Two medicines, side by side
Alfuzosin vs oxybutynin
Alfuzosin is labeled for enlarged prostate (bph); oxybutynin for overactive bladder. Their labels share no use, so they are not alternatives to each other. Drugs@FDA records approvals of alfuzosin since 2003 and of oxybutynin since 1975. Pharmacies paid $0.105 per alfuzosin HCl ER 10 mg tablet and $0.048 per oxybutynin 5 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. Oxybutynin's other strengths are brand-only: $2.74 per unit (Oxytrol for women 3.9 mg/24hr). In FDA's classes, alfuzosin is an alpha-adrenergic blocker and oxybutynin a cholinergic muscarinic antagonist.
Check it at the source: the alfuzosin FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 5, 2024); the oxybutynin FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 16, 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 oxybutynin record
Oxybutynin (Ditropan) · label of December 16, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsOxybutynin chloride extended-release tablets are a muscarinic antagonist indicated for the treatment of overactive bladder with symptoms of urge urinary incontinence, urgency, and frequency. Oxybutynin chloride extended-release tablets are also indicated for the treatment of pediatric patients aged 6 years and older with symptoms of detrusor overactivity associated with a neurological condition (e.g., spina bifida). […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- July 16, 1975
- Generic labelers
- 39 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.048 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 9
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Alfuzosin label of December 5, 2024, Oxybutynin label of December 16, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do alfuzosin and oxybutynin differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, alfuzosin is an alpha-adrenergic blocker and oxybutynin a cholinergic muscarinic antagonist.
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.”; Oxybutynin, “Oxybutynin chloride exerts a direct antispasmodic effect on smooth muscle and inhibits the muscarinic action of acetylcholine on smooth muscle.”
Generics: alfuzosin since 2011; oxybutynin since 1988 (Drugs@FDA).
| Alfuzosin | Oxybutynin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Enlarged prostate (BPH) | Overactive bladder |
| Pharmacologic class | alpha-Adrenergic Blocker | Cholinergic Muscarinic Antagonist |
| 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. | Oxybutynin relaxes bladder smooth muscle. Oxybutynin chloride exerts a direct antispasmodic effect on smooth muscle and inhibits the muscarinic action of acetylcholine on smooth muscle. |
| Half-life (label) | Following oral administration of UROXATRAL 10 mg tablets, the apparent elimination half-life is 10 hours. | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | June 12, 2003 | July 16, 1975 |
| First generic approved | July 18, 2011 | November 14, 1988 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 10 labelers | 39 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.105 per tablet (Alfuzosin HCl ER 10 mg tablet) | $0.048 per tablet (Oxybutynin 5 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -0.1% | -2% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 1 | 9 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 5,746 | 37,662 |
| 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 do the labels say about using others of their kind?
Oxybutynin label, drug interactionsDRUG INTERACTIONS The concomitant use of oxybutynin with other anticholinergic drugs or with other agents which produce dry mouth, constipation, somnolence (drowsiness), and/or other anticholinergic-like effects may increase the frequency and/or severity of such effects.
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to alfuzosin
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions