Generic Phenytek

Even though all of the patents for Phenytek have expired, there are no generic versions of the medication available at this time. It is difficult to determine why manufacturers of generic medications have not made a generic Phenytek product. It may not be cost effective to make a generic Phenytek or, perhaps, it may be too difficult to make a generic Phenytek that would be equivalent to the brand-name medication.

 

Generic Phenytek: An Overview

Phenytek® (phenytoin sodium) is a prescription seizure medication. Specifically, Phenytek is approved to treat certain types of seizures (complex partial seizures and generalized tonic-clonic seizures) in people with epilepsy. Phenytek is also approved to prevent and treat seizures during and after brain surgery.
 
Phenytek is manufactured by Bertek Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Technically, there are no other phenytoin products that are equivalent to Phenytek. Although there are many different generic phenytoin products available, none of them are available in the same strengths as Phenytek.
 

Why Doesn't Phenytek Have a Generic?

Many people may wonder why there is currently no generic Phenytek available. Because the patents for Phenytek have expired, a generic manufacturer could choose to make generic Phenytek at any time. It is difficult to understand why generic manufacturers have chosen not to make any generic Phenytek products at this time. Maybe the market for generic Phenytek is not large enough to make it cost effective, or, perhaps, it is too difficult to make a generic product that is equivalent to Phenytek (as Phenytek is an extended-release product).
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;