Generic Rosiglitazone

There is no generic rosiglitazone (Avandia) available, despite the fact that rosiglitazone's first patent has already expired. It's possible that the drug is still protected from generic competition by another patent. The next patent for rosiglitazone is set to expire in October 2015. It's possible that a generic version could be made and sold after this date; however, lawsuits or other circumstances could change this date.

Rosiglitazone Maleate

Generic for Rosiglitazone: An Overview

Rosiglitazone maleate (Avandia^®) is a prescription medication that has been licensed to treat type 2 diabetes. It is part of a group of diabetes medications called thiazolidinediones.

In September 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it would be severely restricting the use of rosiglitazone, due to the risk of "cardiovascular events" such as heart attacks and strokes. Only individuals who cannot control their diabetes on other medications (or those who are already taking the medication and doing well) will be able to take rosiglitazone.

Rosiglitazone is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline. It is currently under the protection of a patent that prevents any generic rosiglitazone from being manufactured in the United States. Yet, if you search the Internet for "generic rosiglitazone," you may find a number of companies selling it. The fact is that these medicines are fake, substandard, and potentially dangerous. There may be generic rosiglitazone available from another country, but there is really no way of knowing if you are getting genuine rosiglitazone or not. You should not buy any generic rosiglitazone until there is an approved version available.

Generic Rosiglitazone Article Continues on Next Page >