There are currently no generic versions of Campral (acamprosate) available, as Forest Pharmaceuticals has the exclusive rights to market the medication until at least July 2009. This is the earliest possible date that a generic version may become available. However, certain factors could delay the availability of generic Campral, such as lawsuits or patents for specific uses.
Generic Campral: An Overview
Campral® (
acamprosate calcium) is a prescription medication approved to treat alcohol dependence. It is intended for use by people who have gone through detoxification ("detox") and who are in therapy. Studies have shown that Campral can help people stay sober once they have stopped drinking.
Campral is made by Forest Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Generic Campral is not available at this time. However, if you search the Internet for "generic Campral," you may find a few Web sites that claim to have a generic version available. This is simply not true.
When Will Generic Campral Be Available?
Forest Pharmaceuticals holds the exclusive rights to market Campral until at least July 2009. This is the earliest date that a generic version of the drug could become available. However, other circumstances could come up to extend or shorten the exclusivity period. This could include such things as other patents for specific
Campral uses or lawsuits.
Is Acamprosate the Same as Generic Campral?
No -- acamprosate is the active ingredient in Campral, but is not a generic version of it. What can be confusing is that, oftentimes, the active ingredient of a drug is 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 of a medicine, the original medicine must have gone off-patent and another company besides the original manufacturer must make the product. All medications have generic names; not all medications have generic versions available.
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