{"id":2836,"date":"2016-03-25T00:52:04","date_gmt":"2016-03-25T00:52:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.viamedic.com\/blog\/?p=2836"},"modified":"2025-01-07T17:53:41","modified_gmt":"2025-01-07T10:53:41","slug":"fda-oks-generic-viagra-now-what","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.edrugstore.com\/blog\/erectile-dysfunction\/fda-oks-generic-viagra-now-what\/","title":{"rendered":"FDA OKs Generic Viagra – Now What?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Generic
Generic Viagra may be available by spring of 2020.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With the patent for the FDA-approved prescription Viagra set to expire in about four years – in 2020, there has been plenty of speculation about what will happen when prescription Viagra finally becomes available in generic form. Will it save the patients who purchase it a lot of money? Will it be as safe and effective?<\/p>\n

The latest news regarding this introduction of this new generic drug is that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval to Teva Pharmaceuticals<\/a>, to leap on the opportunities presented by the expired patent in 2020 – and produce their own generic version of Viagra (sildenafil citrate; Pfizer) for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.<\/p>\n

Teva has been granted approval to market generic Sildenafil Citrate with 180-day exclusivity. According to the Generic Pharmaceutical Association<\/a>, generic drugs have the same quality and strength as brand-name drugs. In order to be granted the FDA approval, the manufacturer’s standards must be the same as brand-name drugs.<\/p>\n

Why do Generic Drugs Cost Less?<\/b><\/p>\n

According to Teva Pharmaceuticals, which is one of the largest manufacturer of generic prescription drugs, the cost savings of generics occurs because those who produce generic forms of medications are not the ones who work years to develop a drug from scratch. Because of this, they have not had to pay to conduct clinical trials, which have already been performed by the original brand manufacturer.<\/p>\n

Since the costs to bring the drug to market are significantly less, generic drugs are usually less expensive than brand-name drugs. The one caveat is that generic drug makers must show that their product performs in the same way as the brand-name prescription, and sometimes there can be variations in the level of effectiveness.<\/p>\n

How Much Do Generics Save Patients?<\/b><\/p>\n

There is no doubt that generic forms of medication can save a patient money. In recent years, the Generic Pharmaceutical Association claims that generic drugs have produced more than $250 billion is savings.<\/p>\n

According to an independent study by the National Community Pharmacists Association, about 7 out of 10 prescriptions are filled using generic drugs and the average price of this generic medication is about one-quarter of the original name brand’s price.<\/p>\n

Why Generic Viagra Has Taken So Long<\/b><\/p>\n

Basically, new FDA approved drugs are patented for a set amount of time. Viagra’s original patent was until the year 2012, but it was extended by the FDA for several reasons. Essentially in 2010, Pfizer sued Teva for patent infringement, based on a second Pfizer patent (often referred to as a “method of treatment patent) that was in effect until 2019.<\/p>\n

Pfizer<\/a> contended that even though that sildenafil was going to be opened up to being produced in generic forms as of 2012, Pfizer should retain its exclusive rights to market the drug as an ED treatment until 2019 when its second patent expires.<\/p>\n

The court case concluded after a 12-day bench trial held in 2011, with Pfizer winning the argument for exclusive marketing of their drug until the end of its second patent. The court ruled<\/a> that the company’s patent would remain in effect through 2019, specifically with Pfizer’s patent for Viagra active through April of 2020.<\/p>\n

The way the patent system works is that generic versions are not approved for market until the patent expires on the brand-name medicines. Then generic drug makers must request and receive FDA approval to manufacture and sell a generic version of the medicine.<\/p>\n

Teva, has a business history spanning 100 years and presently manufactures one out of every seven generic prescription drugs on the market, has standards it must meet with its upcoming generic Viagra. What they market to the public must meet strict FDA standards for purity and quality. It must also work the same way the brand-name product does.<\/p>\n

The company contends that its generic version of medications contains exactly the same active or key ingredients, and the only variation is found in the appearance, flavor, or some of the inactive ingredients. Teva’s Sildenafil Citrate tablets will be available as 25mg, 50mg, and 100mg strengths.<\/p>\n

Are Generic Drugs Safe?<\/b><\/p>\n

FDA reviews the safety of both brand and generic prescription drugs before they are approved for use and continues to monitor safety of these medications. Most often it is the inactive ingredients in generic medication that can cause different reactions or side effects in some patients.<\/p>\n

Another concern is quality. Some makers of generics may use a different process for manufacturing a drug than the company that launched the brand-name drug. They often will include additives that alter the effectiveness of the drug because in some patients, even a small difference between a generic and a brand name can be significant.<\/p>\n

Is Generic Viagra Available Now?<\/b><\/p>\n

The answer is no. Until the patent expires there is no authentic, FDA-approved “generic Viagra” or any Over the Counter (OTC) version available in the United States, despite the claims you may find online. Prescription Viagra remains the only real option for patients seeking the proven ingredient sildenafil as a treatment for their Erectile Dysfunction.<\/p>\n

Seek the Real Deal<\/b><\/p>\n

Taking FDA approved Viagra<\/a> is a safe and effective way that many men treat erectile dysfunction. It fact it has proven to help about 80 percent of those patients prescribed. Trusted, it has been around since 1998 and it was the first medication of its kind.<\/p>\n

<\/i>Viagra’s safety and effectiveness are well documented and since it is a proven treatment for male impotence, most health insurance plans will cover Viagra, which makes the medication more affordable. Not everyone can take Viagra, only your doctor and you can decide if it is right for you.<\/p>\n

The side effects of Viagra are generally mild and in many cases may disappear completely as you continue to use the drug. The most common side effects of the drug are back and muscle pain, dizziness, flushing, headache, indigestion, nausea, rash, and runny or stuffy nose.<\/p>\n

Once you have a prescription look out for illegitimate pharmacies that sell counterfeit Viagra for extremely low prices. Often, these pharmacies will call counterfeit pills “generic” Viagra, which until 2020, does not actually exist. Counterfeit pills are manufactured in foreign countries where the manufacturing and quality standards are lax. The pills are often ineffective and sometimes even dangerous to your health.<\/p>\n

\"Generic
FDA approved Viagra is the number one prescribed medication to treat ED.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What Should You Look For When Buying Viagra?<\/b><\/p>\n

While prescription drugs must undergo years of testing and their production is overseen by FDA standards of quality and safety, the world of counterfeit “generic” Viagra, and even those so-called herbal supplements, is virtually unregulated and offers formulations of ingredients that may not only have no proven benefit to the patient, but could actually be dangerous to their health or threaten their life.<\/p>\n

Authentic FDA-approved Viagra, manufactured by Pfizer, can be purchased online. You can either order Viagra through your local pharmacy or you can order online through a reputable online store, where your privacy is protected and the order is delivered discretely. Other benefits include convenience; you don’t need to make a special trip to your pharmacy to pick it up.<\/p>\n

Authentic FDA-approved Viagra, manufactured by Pfizer, can be purchased through trusted online pharmacies like eDrugstore.com<\/a>, offering the benefits of convenience, privacy, and a guarantee you are getting authentic FDA approved medication.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

With the patent for the FDA-approved prescription Viagra set to expire in about four years – in 2020, there has been plenty of speculation about what will happen when prescription Viagra finally becomes available in generic form. Will it save the patients who purchase it a lot of money? Will it be as safe and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2837,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_autoblog_aioseo_focus_keyphrase":"","_autoblog_aioseo_title":"","_autoblog_aioseo_description":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2836","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-erectile-dysfunction"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t