Fosamax Generic: An Overview
Fosamax® (
alendronate sodium) is a prescription drug that is used to treat
osteoporosis and Paget's disease. It is part of a group of medications known as bisphosphonates.
Brand-name Fosamax is made by Merck & Co., Inc. However, the first patent for Fosamax has expired, and generic versions are now available.
Strengths of Generic Fosamax
Generic Fosamax tablets are available in the following strengths:
- Alendronate 5 mg
- Alendronate 10 mg
- Alendronate 35 mg
- Alendronate 40 mg
- Alendronate 70 mg.
At this time, there are no generic versions of liquid Fosamax available.
Who Makes Generic Fosamax?
Currently, generic Fosamax is made by the following companies:
- Barr Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
- Teva Pharmaceuticals.
It is very likely that several more companies will make generic versions of Fosamax in the near future.
Is Generic Alendronate as Good as Fosamax?
All generic medications must undergo certain tests to compare them to brand-name medications. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) then looks at these tests to decide if the generics are equivalent to the brand-name medications and assigns each generic a rating. An "AB" rating means that the FDA has determined that a generic medication is equivalent to a brand-name medication. All of the generic alendronate versions currently available have an "AB" rating, meaning they should be equivalent to Fosamax.
However, generic medications are allowed to have different inactive ingredients than the brand-name medication. This might include fillers or dyes or other ingredients that may cause problems for people with
allergies or sensitivities.
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