSE 2910 (15 MPA.S) · LACTOSE MONOHYDRATE · MAGNESIUM STEARATE · MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE · POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL 4000 · SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE · STARCH, CORN · TITANIUM DIOXIDE · TRISODIUM CITRATE DIHYDRATE
View source label →
18

A-S Medication Solutions nothing flagged on the label

US label (DailyMed) · AZITHROMYCIN POWDER, FOR SUSPENSION [A-S MEDICATION SOLUTIONS] · label dated Jul 02, 2026

Inactive ingredients BANANA · CHERRY · CI 16035 · HYDROXYPROPYL CELLULOSE (1600000 WAMW) · SILICA · SODIUM PHOSPHATE, TRIBASIC, ANHYDROUS · SUCROSE · XANTHAN GUM
View source label →
19

Bryant Ranch Prepack nothing flagged on the label

US label (DailyMed) · AZITHROMYCIN TABLET, FILM COATED [BRYANT RANCH PREPACK] · label dated Jun 26, 2026

Inactive ingredients ANHYDROUS DIBASIC CALCIUM PHOSPHATE · CROSCARMELLOSE SODIUM · HYPROMELLOSE 2910 (15 MPA.S) · LACTOSE MONOHYDRATE · MAGNESIUM STEARATE · SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE · STARCH, CORN · TITANIUM DIOXIDE · TRIACETIN
View source label →

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Background

What “gluten in a medication” actually means

Gluten enters drugs through their excipients — the inactive ingredients used to bind, coat, fill, or stabilize the dose. The main concern is wheat starch as a filler. Source-ambiguous starches (plain “starch”, pregelatinized starch, sodium starch glycolate, modified starch) get flagged for verification because their botanical origin isn't always disclosed on the label.

The 2024 Mangione et al. pediatric NDC analysis (689 NDCs across the top 100 pediatric medications) found 1.5% contained gluten outright; another 25.7% couldn't be confirmed either way. Liquid and oral-suspension formulations carry disproportionate risk because wheat starch is a common thickener. Full methodology →

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