Generic Tegaserod

The soonest that a generic tegaserod drug could become available is 2013, when the patent for tegaserod expires. Among the circumstances that could arise to extend the exclusivity period of tegaserod beyond this date are lawsuits or other patents for specific tegaserod uses. While a number of companies may sell so-called generic versions of tegaserod, these medicines are fake, substandard, and potentially dangerous. Do not buy any generic for tegaserod until an approved generic is available.

Tegaserod Maleate

Generic for Tegaserod: An Overview

Tegaserod maleate (Zelnorm^®) is a prescription medication that has been licensed to treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with constipation in women and chronic idiopathic constipation (chronic constipation with no known cause) in people less than 65 years old.

Tegaserod is manufactured by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. It is currently protected by a patent that prevents any generic tegaserod from being manufactured. Yet, if you search the Internet for "generic tegaserod," you may find a number of companies selling it. The fact is that these medicines are fake, substandard, and potentially dangerous. You should not buy any generic tegaserod until there is an approved generic available.

In March 2007, Zelnorm was taken off the market in the United States because it was shown to increase the risk for a heart attack, angina, or stroke. In July 2007, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that Zelnorm will be available to people who meet certain criteria through a special program called a "treatment IND" (see Zelnorm Recall for more information). However, as of April 2, 2008, Zelnorm is no longer available under the treatment IND program, although it may still be available in certain emergency situations.

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