Linezolid (Zyvox) — Compare Prices at US & Canada Pharmacies
Compare real Linezolid prices at US and Canadian pharmacies, see official FDA uses and warnings, and find generic alternatives. Save up to 35% by comparing Canada pharmacy prices.
Linezolid is one of the few antibiotics where the oral tablet is absorbed essentially as completely as the IV form — the same dose works whether it's given by mouth or by infusion, which is why hospitals can switch a patient from IV to oral linezolid without changing the dose.
How much does linezolid cost without insurance?
Generic linezolid (600 mg, a standard 14-tablet course) has a wide price spread in our data — from around $30 at the lowest pharmacy we found up to $200+ at others for the identical prescription, which makes comparing pharmacies directly unusually worthwhile for this drug. The IV/solution form is priced very differently (it's typically used in a hospital setting) and isn't a fair comparison to the oral tablet price.
Is there a generic version of linezolid?
Yes — generic linezolid has been available since 2015 and is substantially cheaper than the Zyvox brand. There's no therapeutic difference; the generic is the standard choice at retail pharmacies.
Do I need a prescription to buy linezolid?
Yes, in both the US and Canada. It's a reserve-tier antibiotic typically used for resistant infections (like MRSA or VRE) and is only dispensed with a prescription.
How can I save on linezolid?
Given how wide the pharmacy-to-pharmacy price spread is for this specific drug in our data, calling around or using a price-comparison tool before filling is unusually likely to pay off — the difference between the cheapest and priciest listing we found for the same 14-tablet course was over $170.
"As low as" figures compare the single lowest oral tablet/capsule price found on each side — not necessarily the same strength or pack size. Always check the full tables below for your exact dose. Prices updated 2026-08-21.
Linezolid prices at US pharmacies
(Linezolid) — tablet, 600mg, qty 14
| Pharmacy | Retail price | With discount card |
|---|---|---|
| CVS Pharmacy Lowest | $32.64 | $29.64 |
| Publix | $37.23 | — |
| Costco | $38.49 | — |
| Food Lion | $49.16 | — |
| Walgreens | $54.48 | $51.48 |
| Walmart Neighborhood Market | $63.32 | $60.32 |
| Walmart Pharmacy | $63.32 | $60.32 |
| Kroger Pharmacy | $205.94 | $202.94 |
Linezolid In Sodium Chloride — solution (quantity in ml), 600-0.9mg/300ml-%, qty 1800
| Pharmacy | Retail price | With discount card |
|---|---|---|
| Kroger Pharmacy Lowest | $572.55 | $569.55 |
| Harris Teeter Pharmacy | $572.55 | $569.55 |
| Walgreens | $602.16 | $599.16 |
| Publix | $606.89 | $603.89 |
| CVS Pharmacy | $612.34 | $609.34 |
| Walmart Neighborhood Market | $614.85 | $611.85 |
| Walmart Pharmacy | $614.85 | $611.85 |
Zyvox (Linezolid) — solution (quantity in ml), 600mg/300ml, qty 300
| Pharmacy | Retail price | With discount card |
|---|---|---|
| CVS Pharmacy Lowest | $32.64 | $29.64 |
| Publix | $37.23 | — |
| Costco | $38.49 | — |
| Food Lion | $49.16 | — |
| Walgreens | $54.48 | $51.48 |
| Walmart Neighborhood Market | $63.32 | $60.32 |
| Walmart Pharmacy | $63.32 | $60.32 |
| Kroger Pharmacy | $205.94 | $202.94 |
Linezolid prices at Canadian pharmacies
| Strength | Pharmacy | Per pill (USD) | Pack total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 600 mg | CanadianPharmacyAdvantage.com | $1.38 | $41.45 / 30 |
| 600 mg | CanadaPharmacies.com | $1.77 | $52.99 / 30 |
| 600 mg | CanadianPharmacyAdvantage.com | $2.06 | $20.64 / 10 |
| 600 mg | medsengage.com | $2.12 | $212.33 / 100 |
| 600 mg | OffShoreCheapMeds.com | $2.14 | $214.42 / 100 |
| 600 mg | medsengage.com | $2.25 | $134.89 / 60 |
| 600 mg | LifeRxPharmacy.com | $2.26 | $225.66 / 100 |
| 600 mg | InhalersOnline.com | $2.34 | $233.94 / 100 |
| 600 mg | OffShoreCheapMeds.com | $2.40 | $95.86 / 40 |
| 600 mg | LifeRxPharmacy.com | $2.52 | $100.88 / 40 |
| Strength | Pharmacy | Per pill (USD) | Pack total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1200 mg | OffShoreCheapMeds.com | $11.17 | $335.07 / 30 |
| 1200 mg | medsengage.com | $11.87 | $356.01 / 30 |
| 1200 mg | OffShoreCheapMeds.com | $13.40 | $268.06 / 20 |
| 1200 mg | medsengage.com | $14.24 | $284.81 / 20 |
Canada prices are converted to USD at time of collection and shown per tablet where available. Ordering from Canadian pharmacies is legal for personal use in most cases but subject to FDA/CBSA rules — see US vs Canada, explained.
What is Linezolid used for?
Linezolid earns its place as a "reserve" antibiotic (per the WHO AWaRe classification) by working against bacteria that have become resistant to most other options — MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and VRE (vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus) chief among them. It's used for serious skin and soft-tissue infections and pneumonia when those resistant organisms are suspected or confirmed, not as a general first-line antibiotic.
Its mechanism is genuinely distinct from other antibiotic classes, which is exactly why it still works against bacteria that have evolved resistance to older drugs. That novelty is also why prescribers reserve it rather than using it broadly — using it too often would accelerate resistance to one of the few remaining reliable options for these infections.
Linezolid interacts with the body's serotonin system in a way most antibiotics don't (see the boxed warning below), which makes it one of the few antibiotics where your prescriber genuinely needs your full medication list — particularly anything for depression, anxiety, or migraines — before you start it.
How Linezolid works
Binds the bacterial ribosome at a unique site
Linezolid attaches to the 23S component of the bacterial ribosome's 50S subunit, at a step earlier in protein synthesis than most other protein-synthesis-blocking antibiotics interfere with.
Blocks the very first step of protein-building
It prevents the ribosome from forming the initial complex needed to start making a protein at all — bacteria can't even begin translating their genetic instructions into the proteins they need.
Growth stops, and resistance-crossover is limited
Because it works at a point in the process other antibiotic classes don't target, bacteria resistant to those other classes (including MRSA and VRE) are typically still susceptible to linezolid.
Typical dosage forms & strengths
| Use | Typical adult dose | Form |
|---|---|---|
| Most infections requiring linezolid (adults) | 600 mg every 12 hours | Tablet, oral suspension, or IV — same dose regardless of route |
| Children | Weight-based, typically every 8–12 hours depending on age | Oral suspension or IV |
General reference dosing from the FDA label — not personalized advice. Your prescribed dose may differ based on your infection, kidney function, age, and weight. Always follow your prescriber's instructions.
Related & alternative drugs
Warnings & interactions
This is a summary of the official FDA label text, not personalized medical advice. It does not list every possible interaction or side effect. Always tell your prescriber and pharmacist about every medicine and supplement you take.
Common, usually mild
- Nausea, diarrhea
- Headache
- Altered or metallic taste
- Vomiting
Serious — seek care promptly
- Unusual bruising or bleeding, or signs of low blood counts (fatigue, pallor, frequent infections) — more likely with courses over 2 weeks
- Numbness, tingling, or vision changes (peripheral or optic nerve effects, more likely with prolonged use)
- Agitation, fever, rapid heartbeat, muscle rigidity, confusion (possible serotonin syndrome, especially if combined with serotonergic drugs)
- Unusual fatigue, rapid breathing, nausea (rare lactic acidosis)
Boxed warning
Linezolid has weak, reversible monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) activity. Combined with serotonergic drugs — SSRIs, SNRIs, tricyclic antidepressants, MAOIs, triptans, and certain opioids like tramadol or meperidine — it can trigger serotonin syndrome, a potentially life-threatening reaction (agitation, high fever, rapid heart rate, muscle rigidity, confusion). Tell your prescriber about every medication and supplement you take before starting linezolid. Courses longer than 2 weeks also carry a meaningfully higher risk of myelosuppression (low blood counts) and peripheral or optic nerve damage — extended use requires regular blood count monitoring and prompt reporting of any vision changes.
Contraindications
4 CONTRAINDICATIONS • Known hypersensitivity to linezolid or any of the other product components. ( 4.1 ) • Patients taking any monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI) or within two weeks of taking an MAOI. ( 4.2 ) 4.1 Hypersensitivity Linezolid formulations are contraindicated for use in patients who have known hypersensitivity to linezolid or any of the other product components .
Notable drug interactions
| Drug / substance | What can happen |
|---|---|
| SSRIs, SNRIs, MAOIs, tricyclic antidepressants | Significantly raised risk of serotonin syndrome — this combination generally requires your prescriber's explicit review before starting linezolid. |
| Tramadol, meperidine, and certain other opioids | Also raise serotonin syndrome risk in combination with linezolid's weak MAOI activity. |
| Pseudoephedrine and other adrenergic/decongestant drugs | Linezolid can enhance their blood-pressure-raising effect — use with caution and monitor blood pressure. |
| Large amounts of tyramine-rich food (aged cheese, cured meats, tap beer) | Because of linezolid's weak MAOI activity, large amounts can theoretically raise blood pressure — moderate amounts during a short course are not typically a practical concern, but ask your prescriber if you're unsure. |
Pregnancy & breastfeeding
8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary Available data from published and postmarketing case reports with linezolid use in pregnant women have not identified a drug-associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage, or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. When administered during organogenesis, linezolid did not cause malformations in mice, rats, or rabbits at maternal exposure levels approximately 6.5 times (mice), equivalent to (rats), or 0.06 times (rabbits) the clinical therapeutic exposure, based on…
Linezolid, by the numbers
Additional public data points beyond retail pricing — useful context, not a price quote.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Linezolid cost without insurance?
Is Linezolid cheaper in Canada or the US?
Is there a generic version of Linezolid?
What drug class is Linezolid in?
Page info
Prices last checked 2026-08-21. Reviewed against FDA and DailyMed official sources — see our review process. Not a substitute for professional medical advice.