An Overview of Generic Viagra
Viagra® (
sildenafil citrate) is a prescription medicine that is licensed for treating
erectile dysfunction (
ED). The drug is manufactured by Pfizer, and is currently protected by a patent that prevents any generic Viagra from being manufactured.
When Will a Generic Version of Viagra Be Available?
The patent for Viagra expires in 2012. Once the patent expires, several companies likely will start manufacturing a generic Viagra drug.
Is Sildenafil Citrate the Same as Generic Viagra?
No --
sildenafil citrate is the active ingredient in Viagra, not a generic version of it. Although people often refer to a drug's active ingredient as its "generic name," the generic name of a drug is different from a generic version of it. 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 must make the product.