Key takeaways
Alfuzosin (Uroxatral) and tamsulosin (Flomax) are both prescription medications used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which is an enlarged prostate. They belong to the same drug class, alpha-1 blockers, and work by relaxing muscles in the prostate and bladder to improve urine flow. However, there are some differences between them. Alfuzosin is available as an extended-release tablet taken once daily after the same meal, while tamsulosin is a once-daily capsule taken 30 minutes after the same meal each day, with a starting dose of 0.4 mg that can be increased to 0.8 mg. Both medications are available as a lower-cost generic. Common side effects of both medications include dizziness and headaches. Tamsulosin is a first-choice medication for BPH. Both medications can cause a drop in blood pressure upon standing, but tamsulosin is less likely to cause this compared to similar medications. Tamsulosin may not be suitable for those with a sulfa allergy.
