Two medicines, side by side
Alfuzosin vs dutasteride
Alfuzosin and dutasteride are both labeled for enlarged prostate (bph). Drugs@FDA records approvals of alfuzosin since 2003 and of dutasteride since 2001. Pharmacies paid $0.105 per alfuzosin HCl ER 10 mg tablet and $0.157 per dutasteride 0.5 mg capsule (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, alfuzosin is an alpha-adrenergic blocker and dutasteride a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor.
Check it at the source: the alfuzosin FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 5, 2024); the dutasteride FDA label on DailyMed (effective September 11, 2025).
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 dutasteride record
Dutasteride (Avodart) · label of September 11, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsDutasteride capsules are a 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor indicated for the treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in men with an enlarged prostate to: ( 1.1 ) improve symptoms, reduce the risk of acute urinary retention, and reduce the risk of the need for BPH-related surgery. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- November 20, 2001
- Generic labelers
- 13 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.157 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Alfuzosin label of December 5, 2024, Dutasteride label of September 11, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do alfuzosin and dutasteride differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, alfuzosin is an alpha-adrenergic blocker and dutasteride a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor.
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.”; Dutasteride, “Dutasteride inhibits the conversion of testosterone to DHT.”
Half-life, in each label's words: Alfuzosin, “Following oral administration of UROXATRAL 10 mg tablets, the apparent elimination half-life is 10 hours.”; Dutasteride, “In this single-dose trial, dutasteride half-life increased with age (approximately 170 hours in men aged 20 to 49 …”
Generics: alfuzosin since 2011; dutasteride since 2010 (Drugs@FDA).
| Alfuzosin | Dutasteride | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Enlarged prostate (BPH) | Enlarged prostate (BPH) |
| Pharmacologic class | alpha-Adrenergic Blocker | 5-alpha Reductase Inhibitor |
| 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. | Dutasteride inhibits the conversion of testosterone to DHT. DHT is the androgen primarily responsible for the initial development and subsequent enlargement of the prostate gland. |
| Half-life (label) | Following oral administration of UROXATRAL 10 mg tablets, the apparent elimination half-life is 10 hours. | In this single-dose trial, dutasteride half-life increased with age (approximately 170 hours in men aged 20 to 49 years, approximately 260 hours in men aged 50 to 69 years, and approximately 300 hours in men older than … |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | June 12, 2003 | November 20, 2001 |
| First generic approved | July 18, 2011 | December 21, 2010 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 10 labelers | 13 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.105 per tablet (Alfuzosin HCl ER 10 mg tablet) | $0.157 per capsule (Dutasteride 0.5 mg capsule) |
| 12-month price change | -0.1% | -12% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 1 | 0 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 5,746 | 8,084 |
| 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