Generic for Flomax: An Overview
Flomax® (
tamsulosin hydrochloride) is a prescription medication that has been licensed as a treatment for an
enlarged prostate. An enlarged prostate is also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, benign prostatic hypertrophy, or
BPH. Flomax is part of a class of drugs known as alpha blockers.
Flomax is manufactured by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. There are no generic versions of Flomax available at this time.
When Will There Be a Generic Flomax?
The first generic version of Flomax is expected to become available in March 2010. Although there is a Flomax patent that does not expire until April 2010, the maker of Flomax and a generic manufacturer have a settlement that will allow a generic version one month earlier.
Is Tamsulosin a Generic Flomax?
No, it's not. Tamsulosin is the active ingredient in Flomax, but it is not a generic version of Flomax. Oftentimes, the active ingredient of a drug is referred to as the "generic name." The generic name is different than 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.
If you search the Internet for "generic Flomax," you may find a number of companies claiming to sell it. The fact is that these medicines may be fake, substandard, and potentially dangerous. There may be a generic Flomax available from another country, but there is really no way of knowing if you are getting genuine Flomax or not. You should not buy any generic Flomax until there is an approved generic available.
