Two medicines, side by side
Dutasteride vs silodosin
Dutasteride and silodosin are both labeled for enlarged prostate (bph). Drugs@FDA records approvals of dutasteride since 2001 and of silodosin since 2008. Pharmacies paid $0.157 per dutasteride 0.5 mg capsule and $0.319 per silodosin 8 mg capsule (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, dutasteride is a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor and silodosin an alpha-adrenergic blocker.
Check it at the source: the dutasteride FDA label on DailyMed (effective September 11, 2025); the silodosin FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 15, 2026).
Highlights of the dutasteride record
Dutasteride (Avodart) · label of September 11, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsDutasteride capsules are a 5 alpha-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, and reduce the risk of the need for BPH-related surgery. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- November 20, 2001
- Generic labelers
- 13 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.157 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
Highlights of the silodosin record
Silodosin (Rapaflo) · label of April 15, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsSilodosin, a selective alpha-1 adrenergic receptor antagonist, is indicated for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) [see Clinical Studies (14 ) ]. Silodosin capsules are not indicated for the treatment of hypertension. Silodosin, an alpha-1 adrenergic receptor antagonist, is indicated for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- October 8, 2008
- Generic labelers
- 13 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.319 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 1
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Dutasteride label of September 11, 2025, Silodosin label of April 15, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do dutasteride and silodosin differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, dutasteride is a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor and silodosin an alpha-adrenergic blocker.
How each works, in its label's words: Dutasteride, “Dutasteride inhibits the conversion of testosterone to DHT.”; Silodosin, “Silodosin is a selective antagonist of post-synaptic alpha-1 adrenoreceptors, which are located in the human prostate, bladder base, bladder neck, prostatic capsule, and prostatic urethra.”
Half-life, in each label's words: Dutasteride, “In this single-dose trial, dutasteride half-life increased with age (approximately 170 hours in men aged 20 to 49 …”; Silodosin, “KMD-3213G, which has been shown in vitro to be active, has an extended half-life (approximately 24 hours) and reaches …”
Generics: dutasteride since 2010; silodosin since 2017 (Drugs@FDA).
| Dutasteride | Silodosin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Enlarged prostate (BPH) | Enlarged prostate (BPH) |
| Pharmacologic class | 5-alpha Reductase Inhibitor | alpha-Adrenergic Blocker |
| How it works (label) | Dutasteride inhibits the conversion of testosterone to DHT. DHT is the androgen primarily responsible for the initial development and subsequent enlargement of the prostate gland. | Silodosin is a selective antagonist of post-synaptic alpha-1 adrenoreceptors, which are located in the human prostate, bladder base, bladder neck, prostatic capsule, and prostatic urethra. |
| Half-life (label) | In this single-dose trial, dutasteride half-life increased with age (approximately 170 hours in men aged 20 to 49 years, approximately 260 hours in men aged 50 to 69 years, and approximately 300 hours in men older than … | KMD-3213G, which has been shown in vitro to be active, has an extended half-life (approximately 24 hours) and reaches plasma exposure (AUC) approximately four times greater than that of silodosin. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | November 20, 2001 | October 8, 2008 |
| First generic approved | December 21, 2010 | March 31, 2017 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 13 labelers | 13 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.157 per capsule (Dutasteride 0.5 mg capsule) | $0.319 per capsule (Silodosin 8 mg capsule) |
| 12-month price change | -12% | -29% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 0 | 1 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 8,084 | 3,956 |
| 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 dutasteride
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions