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Generic Prevacid

At this point, there is no "Prevacid generic" available for purchase. While there is no generic version currently available, there are other prescription drugs belonging to the same class of medications as Prevacid (proton pump inhibitors) that may be effective alternatives. Also, there is a proton pump inhibitor available without a prescription (Prilosec).

 

Generic Prevacid: An Overview

Prevacid® (lansoprazole) is a medication that has been licensed to treat a number of conditions, including:
 
  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
  • Erosive esophagitis
  • Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infections
  • Pathological hypersecretory conditions (such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome)
  • Stomach ulcers
  • Duodenal ulcers.
 
Prevacid is manufactured by TAP Pharmaceutical Products, Inc. It is currently under the protection of patents that prevent any generic Prevacid from being manufactured in the United States.
 

When Will a Generic Version Be Available?

This is a difficult question to answer. One generic manufacturer (Teva Pharmaceuticals) has already been involved in a patent lawsuit for this medication. The court ruled in favor of TAP Pharmaceuticals, preventing Teva from selling a generic Prevacid at this time. Teva predicts that it will be able to sell generic Prevacid no later than November 10, 2009, although future lawsuits might interfere with this prediction.
 

Is Lansoprazole a Generic Version of Prevacid?

The answer is no.
 Lansoprazole is the active ingredient in Prevacid but is not a generic version of Prevacid.
 
What can be confusing is that, oftentimes, the active ingredient of any 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 would make the product.
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;