alfuzosin vs finasteride
Side-by-side comparison of alfuzosin and finasteride Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Uroxatral
Proscar, Propecia
Alfuzosin is a medicine that helps men with enlarged prostate glands. It relaxes the muscles in the prostate and bladder, making it easier to urinate.
Finasteride is a medicine used to treat hair loss in men. It helps to prevent further hair loss on the head.
This medicine treats the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), also known as an enlarged prostate. BPH can cause problems with urination, such as difficulty starting or stopping, frequent urination, and feeling like you can't empty your bladder. Alfuzosin helps to improve these symptoms.
Finasteride treats male pattern hair loss on the head. It is for use in men only. It is not effective for treating receding hairlines at the temples. This medicine will not work for women.
Alfuzosin belongs to a class of drugs called alpha-1 blockers. It works by relaxing the muscles in the prostate and bladder neck. This relaxation allows urine to flow more freely, relieving the symptoms of BPH.
Finasteride blocks a substance in the body that changes testosterone into another hormone. This other hormone causes hair loss in men. By blocking it, finasteride can help reduce hair loss.
- • Dizziness
- • Upper respiratory tract infection
- • Headache
- • Fatigue
- • Decreased sex drive
- • Trouble getting an erection
- • Problems with ejaculation (decreased amount of semen)
- The medicine is not working 112
- Using the medicine for something it's not approved for 96
- Difficulty breathing 89
- The medicine is interacting with another medicine 87
- Tiredness 87
- Tiredness 3,949
- Trouble getting an erection 3,933
- Feeling sad or hopeless 3,499
- Feeling worried or nervous 2,966
- The medicine is not working 2,533
Alfuzosin can cause your blood pressure to drop suddenly when you stand up, leading to dizziness or fainting. Be careful when standing up quickly, especially when you first start taking this medicine. If you have chest pain (angina), tell your doctor immediately. This medicine may also affect your heart rhythm. Tell your doctor if you have a history of heart problems.
Finasteride is not for use in women. Pregnant women should not handle crushed or broken tablets because it can cause birth defects in a male fetus. Finasteride can lower your PSA levels, which could hide prostate cancer. This drug may also increase the risk of a more serious form of prostate cancer.
This medicine is only for men and is not intended for use in women. It is not known if alfuzosin can harm an unborn baby or pass into breast milk.
Finasteride is not for use in women, especially during pregnancy. It can cause birth defects in a male fetus. If a pregnant woman comes into contact with crushed or broken tablets, wash the area with soap and water.
Also Compare — Nearby Drugs
Compare finasteride with
How to Read This alfuzosin vs finasteride Comparison
alfuzosin is classified in the Alpha-1 Blocker (BPH) drug class, while finasteride sits within the 5-Alpha Reductase Inhibitor class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, alfuzosin has 471 submissions while finasteride has 16,880. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between alfuzosin and finasteride — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.