Two medicines, side by side
Prazosin vs guanfacine
Prazosin and guanfacine are both labeled for high blood pressure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of prazosin since 1976 and of guanfacine since 1986. Pharmacies paid $0.0842 per prazosin 1 mg capsule and $0.147 per guanfacine 1 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026). In FDA's classes, prazosin is an alpha-adrenergic blocker and guanfacine a central alpha-2 adrenergic agonist.
Check it at the source: the prazosin FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 6, 2026); the guanfacine FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 23, 2025).
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 guanfacine record
Guanfacine (Intuniv) · label of June 23, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsINTUNIV ® is indicated for the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) as monotherapy and as adjunctive therapy to stimulant medications [see Clinical Studies (14) ]. INTUNIV is a central alpha 2A -adrenergic receptor agonist indicated for the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) as monotherapy and as adjunctive therapy to stimulant medications ( 1 , 14 ).
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- October 27, 1986
- Generic labelers
- 36 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.147 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 1
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Prazosin label of March 6, 2026, Guanfacine label of June 23, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do prazosin and guanfacine differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, prazosin is an alpha-adrenergic blocker and guanfacine a central alpha-2 adrenergic agonist.
Generics: prazosin since 1988; guanfacine since 1995 (Drugs@FDA).
| Prazosin | Guanfacine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure | ADHD, High blood pressure |
| Pharmacologic class | alpha-Adrenergic Blocker | Central alpha-2 Adrenergic Agonist |
| How it works (label) | n/a | Guanfacine is a central alpha 2A -adrenergic receptor agonist. Guanfacine is not a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant. The mechanism of action of guanfacine in ADHD is not known. |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | June 23, 1976 | October 27, 1986 |
| First generic approved | September 12, 1988 | October 17, 1995 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 33 labelers | 36 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0842 per capsule (Prazosin 1 mg capsule) | $0.147 per tablet (Guanfacine 1 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -20% | -5% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | A presentation being discontinued | A presentation being discontinued |
| Recalls recorded | 10 | 1 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 7,384 | 7,825 |
| 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