ALPHAGAN vs NOVAFED

Independent side-by-side comparison.

Rated against independent regulatory sources·Last updated August 13, 2026·How we rate

Possible drug interaction. ALPHAGAN and NOVAFED are different prescription medicines. Combining or switching between them can cause interactions — talk to a pharmacist or prescriber before making changes. This page is not medical advice.

Attribute	ALPHAGAN	NOVAFED
Rating	72/100	70/100
Pharmacy pays	$10.41 /mL	~$8.29 /30
Type	RX	RX
Active ingredient	BRIMONIDINE TARTRATE	PSEUDOEPHEDRINE HYDROCHLORIDE
Manufacturer	Allergan	Sanofi Aventis US
Dosage forms	Drops	Capsule, extended release
Drug class	Alpha-Adrenergic Agonist	Alpha-Adrenergic Agonist
Boxed warning	None	None
Half-life	—	roughly 3 to 16 hours — the label does not give one number, because the elimination half-life depends on urine pH: about 3 to 6 hours when urine pH is 5 (acidic), and about 9 to 16 hours when urine pH is 8 (alkaline)
Treats	Open-Angle Glaucoma	Asthma, Common Cold, Perennial Allergic Rhinitis

alphagan novafed

Rating

72/100

70/100

Pharmacy pays

$10.41 /mL

~$8.29 /30

Type

Active ingredient

BRIMONIDINE TARTRATE

PSEUDOEPHEDRINE HYDROCHLORIDE

Manufacturer

Allergan

Sanofi Aventis US

Dosage forms

Drops

Capsule, extended release

Drug class

Alpha-Adrenergic Agonist

Boxed warning

None

Half-life

—

roughly 3 to 16 hours — the label does not give one number, because the elimination half-life depends on urine pH: about 3 to 6 hours when urine pH is 5 (acidic), and about 9 to 16 hours when urine pH is 8 (alkaline)

Treats

Open-Angle Glaucoma

Asthma, Common Cold, Perennial Allergic Rhinitis

Get novafed

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Frequently asked questions

Which is better-rated, Alphagan or Novafed?

By our independent rating, Alphagan scores higher — 3.6 vs 3.5 out of 5 for Novafed. Ratings are based on FDA regulatory (recall-safety) data.

What is the difference between Alphagan and Novafed?

Alphagan contains Brimonidine Tartrate, while Novafed contains Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride — they have different active ingredients.

Ratings are based on FDA regulatory (recall-safety) data. This comparison is for general reference only — not medical advice. Always consult a licensed professional before choosing or switching a medication.