F.D.A. Approves New Generic Form of Aricept

Wed, January 27, 2010 12:50:00 PM EST

Aricept, the widely prescribed drug for early to middle stages Alzheimer’s disease, is now available in a generic form that dissolves on the tongue, after the Food and Drug Administration approved the generic drug for sale in the United States. Other generic forms of Aricept, known as donepezil, are available, but they must be swallowed. Tablets that disintegrate in the mouth are easier to take for many older people, including those with Alzheimer’s, who may have difficulty swallowing pills. Generic drugs are also cheaper than their brand name counterparts.

“Generics offer greater access to health care for all Americans,” said Gary Buehler, director of the Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Generic Drugs. “Health care professionals and consumers can be assured that F.D.A.-approved generic drugs have met the same rigorous standards as the brand-name drug   and are the same as the branded in dosage form, safety, strength, route of administration, quality, performance characteristics and intended use.” 

The orally dissolving generic drugs are made by Mutual Pharmaceutical company of Philadelphia. They are available in 5 milligram and 10 milligram strengths.

Currently approved drugs for Alzheimer’s, including Aricept, Razadyne, Exelon and Memantine, may help ease symptoms but do little to stop the downward progression of disease. Researchers are actively investigating potential new drugs and therapies that may help to stop Alzheimer’s at an early stage, before memory loss and other symptoms become severe.

To learn more, visit www.ALZinfo.org, The Alzheimer’s Information Site.

By www.ALZinfo.org, The Alzheimer's Information Site. Reviewed by William J. Netzer, Ph.D., Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation at The Rockefeller University.

Source: Food and Drug Administration, www.fda.gov

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Comment On This Story Reviews : 6 User Rating : annon - 6/4/2010 Ok, these comments below are double edged swords. On one hand we want new drugs to cure the disease. This takes an enormous amount ot money, not funded by any private entity. On the other we want cheaper rapidly available generic meds available. We can't have it both ways. Funding for new drugs come from the sale of current meds. xgbigchxmtp - 4/3/2010 C1PCoh <a href="http://ikjjxysehayr.com/">ikjjxysehayr</a>, [url=http://kkxtywleqjfx.com/]kkxtywleqjfx[/url], [link=http://hrutqhvpexur.com/]hrutqhvpexur[/link], http://ugqbgycopvkv.com/ Cadwell - 3/21/2010 It this the best America can do. This is not a cure. I'm tired of the Alzheimer's Association funding clinical trails that teaches us to be good care takers - and comes up short with trails for a cure.... Way too much money goes for "Administive Cost" at the Alzheimer's Association, and we seem to make no headway toward a cure. Are the financial benefits so great that a few crumbs can start falling for the victims of this desease? A. Yant - 2/13/2010 I liked the update on latest generic drugs available to help with this disease. Since many of the drugs are so expensive, learning about the availability of generic forms as soon as possible is very helpful for seniors and their families. Annonymous - 1/29/2010 Oh I so hope they get some bright people that care enough about this disease and can help iradicate it. All of this good news updates and reasearch makes me so happy Annonymous - 1/29/2010 Even though the generic drug has been approved by the F.D.A., I have been advised that the drug will not be avaiable until the patent expires later this year. Submit your Review