Two medicines, side by side
Alfuzosin vs terazosin
Alfuzosin and terazosin are both labeled for enlarged prostate (bph). Drugs@FDA records approvals of alfuzosin since 2003 and of terazosin since 1987. Pharmacies paid $0.105 per alfuzosin HCl ER 10 mg tablet and $0.106 per terazosin 2 mg capsule (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like.
Check it at the source: the alfuzosin FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 5, 2024); the terazosin FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 5, 2026).
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 terazosin record
Terazosin (Hytrin) · label of May 5, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsTerazosin capsules are indicated for the treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). There is a rapid response, with approximately 70% of patients experiencing an increase in urinary flow and improvement in symptoms of BPH when treated with terazosin capsules. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- August 7, 1987
- Generic labelers
- 21 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.106 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 2
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Alfuzosin label of December 5, 2024, Terazosin label of May 5, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do alfuzosin and terazosin differ on the record?
Both are in FDA's class alpha-adrenergic blockers.
Half-life, in each label's words: Alfuzosin, “Following oral administration of UROXATRAL 10 mg tablets, the apparent elimination half-life is 10 hours.”; Terazosin, “The plasma levels peak about one hour after dosing, and then decline with a half-life of approximately 12 hours.”
Generics: alfuzosin since 2011; terazosin since 1998 (Drugs@FDA).
| Alfuzosin | Terazosin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Enlarged prostate (BPH) | Enlarged prostate (BPH), High blood pressure |
| Pharmacologic class | alpha-Adrenergic Blocker | alpha-Adrenergic Blocker |
| 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. | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | Following oral administration of UROXATRAL 10 mg tablets, the apparent elimination half-life is 10 hours. | The plasma levels peak about one hour after dosing, and then decline with a half-life of approximately 12 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | June 12, 2003 | August 7, 1987 |
| First generic approved | July 18, 2011 | March 30, 1998 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 10 labelers | 21 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.105 per tablet (Alfuzosin HCl ER 10 mg tablet) | $0.106 per capsule (Terazosin 2 mg capsule) |
| 12-month price change | -0.1% | -13% |
| 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 | 8,843 |
| 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