Two medicines, side by side
Finasteride vs tamsulosin
Finasteride and tamsulosin are both labeled for enlarged prostate (bph). Drugs@FDA records approvals of finasteride since 1992 and of tamsulosin since 1997. Pharmacies paid $0.0688 per finasteride 5 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. In FDA's classes, finasteride is a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor and tamsulosin an alpha-adrenergic blocker.
Check it at the source: the finasteride FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 18, 2026); the tamsulosin FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 1, 2025).
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
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 (Finasteride label of March 18, 2026, Tamsulosin label of December 1, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do finasteride and tamsulosin differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, finasteride is a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor and tamsulosin an alpha-adrenergic blocker.
How each works, in its label's words: Finasteride, “The development and enlargement of the prostate gland is dependent on the potent androgen, 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT).”; 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.”
Half-life, in each label's words: Finasteride, “Excretion In healthy young subjects (n=15), mean plasma clearance of finasteride was 165 mL/min (range, 70-279 mL/min) …”; Tamsulosin, “Following intravenous or oral administration of an immediate-release formulation, the elimination half-life of …”
Generics: finasteride since 2006; tamsulosin since 2010 (Drugs@FDA).
| Finasteride | Tamsulosin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Enlarged prostate (BPH) | Enlarged prostate (BPH) |
| Pharmacologic class | 5-alpha Reductase Inhibitor | alpha-Adrenergic Blocker |
| How it works (label) | 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. | 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 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). | 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) | June 19, 1992 | April 15, 1997 |
| First generic approved | June 19, 2006 | March 2, 2010 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 30 labelers | 38 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0688 per tablet (Finasteride 5 mg tablet) | $0.05 per capsule (Tamsulosin HCl 0.4 mg capsule) |
| 12-month price change | -1% | -2% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 6 | 3 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 59,983 | 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 finasteride
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions