Celebrex is protected by a patent that prevents any generic versions from being manufactured until 2013, so generic Celebrex is currently unavailable. However, once the patent expires, several companies will likely begin manufacturing a generic form of the drug. Sometimes, people confuse the primary ingredient in a drug with a generic version. Celecoxib, for example, is not a generic Celebrex -- it's the active ingredient in it.
An Overview of Generic Celebrex
Celebrex® (
celecoxib) is a prescription medicine that is licensed to treat pain and inflammation associated with various conditions in adults, such as
arthritis or general muscle pain. Celebrex is manufactured by Pfizer, and is currently protected by a patent that prevents any generic Celebrex from being manufactured.
When Will There Be a Generic Celebrex?
The patent for Celebrex expires in 2013. It is expected that once Celebrex goes off-patent, several companies will begin manufacturing a generic Celebrex drug. Normally in the United States, one company is given 180 days of exclusivity to manufacture a generic version of a drug. After 180 days, other manufacturers of generic medications will likely begin making a generic form of Celebrex.
Is Celecoxib a Generic Celebrex?
No. Celecoxib is the active ingredient in Celebrex, but it is not a generic version of it. This can be confusing, because the active ingredient of any drug is often referred to as the "generic name." But the generic name is not the same as a generic version of a medicine. For there to be a generic version of a medicine, the original medicine must first go off-patent. Then another company besides the original manufacturer must start making the product.
Are There Any Alternatives to a Generic Celebrex?
Several classes of medications are used for pain relief in addition to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (
NSAIDs) such as Celebrex.
(Click Pain Medication to learn about other medicines that can be used to treat pain.)
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