Can I Buy Generic Kapvay?
Kapvay™ (
clonidine ER) is a prescription medication used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (
ADHD). It belongs to a group of medications known as alpha-2 agonists.
Kapvay is made by Shionogi Pharma, Inc. A patent currently prevents any generic versions of Kapvay from being manufactured in the United States.
When Will a Generic Version Be Available?
The first patent for Kapvay currently expires in October 2013. This is the earliest predictable date that a generic version could become available.
However, other circumstances could come up to extend or shorten this exclusivity period. This could include such things as lawsuits or other patents for specific
Kapvay uses. Once the drug goes off-patent, there may be several companies that manufacture a generic Kapvay medication.
Is Clonidine ER a Generic Kapvay?
No --
clonidine is the active ingredient in Kapvay (as well as several other medications), not a generic version of it. What can be confusing is that the active ingredient of a drug is often referred to as the "generic name."
The generic name is different from a generic version of a medicine. In order for there to be a generic version, the original medicine must have gone off-patent and another company besides the original manufacturer must make the product.
It should be noted that short-acting clonidine (
Catapres®) is not equivalent to Kapvay and is not approved for treating ADHD.
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