Two medicines, side by side
Doxazosin vs tamsulosin
Doxazosin and tamsulosin are both labeled for enlarged prostate (bph). Drugs@FDA records approvals of doxazosin since 1990 and of tamsulosin since 1997. Pharmacies paid $0.0752 per doxazosin mesylate 1 mg tablet and $0.05 per tamsulosin HCl 0.4 mg capsule (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. 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 …”; Tamsulosin, “The symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are related to bladder outlet obstruction, which is comprised of two underlying components: static and dynamic.”
Check it at the source: the doxazosin FDA label on DailyMed (effective October 15, 2023); the tamsulosin FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 1, 2025).
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 tamsulosin record
Tamsulosin (Flomax) · label of December 1, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsTamsulosin hydrochloride capsules are indicated for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) [see Clinical Studies (14) ]. Tamsulosin hydrochloride capsules are not indicated for the treatment of hypertension. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- April 15, 1997
- Generic labelers
- 38 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.05 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 3
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Doxazosin label of October 15, 2023, Tamsulosin label of December 1, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do doxazosin and tamsulosin differ on the record?
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 …”; Tamsulosin, “The symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are related to bladder outlet obstruction, which is comprised of two underlying components: static and dynamic.”
Both are in FDA's class alpha-adrenergic blockers.
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.”; Tamsulosin, “Following intravenous or oral administration of an immediate-release formulation, the elimination half-life of …”
Generics: doxazosin since 2000; tamsulosin since 2010 (Drugs@FDA).
| Doxazosin | Tamsulosin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Enlarged prostate (BPH), High blood pressure | Enlarged prostate (BPH) |
| Pharmacologic class | alpha-Adrenergic Blocker | alpha-Adrenergic 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 … | The symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are related to bladder outlet obstruction, which is comprised of two underlying components: static and dynamic. |
| Half-life (label) | Excretion Plasma elimination of doxazosin is biphasic, with a terminal elimination half-life of about 22 hours. | Following intravenous or oral administration of an immediate-release formulation, the elimination half-life of tamsulosin hydrochloride in plasma ranged from 5 to 7 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | November 2, 1990 | April 15, 1997 |
| First generic approved | October 18, 2000 | March 2, 2010 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 29 labelers | 38 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0752 per tablet (Doxazosin mesylate 1 mg tablet) | $0.05 per capsule (Tamsulosin HCl 0.4 mg capsule) |
| 12-month price change | -10% | -2% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 11 | 3 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 35,891 | 20,287 |
| 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