Two medicines, side by side
Prazosin vs amlodipine
Prazosin and amlodipine are both labeled for high blood pressure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of prazosin since 1976 and of amlodipine since 1992. Pharmacies paid $0.0842 per prazosin 1 mg capsule 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, prazosin is an alpha-adrenergic blocker and amlodipine a calcium channel blocker.
Check it at the source: the prazosin FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 6, 2026); the amlodipine FDA label on DailyMed (effective February 15, 2023).
Highlights of the prazosin record
Prazosin (Minipress) · label of March 6, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsPrazosin hydrochloride capsules are 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. These benefits have been seen in controlled trials of antihypertensive drugs from a wide variety of pharmacologic classes, including this drug. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- June 23, 1976
- Generic labelers
- 33 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0842 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 10
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 (Prazosin label of March 6, 2026, Amlodipine label of February 15, 2023); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do prazosin and amlodipine differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, prazosin is an alpha-adrenergic blocker and amlodipine a calcium channel blocker.
Generics: prazosin since 1988; amlodipine since 2005 (Drugs@FDA).
| Prazosin | Amlodipine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | 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) | n/a | 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) | n/a | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | June 23, 1976 | July 31, 1992 |
| First generic approved | September 12, 1988 | October 3, 2005 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 33 labelers | 42 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0842 per capsule (Prazosin 1 mg capsule) | $0.0102 per tablet (Amlodipine besylate 5 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -20% | -10% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | A presentation being discontinued | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 10 | 30 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 7,384 | 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 prazosin
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions