Two medicines, side by side
Doxazosin vs finasteride
Doxazosin and finasteride are both labeled for enlarged prostate (bph). Drugs@FDA records approvals of doxazosin since 1990 and of finasteride since 1992. Pharmacies paid $0.0752 per doxazosin mesylate 1 mg tablet and $0.0688 per finasteride 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 finasteride a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor.
Check it at the source: the doxazosin FDA label on DailyMed (effective October 15, 2023); the finasteride FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 18, 2026).
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 finasteride record
Finasteride (Proscar) · label of March 18, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsPROSCAR, is a 5α-reductase inhibitor, indicated for the treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in men with an enlarged prostate to ( 1.1 ): Improve symptoms Reduce the risk of acute urinary retention Reduce the risk of the need for surgery including transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) and prostatectomy. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- June 19, 1992
- Generic labelers
- 30 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0688 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 6
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Doxazosin label of October 15, 2023, Finasteride label of March 18, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do doxazosin and finasteride differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, doxazosin is an alpha-adrenergic blocker and finasteride a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor.
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 …”; Finasteride, “The development and enlargement of the prostate gland is dependent on the potent androgen, 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT).”
Half-life, in each label's words: Doxazosin, “Excretion Plasma elimination of doxazosin is biphasic, with a terminal elimination half-life of about 22 hours.”; Finasteride, “Excretion In healthy young subjects (n=15), mean plasma clearance of finasteride was 165 mL/min (range, 70-279 mL/min) …”
Generics: doxazosin since 2000; finasteride since 2006 (Drugs@FDA).
| Doxazosin | Finasteride | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Enlarged prostate (BPH), High blood pressure | Enlarged prostate (BPH) |
| Pharmacologic class | alpha-Adrenergic Blocker | 5-alpha Reductase Inhibitor |
| 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 … | The development and enlargement of the prostate gland is dependent on the potent androgen, 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Type II 5α-reductase metabolizes testosterone to DHT in the prostate gland, liver and skin. |
| Half-life (label) | Excretion Plasma elimination of doxazosin is biphasic, with a terminal elimination half-life of about 22 hours. | Excretion In healthy young subjects (n=15), mean plasma clearance of finasteride was 165 mL/min (range, 70-279 mL/min) and mean elimination half-life in plasma was 6 hours (range, 3-16 hours). |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | November 2, 1990 | June 19, 1992 |
| First generic approved | October 18, 2000 | June 19, 2006 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 29 labelers | 30 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0752 per tablet (Doxazosin mesylate 1 mg tablet) | $0.0688 per tablet (Finasteride 5 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -10% | -1% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 11 | 6 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 35,891 | 59,983 |
| 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