Two medicines, side by side
Clonidine vs prazosin
Clonidine and prazosin are both labeled for high blood pressure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of clonidine since 1974 and of prazosin since 1976. Pharmacies paid $0.0241 per clonidine HCl 0.1 mg tablet and $0.0842 per prazosin 1 mg capsule (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. Clonidine's other strengths are brand-only: $1.53 per mL (Javadin 0.02 mg/mL solution). In FDA's classes, clonidine is a central alpha-2 adrenergic agonist and prazosin an alpha-adrenergic blocker.
Check it at the source: the clonidine FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 30, 2026); the prazosin FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 6, 2026).
Highlights of the clonidine record
Clonidine (Catapres) · label of March 30, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsClonidine hydrochloride tablets are indicated in the treatment of hypertension. Clonidine hydrochloride tablets may be employed alone or concomitantly with other antihypertensive agents.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- September 3, 1974
- Generic labelers
- 43 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0241 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 16
Highlights of the prazosin record
Prazosin (Minipress) · label of March 6, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsPrazosin hydrochloride capsules are indicated for the treatment of hypertension, to lower blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events, primarily strokes and myocardial infarctions. These benefits have been seen in controlled trials of antihypertensive drugs from a wide variety of pharmacologic classes, including this drug. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- June 23, 1976
- Generic labelers
- 33 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0842 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 10
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Clonidine label of March 30, 2026, Prazosin label of March 6, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do clonidine and prazosin differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, clonidine is a central alpha-2 adrenergic agonist and prazosin an alpha-adrenergic blocker.
Generics: clonidine since 1986; prazosin since 1988 (Drugs@FDA).
| Clonidine | Prazosin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure, ADHD, Pain | High blood pressure |
| Pharmacologic class | Central alpha-2 Adrenergic Agonist | alpha-Adrenergic Blocker |
| How it works (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | Following intravenous administration, clonidine displays biphasic disposition with a distribution half-life of about 20 minutes and an elimination half-life ranging from 12 to 16 hours. | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | September 3, 1974 | June 23, 1976 |
| First generic approved | July 1, 1986 | September 12, 1988 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 43 labelers | 33 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0241 per tablet (Clonidine HCl 0.1 mg tablet) | $0.0842 per capsule (Prazosin 1 mg capsule) |
| 12-month price change | -3% | -20% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | A presentation being discontinued |
| Recalls recorded | 16 | 10 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 57,116 | 7,384 |
| 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 clonidine
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions