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alfuzosin vs tadalafil

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

minor Known Drug Interaction

Clinical pharmacology studies have been conducted with coadministration of tadalafil with doxazosin, tamsulosin or alfuzosin.

Recommendation: Your doctor should monitor your blood pressure to make sure it does not get too low.

Drug Class
alfuzosin Alpha-1 Blocker (BPH)
tadalafil PDE5 Inhibitor
Type
alfuzosin Prescription
tadalafil 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.

tadalafil

Tadalafil (Cialis) is a medicine that helps men with erectile dysfunction (ED) or enlarged prostate (BPH). It belongs to a class of drugs called PDE5 inhibitors.

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.

tadalafil

This medicine can help men who have trouble getting or keeping an erection (ED). It can also treat the symptoms of an enlarged prostate, also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). BPH can cause difficulty with urination.

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.

tadalafil

Tadalafil works by relaxing the muscles in the penis and prostate. This increases blood flow to these areas. For BPH, it relaxes muscles in the prostate and bladder, which can improve urinary symptoms.

Common Side Effects
alfuzosin
  • Dizziness
  • Upper respiratory tract infection
  • Headache
  • Fatigue
tadalafil
  • Headache
  • Upset stomach
  • Back pain
  • Muscle aches
  • Nasal congestion
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
tadalafil
  • Shortness of breath 11,663
  • Headache 10,690
  • Diarrhea 7,800
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 6,498
  • Death 5,896
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.

tadalafil

If you have chest pain, tell your doctor. If you need nitrates for a heart problem, wait 48 hours after taking tadalafil before taking nitrates. If you get an erection that lasts more than 4 hours, get medical help right away. If you have sudden vision loss in one or both eyes, stop taking this medicine and get medical help right away. If you have a sudden decrease or loss of hearing, stop taking this medicine and get medical help right away.

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.

tadalafil

This medicine is not for use in women. It is not known if this medicine will harm an unborn baby. It is also not known if this medicine passes into breast milk.

Also Compare — Nearby Drugs

Compare tadalafil with

How to Read This alfuzosin vs tadalafil Comparison

alfuzosin is classified in the Alpha-1 Blocker (BPH) drug class, while tadalafil sits within the PDE5 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 tadalafil has 42,547. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to both of these medicines can relax your blood vessels, which may lead to a further drop in blood pressure when taken together.. 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 tadalafil — 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.