Two medicines, side by side
Silodosin vs finasteride
Silodosin and finasteride are both labeled for enlarged prostate (bph). Drugs@FDA records approvals of silodosin since 2008 and of finasteride since 1992. Pharmacies paid $0.319 per silodosin 8 mg capsule and $0.0688 per finasteride 5 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, silodosin is an alpha-adrenergic blocker and finasteride a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor.
Check it at the source: the silodosin FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 15, 2026); the finasteride FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 18, 2026).
Highlights of the silodosin record
Silodosin (Rapaflo) · label of April 15, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsSilodosin, a selective alpha-1 adrenergic receptor antagonist, is indicated for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) [see Clinical Studies (14 ) ]. Silodosin capsules are not indicated for the treatment of hypertension. Silodosin, an alpha-1 adrenergic receptor antagonist, is indicated for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- October 8, 2008
- Generic labelers
- 13 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.319 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 1
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
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Silodosin label of April 15, 2026, Finasteride label of March 18, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do silodosin and finasteride differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, silodosin is an alpha-adrenergic blocker and finasteride a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor.
How each works, in its label's words: Silodosin, “Silodosin is a selective antagonist of post-synaptic alpha-1 adrenoreceptors, which are located in the human prostate, bladder base, bladder neck, prostatic capsule, and prostatic urethra.”; Finasteride, “The development and enlargement of the prostate gland is dependent on the potent androgen, 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT).”
Half-life, in each label's words: Silodosin, “KMD-3213G, which has been shown in vitro to be active, has an extended half-life (approximately 24 hours) and reaches …”; Finasteride, “Excretion In healthy young subjects (n=15), mean plasma clearance of finasteride was 165 mL/min (range, 70-279 mL/min) …”
Generics: silodosin since 2017; finasteride since 2006 (Drugs@FDA).
| Silodosin | Finasteride | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Enlarged prostate (BPH) | Enlarged prostate (BPH) |
| Pharmacologic class | alpha-Adrenergic Blocker | 5-alpha Reductase Inhibitor |
| How it works (label) | Silodosin is a selective antagonist of post-synaptic alpha-1 adrenoreceptors, which are located in the human prostate, bladder base, bladder neck, prostatic capsule, and prostatic urethra. | 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. |
| Half-life (label) | KMD-3213G, which has been shown in vitro to be active, has an extended half-life (approximately 24 hours) and reaches plasma exposure (AUC) approximately four times greater than that of silodosin. | 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). |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | October 8, 2008 | June 19, 1992 |
| First generic approved | March 31, 2017 | June 19, 2006 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 13 labelers | 30 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.319 per capsule (Silodosin 8 mg capsule) | $0.0688 per tablet (Finasteride 5 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -29% | -1% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 1 | 6 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 3,956 | 59,983 |
| 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 silodosin
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions