Two medicines, side by side
Prazosin vs metoprolol
Prazosin and metoprolol are both labeled for high blood pressure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of prazosin since 1976 and of metoprolol since 1978. Pharmacies paid $0.0842 per prazosin 1 mg capsule and $0.085 per metoprolol succ ER 100 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. Metoprolol's other strengths are brand-only: $1.20 per mL (Lopressor 10 mg/mL oral solution). In FDA's classes, prazosin is an alpha-adrenergic blocker and metoprolol a beta-adrenergic blocker.
Check it at the source: the prazosin FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 6, 2026); the metoprolol FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 3, 2026).
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 metoprolol record
Metoprolol (Lopressor) · label of March 3, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsTOPROL-XL, metoprolol succinate, is a beta-adrenergic blocker indicated for the treatment of: Hypertension, to lower blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events, primarily strokes and myocardial infarctions. ( 1.1 ) Angina Pectoris. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- August 7, 1978
- Generic labelers
- 74 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.085 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 39
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Prazosin label of March 6, 2026, Metoprolol label of March 3, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do prazosin and metoprolol differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, prazosin is an alpha-adrenergic blocker and metoprolol a beta-adrenergic blocker.
Generics: prazosin since 1988; metoprolol since 1993 (Drugs@FDA).
| Prazosin | Metoprolol | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure | High blood pressure, Angina, Heart failure, Heart attack and coronary artery disease |
| Pharmacologic class | alpha-Adrenergic Blocker | beta-Adrenergic Blocker |
| How it works (label) | n/a | Metoprolol is a beta 1 -selective (cardioselective) adrenergic receptor blocking agent. |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | Elimination Elimination is mainly by biotransformation in the liver, and the plasma half-life ranges from approximately 3 to 7 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | June 23, 1976 | August 7, 1978 |
| First generic approved | September 12, 1988 | December 21, 1993 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 33 labelers | 74 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0842 per capsule (Prazosin 1 mg capsule) | $0.085 per tablet (Metoprolol succ ER 100 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -20% | -8% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | A presentation being discontinued | A presentation being discontinued |
| Recalls recorded | 10 | 39 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 7,384 | 353,609 |
| 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