Two medicines, side by side
Alfuzosin vs potassium citrate
Alfuzosin is labeled for enlarged prostate (bph); potassium citrate has no indication this site maps. Their labels share no use, so they are not alternatives to each other. Drugs@FDA records approvals of alfuzosin since 2003 and of potassium citrate since 1985. Pharmacies paid $0.105 per alfuzosin HCl ER 10 mg tablet and $0.175 per potassium citrate ER 10 mEq tablet (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 potassium citrate an anti-coagulant.
Check it at the source: the alfuzosin FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 5, 2024); the potassium citrate FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 2, 2021).
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 potassium citrate record
Potassium citrate (Urocit-K) · label of December 2, 2021
Used for
From the label: indicationsAcidosis (RTA) with Calcium Stones Potassium citrate is indicated for the management of renal tubular acidosis [see Clinical Studies (14.1)]. 1.2 Hypocitraturic Calcium Oxalate Nephrolithiasis of any Etiology Potassium citrate is indicated for the management of Hypocitraturic calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis [see Clinical Studies (14.2)]. 1.3 Uric Acid Lithiasis with or without Calcium Stones Potassium citrate is indicated for the management of Uric acid lithiasis with or without calcium stones [see Clinical Studies (14.3)]. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- August 30, 1985
- Generic labelers
- 12 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.175 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 2
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Alfuzosin label of December 5, 2024, Potassium citrate label of December 2, 2021); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do alfuzosin and potassium citrate differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, alfuzosin is an alpha-adrenergic blocker and potassium citrate an anti-coagulant.
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.”; Potassium citrate, “When Urocit ® -K is given orally, the metabolism of absorbed citrate produces an alkaline load.”
Generics: alfuzosin since 2011; potassium citrate since 2006 (Drugs@FDA).
| Alfuzosin | Potassium citrate | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Enlarged prostate (BPH) | n/a |
| Pharmacologic class | alpha-Adrenergic Blocker | Anti-coagulant, Calculi Dissolution Agent |
| 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. | When Urocit ® -K is given orally, the metabolism of absorbed citrate produces an alkaline load. |
| 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 | August 30, 1985 |
| First generic approved | July 18, 2011 | June 8, 2006 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 10 labelers | 12 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.105 per tablet (Alfuzosin HCl ER 10 mg tablet) | $0.175 per tablet (Potassium citrate ER 10 mEq tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -0.1% | +5% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 1 | 2 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 5,746 | 5,453 |
| 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