Two medicines, side by side
Terazosin vs silodosin
Terazosin and silodosin are both labeled for enlarged prostate (bph). Drugs@FDA records approvals of terazosin since 1987 and of silodosin since 2008. Pharmacies paid $0.106 per terazosin 2 mg capsule and $0.319 per silodosin 8 mg capsule (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like.
Check it at the source: the terazosin FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 5, 2026); the silodosin FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 15, 2026).
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
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
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Terazosin label of May 5, 2026, Silodosin label of April 15, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do terazosin and silodosin differ on the record?
Both are in FDA's class alpha-adrenergic blockers.
Half-life, in each label's words: Terazosin, “The plasma levels peak about one hour after dosing, and then decline with a half-life of approximately 12 hours.”; Silodosin, “KMD-3213G, which has been shown in vitro to be active, has an extended half-life (approximately 24 hours) and reaches …”
Generics: terazosin since 1998; silodosin since 2017 (Drugs@FDA).
| Terazosin | Silodosin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Enlarged prostate (BPH), High blood pressure | Enlarged prostate (BPH) |
| Pharmacologic class | alpha-Adrenergic Blocker | alpha-Adrenergic Blocker |
| How it works (label) | n/a | 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. |
| Half-life (label) | The plasma levels peak about one hour after dosing, and then decline with a half-life of approximately 12 hours. | 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. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | August 7, 1987 | October 8, 2008 |
| First generic approved | March 30, 1998 | March 31, 2017 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 21 labelers | 13 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.106 per capsule (Terazosin 2 mg capsule) | $0.319 per capsule (Silodosin 8 mg capsule) |
| 12-month price change | -13% | -29% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 2 | 1 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 8,843 | 3,956 |
| 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 terazosin
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions