Generic Nateglinide: An Overview
Nateglinide (
Starlix®) is a prescription medication that has been licensed to treat
type 2 diabetes when diet and exercise alone do not control blood sugar enough. It is part of a class of
diabetes drugs called meglitinides. These help the
pancreas make more
insulin in order to lower blood sugar following a meal.
Nateglinide is manufactured by Novartis Pharmaceuticals. However, it has since come off-patent and is available as a generic.
Strengths of Generic Nateglinide
Generic nateglinide tablets are available in the following strengths:
- Nateglinide 60 mg
- Nateglinide 120 mg.
Who Makes the Generic Versions?
Generic nateglinide is made by various different manufacturers, such as:
- Par Pharmaceutical
- Teva Pharmaceuticals
- Dr. Reddy's Laboratories.
Is Generic Nateglinide as Good as Starlix?
All generic medications must undergo certain tests to compare them to brand-name medications. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) then looks at these tests to decide if the generics are equivalent to the brand-name medications and assigns each generic a rating. An "AB" rating means that the FDA has determined that a generic medication is equivalent to a brand-name medication. All of the generic nateglinide versions currently available have an "AB" rating, meaning they should be equivalent to Starlix.
However, generic medications are allowed to have different inactive ingredients than the brand-name medication. This might include fillers, dyes, or other ingredients that may cause problems for people with
allergies or sensitivities.
