Generic Uroxatral

There are currently no generic Uroxatral (alfuzosin hydrochloride) products approved for sale in the United States, as the medication is protected by patents. The earliest predictable date that a generic version of the medication may become available is in January 2011, when the first patent expires. However, there may be various companies claiming to sell generic Uroxatral. Be cautious -- until there is an approved generic available, there is really no way of knowing whether you are getting the genuine medication.

 

An Overview of Generic Uroxatral

Uroxatral® (alfuzosin hydrochloride) is a prescription medication that belongs to a group of medications known as alpha-1 blockers. It is approved for treating the symptoms of an enlarged prostate (also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH).
 
Brand-name Uroxatral is manufactured by sanofi-aventis. It is currently under the protection of a patent that prevents any generic form of the medication from being manufactured in the United States. However, if you search the Internet for "generic Uroxatral," you may find a number of companies selling it. The fact is that these medicines may be fake, substandard, and potentially dangerous. There may be a generic version of the medication available from another country, but there is really no way of knowing whether you are getting genuine Uroxatral. Therefore, you should not buy any generic Uroxatral until there is an approved generic available.
 

When Will Generic Uroxatral Be Available?

The first patent for Uroxatral currently expires in January 2011. This is the earliest predictable date that a generic version of the drug could become available. However, there are other circumstances that could come up to extend or shorten the exclusivity period of Uroxatral. This could include such things as lawsuits or other patents for specific Uroxatral uses. Once Uroxatral goes off patent, there may be several companies that manufacture a generic Uroxatral drug.
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;