Two medicines, side by side
Tamsulosin vs terazosin
Tamsulosin and terazosin are both labeled for enlarged prostate (bph). Drugs@FDA records approvals of tamsulosin since 1997 and of terazosin since 1987. Pharmacies paid $0.05 per tamsulosin HCl 0.4 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 tamsulosin FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 1, 2025); the terazosin FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 5, 2026).
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
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 (Tamsulosin label of December 1, 2025, Terazosin label of May 5, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do tamsulosin and terazosin differ on the record?
Both are in FDA's class alpha-adrenergic blockers.
Half-life, in each label's words: Tamsulosin, “Following intravenous or oral administration of an immediate-release formulation, the elimination half-life of …”; Terazosin, “The plasma levels peak about one hour after dosing, and then decline with a half-life of approximately 12 hours.”
Generics: tamsulosin since 2010; terazosin since 1998 (Drugs@FDA).
| Tamsulosin | Terazosin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Enlarged prostate (BPH) | Enlarged prostate (BPH), High blood pressure |
| Pharmacologic class | alpha-Adrenergic Blocker | alpha-Adrenergic Blocker |
| How it works (label) | The symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are related to bladder outlet obstruction, which is comprised of two underlying components: static and dynamic. | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | 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. | 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) | April 15, 1997 | August 7, 1987 |
| First generic approved | March 2, 2010 | March 30, 1998 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 38 labelers | 21 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.05 per capsule (Tamsulosin HCl 0.4 mg capsule) | $0.106 per capsule (Terazosin 2 mg capsule) |
| 12-month price change | -2% | -13% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 3 | 2 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 20,287 | 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 tamsulosin
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions