Generic Diastat: An Overview
Diastat® (
diazepam rectal gel) is a prescription medication used to treat epileptic
seizures. It is part of a group of medications called benzodiazepines. It is intended to be used occasionally to treat periods of increased
seizure activity.
Diastat is currently made by Valeant Pharmaceuticals. It is under the protection of a patent that prevents any generic Diastat from being manufactured in the United States.
When Will Generic Diastat Be Available?
The first patent for Diastat currently expires in September 2013. This is the earliest possible date that a generic version of Diastat could become available. However, other circumstances could come up to extend or shorten this exclusivity period. This could include things such as other patents for specific
Diastat uses or lawsuits. Once the patent expires, several companies will likely begin manufacturing generic Diastat.
Is Diazepam the Same as Generic Diastat?
No --
diazepam is the active ingredient in Diastat (as well as in several other medications), but it is not a generic version of it. What can be confusing is that, oftentimes, the active ingredient of a drug is referred to as the "generic name." The generic name is different from a generic version of a medicine, however. 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.
