An Overview of Generic Kadian
Kadian® (
morphine sulfate ER) is a prescription pain medication. It contains tiny, extended-release pellets that release
morphine slowly and evenly throughout the day. It can be taken once or twice a day.
Kadian is made by Actavis Elizabeth LLC and is marketed and distributed by Alpharma Pharmaceuticals LLC. It is currently under the protection of a patent that prevents any generic Kadian from being manufactured in the United States. Yet, if you search the Internet for "generic Kadian," you may find a number of companies selling it. The fact is, these medicines may be fake, substandard, and potentially dangerous. There may be generic Kadian available from another country, but there is really no way of knowing if you are getting genuine Kadian. You should not buy any generic Kadian until there is an approved generic available.
When Will Generic Kadian Be Available?
The first patent for Kadian currently expires in March 2010. This is the earliest predictable date that a generic version of Kadian could become available. However, there are other circumstances that could come up to extend or shorten the exclusivity period of Kadian. This could include such things as lawsuits or other patents for specific
Kadian uses. Once the medication goes off patent, there may be several companies that will manufacture a generic Kadian drug.
