Two medicines, side by side
Doxazosin vs amlodipine
Doxazosin and amlodipine are both labeled for high blood pressure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of doxazosin since 1990 and of amlodipine since 1992. Pharmacies paid $0.0752 per doxazosin mesylate 1 mg tablet and $0.0102 per amlodipine besylate 5 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, doxazosin is an alpha-adrenergic blocker and amlodipine a calcium channel blocker.
Check it at the source: the doxazosin FDA label on DailyMed (effective October 15, 2023); the amlodipine FDA label on DailyMed (effective February 15, 2023).
Highlights of the doxazosin record
Doxazosin (Cardura) · label of October 15, 2023
Used for
From the label: indicationsCARDURA is an alpha 1 adrenergic antagonist indicated for: • Signs and symptoms of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) ( 1.1 ) • Treatment of Hypertension ( 1.2 ) 1.1 Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) CARDURA is indicated for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of BPH. 1.2 Hypertension CARDURA is indicated for the treatment of hypertension, to lower blood pressure. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- November 2, 1990
- Generic labelers
- 29 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0752 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 11
Highlights of the amlodipine record
Amlodipine (Norvasc) · label of February 15, 2023
Used for
From the label: indicationsNORVASC is a calcium channel blocker and may be used alone or in combination with other antihypertensive and antianginal agents for the treatment of: • Hypertension ( 1.1 ) o NORVASC is 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. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- July 31, 1992
- Generic labelers
- 42 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0102 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 30
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Doxazosin label of October 15, 2023, Amlodipine label of February 15, 2023); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do doxazosin and amlodipine differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, doxazosin is an alpha-adrenergic blocker and amlodipine a calcium channel blocker.
How each works, in its label's words: Doxazosin, “Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) The symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), such as urinary frequency, nocturia, weak stream, hesitancy, and incomplete emptying are related to …”; Amlodipine, “Amlodipine is a dihydropyridine calcium antagonist (calcium ion antagonist or slow‑channel blocker) that inhibits the transmembrane influx of calcium ions into vascular smooth muscle and cardiac …”
Generics: doxazosin since 2000; amlodipine since 2005 (Drugs@FDA).
| Doxazosin | Amlodipine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Enlarged prostate (BPH), High blood pressure | High blood pressure, Angina, Heart attack and coronary artery disease |
| Pharmacologic class | alpha-Adrenergic Blocker | Calcium Channel Blocker, Dihydropyridine Calcium Channel Blocker |
| How it works (label) | Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) The symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), such as urinary frequency, nocturia, weak stream, hesitancy, and incomplete emptying are related to two components, anatomical (static) and … | Amlodipine is a dihydropyridine calcium antagonist (calcium ion antagonist or slow‑channel blocker) that inhibits the transmembrane influx of calcium ions into vascular smooth muscle and cardiac muscle. |
| Half-life (label) | Excretion Plasma elimination of doxazosin is biphasic, with a terminal elimination half-life of about 22 hours. | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | November 2, 1990 | July 31, 1992 |
| First generic approved | October 18, 2000 | October 3, 2005 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 29 labelers | 42 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0752 per tablet (Doxazosin mesylate 1 mg tablet) | $0.0102 per tablet (Amlodipine besylate 5 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -10% | -10% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 11 | 30 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 35,891 | 409,186 |
| 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 doxazosin
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions