Generic for Tamsulosin: An Overview
Brand-name tamsulosin (sold under the name Flomax) is manufactured by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. There are no generic versions of tamsulosin available at this time.
When Will There Be a Generic Tamsulosin?
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 isn't. 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 tamsulosin," 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 tamsulosin available from another country, but there is really no way of knowing if you are getting genuine tamsulosin or not. You should not buy any generic tamsulosin until there is an approved generic available.
