Two medicines, side by side
Silodosin vs tamsulosin
Silodosin and tamsulosin are both labeled for enlarged prostate (bph). Drugs@FDA records approvals of silodosin since 2008 and of tamsulosin since 1997. Pharmacies paid $0.319 per silodosin 8 mg capsule and $0.05 per tamsulosin HCl 0.4 mg capsule (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. 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.”; Tamsulosin, “The symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are related to bladder outlet obstruction, which is comprised of two underlying components: static and dynamic.”
Check it at the source: the silodosin FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 15, 2026); the tamsulosin FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 1, 2025).
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 tamsulosin record
Tamsulosin (Flomax) · label of December 1, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsTamsulosin hydrochloride capsules are indicated for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) [see Clinical Studies (14) ]. Tamsulosin hydrochloride capsules are not indicated for the treatment of hypertension. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- April 15, 1997
- Generic labelers
- 38 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.05 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 3
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Silodosin label of April 15, 2026, Tamsulosin label of December 1, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do silodosin and tamsulosin differ on the record?
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.”; Tamsulosin, “The symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are related to bladder outlet obstruction, which is comprised of two underlying components: static and dynamic.”
Both are in FDA's class alpha-adrenergic blockers.
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 …”; Tamsulosin, “Following intravenous or oral administration of an immediate-release formulation, the elimination half-life of …”
Generics: silodosin since 2017; tamsulosin since 2010 (Drugs@FDA).
| Silodosin | Tamsulosin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Enlarged prostate (BPH) | Enlarged prostate (BPH) |
| Pharmacologic class | alpha-Adrenergic Blocker | alpha-Adrenergic Blocker |
| 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 symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are related to bladder outlet obstruction, which is comprised of two underlying components: static and dynamic. |
| 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. | Following intravenous or oral administration of an immediate-release formulation, the elimination half-life of tamsulosin hydrochloride in plasma ranged from 5 to 7 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | October 8, 2008 | April 15, 1997 |
| First generic approved | March 31, 2017 | March 2, 2010 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 13 labelers | 38 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.319 per capsule (Silodosin 8 mg capsule) | $0.05 per capsule (Tamsulosin HCl 0.4 mg capsule) |
| 12-month price change | -29% | -2% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 1 | 3 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 3,956 | 20,287 |
| 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