Two medicines, side by side
Prazosin vs terazosin
Prazosin and terazosin are both labeled for high blood pressure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of prazosin since 1976 and of terazosin since 1987. Pharmacies paid $0.0842 per prazosin 1 mg capsule and $0.106 per terazosin 2 mg capsule (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like.
Check it at the source: the prazosin FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 6, 2026); the terazosin FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 5, 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 terazosin record
Terazosin (Hytrin) · label of May 5, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsTerazosin capsules are indicated for the treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). There is a rapid response, with approximately 70% of patients experiencing an increase in urinary flow and improvement in symptoms of BPH when treated with terazosin capsules. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- August 7, 1987
- Generic labelers
- 21 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.106 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 2
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Prazosin label of March 6, 2026, Terazosin label of May 5, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do prazosin and terazosin differ on the record?
Both are in FDA's class alpha-adrenergic blockers.
Generics: prazosin since 1988; terazosin since 1998 (Drugs@FDA).
| Prazosin | Terazosin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure | Enlarged prostate (BPH), High blood pressure |
| Pharmacologic class | alpha-Adrenergic Blocker | alpha-Adrenergic Blocker |
| How it works (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | The plasma levels peak about one hour after dosing, and then decline with a half-life of approximately 12 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | June 23, 1976 | August 7, 1987 |
| First generic approved | September 12, 1988 | March 30, 1998 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 33 labelers | 21 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0842 per capsule (Prazosin 1 mg capsule) | $0.106 per capsule (Terazosin 2 mg capsule) |
| 12-month price change | -20% | -13% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | A presentation being discontinued | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 10 | 2 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 7,384 | 8,843 |
| 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