Two medicines, side by side
Alfuzosin vs doxazosin
Alfuzosin and doxazosin are both labeled for enlarged prostate (bph). Drugs@FDA records approvals of alfuzosin since 2003 and of doxazosin since 1990. Pharmacies paid $0.105 per alfuzosin HCl ER 10 mg tablet and $0.0752 per doxazosin mesylate 1 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. How each works, in its label's words: Alfuzosin, “Alfuzosin is a selective antagonist of post-synaptic alpha 1 -adrenoreceptors, which are located in the prostate, bladder base, bladder neck, prostatic capsule, and prostatic urethra.”; Doxazosin, “Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) The symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), such as urinary frequency, nocturia, weak stream, hesitancy, and incomplete emptying are related to …”
Check it at the source: the alfuzosin FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 5, 2024); the doxazosin FDA label on DailyMed (effective October 15, 2023).
Highlights of the alfuzosin record
Alfuzosin (Uroxatral) · label of December 5, 2024
Used for
From the label: indicationsUROXATRAL is indicated for the treatment of signs and symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia. UROXATRAL is an alpha adrenergic antagonist, indicated for the treatment of signs and symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia. ( 1 ) Important Limitations of Use: UROXATRAL is not indicated for treatment of hypertension. ( 1.1 ) UROXATRAL is not indicated for use in the pediatric population. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- June 12, 2003
- Generic labelers
- 10 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.105 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 1
Highlights of the doxazosin record
Doxazosin (Cardura) · label of October 15, 2023
Used for
From the label: indicationsCARDURA is an alpha 1 adrenergic antagonist indicated for: • Signs and symptoms of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) ( 1.1 ) • Treatment of Hypertension ( 1.2 ) 1.1 Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) CARDURA is indicated for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of BPH. 1.2 Hypertension CARDURA is indicated for the treatment of hypertension, to lower blood pressure. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- November 2, 1990
- Generic labelers
- 29 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0752 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 11
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Alfuzosin label of December 5, 2024, Doxazosin label of October 15, 2023); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do alfuzosin and doxazosin differ on the record?
How each works, in its label's words: Alfuzosin, “Alfuzosin is a selective antagonist of post-synaptic alpha 1 -adrenoreceptors, which are located in the prostate, bladder base, bladder neck, prostatic capsule, and prostatic urethra.”; Doxazosin, “Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) The symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), such as urinary frequency, nocturia, weak stream, hesitancy, and incomplete emptying are related to …”
Both are in FDA's class alpha-adrenergic blockers.
Half-life, in each label's words: Alfuzosin, “Following oral administration of UROXATRAL 10 mg tablets, the apparent elimination half-life is 10 hours.”; Doxazosin, “Excretion Plasma elimination of doxazosin is biphasic, with a terminal elimination half-life of about 22 hours.”
Generics: alfuzosin since 2011; doxazosin since 2000 (Drugs@FDA).
| Alfuzosin | Doxazosin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Enlarged prostate (BPH) | Enlarged prostate (BPH), High blood pressure |
| Pharmacologic class | alpha-Adrenergic Blocker | alpha-Adrenergic Blocker |
| How it works (label) | Alfuzosin is a selective antagonist of post-synaptic alpha 1 -adrenoreceptors, which are located in the prostate, bladder base, bladder neck, prostatic capsule, and prostatic urethra. | Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) The symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), such as urinary frequency, nocturia, weak stream, hesitancy, and incomplete emptying are related to two components, anatomical (static) and … |
| Half-life (label) | Following oral administration of UROXATRAL 10 mg tablets, the apparent elimination half-life is 10 hours. | Excretion Plasma elimination of doxazosin is biphasic, with a terminal elimination half-life of about 22 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | June 12, 2003 | November 2, 1990 |
| First generic approved | July 18, 2011 | October 18, 2000 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 10 labelers | 29 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.105 per tablet (Alfuzosin HCl ER 10 mg tablet) | $0.0752 per tablet (Doxazosin mesylate 1 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -0.1% | -10% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 1 | 11 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 5,746 | 35,891 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to alfuzosin
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions