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alfuzosin vs mirabegron

Side-by-side comparison of alfuzosin and mirabegron Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

Drug Class
alfuzosin Alpha-1 Blocker (BPH)
mirabegron Beta-3 Agonist (Overactive Bladder)
Type
alfuzosin Prescription
mirabegron Prescription
Summary
alfuzosin

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.

mirabegron

Mirabegron is a medicine that helps control an overactive bladder. It relaxes the bladder muscle, allowing it to hold more urine.

What It Treats
alfuzosin

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.

mirabegron

Mirabegron treats overactive bladder (OAB) in adults. OAB can cause you to feel a frequent and urgent need to urinate. It can also lead to accidental urine leakage (urge urinary incontinence).

How It Works
alfuzosin

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.

mirabegron

Mirabegron is a beta-3 adrenergic agonist. It works by relaxing the bladder muscle. This helps increase the bladder's capacity to store urine and reduces the urge to go.

Common Side Effects
alfuzosin
  • Dizziness
  • Upper respiratory tract infection
  • Headache
  • Fatigue
mirabegron
  • High blood pressure
  • Common cold symptoms (nasopharyngitis)
  • Urinary tract infection
  • Headache
FAERS Reports
alfuzosin
  • 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
mirabegron
  • The medicine is not working 5,738
  • Using the medicine for something it's not approved for 2,683
  • Feeling tired 2,215
  • Head pain 2,162
  • Feeling lightheaded 2,093
Serious Warnings
alfuzosin

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.

mirabegron

Mirabegron can raise your blood pressure. Your doctor should check your blood pressure regularly, especially if you have high blood pressure. Mirabegron is not recommended if you have severe, uncontrolled high blood pressure (180/110 mm Hg or higher). Use caution if you have bladder outlet obstruction or are taking other medicines for overactive bladder, as it can increase the risk of urinary retention. Angioedema (swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat) has been reported.

Pregnancy
alfuzosin

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.

mirabegron

It is not known if mirabegron can harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding.

Also Compare — Nearby Drugs

Compare mirabegron with

How to Read This alfuzosin vs mirabegron Comparison

alfuzosin is classified in the Alpha-1 Blocker (BPH) drug class, while mirabegron sits within the Beta-3 Agonist (Overactive Bladder) 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 mirabegron has 14,891. 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 mirabegron — 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.