Re: FDA Approves New Generic Form of Aricept

[Guest guest]

Great news - thanks for sharing! I saved into the Links section - along w/ info

about the generic form of Razadyne.

>

> Someone in our local support group alerted me to the fact that a new generic

form of Aricept (donepezil) is now available -- it's a dissolvable tablet. This

form of the medication may be of benefit to those with swallowing difficulty

just as the Exelon patch is helpful.

>

> Here's a short announcement about this on ALZinfo.org:

>

>

> http://www.alzinfo.org/newsarticle/templates/newstemplate.asp?articleid=388

>

> F.D.A. Approves New Generic Form of Aricept

>

> Wed, January 27, 2010 12:50:00 PM EST

>

> Aricept, the widely prescribed drug for early to middle stages Alzheimer's

disease, is now available in a generic form that dissolves on the tongue, after

the Food and Drug Administration approved the generic drug for sale in the

United States. Other generic forms of Aricept, known as donepezil, are

available, but they must be swallowed. Tablets that disintegrate in the mouth

are easier to take for many older people, including those with Alzheimer's, who

may have difficulty swallowing pills. Generic drugs are also cheaper than their

brand name counterparts.

>

> " Generics offer greater access to health care for all Americans, " said

Buehler, director of the Food and Drug Administration's Office of Generic Drugs.

" Health care professionals and consumers can be assured that F.D.A.-approved

generic drugs have met the same rigorous standards as the brand-name drug and

are the same as the branded in dosage form, safety, strength, route of

administration, quality, performance characteristics and intended use. "

>

> The orally dissolving generic drugs are made by Mutual Pharmaceutical company

of Philadelphia. They are available in 5 milligram and 10 milligram strengths.

>

> Currently approved drugs for Alzheimer's, including Aricept, Razadyne, Exelon

and Memantine, may help ease symptoms but do little to stop the downward

progression of disease. Researchers are actively investigating potential new

drugs and therapies that may help to stop Alzheimer's at an early stage, before

memory loss and other symptoms become severe.

>

> To learn more, visit www.ALZinfo.org, The Alzheimer's Information Site.

>

>

> By www.ALZinfo.org, The Alzheimer's Information Site. Reviewed by J.

Netzer, Ph.D., Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation at The

Rockefeller University.

>

> Source: Food and Drug Administration, www.fda.gov

>