Is Generic Viagra Safe and Effective?
The short answer is: it may be effective, but most experts would agree that it is not safe since none of it is medically approved (yet).
The FDA, Pfizer, and many doctors and professionals frequently warn patients and consumers against fake medications sold online, including the many generic versions of Viagra offered in a large number of “online pharmacy” sites.
So, why all the warnings about generic Viagra traded over the Internet? The following are the main reasons why generic Viagra is generally considered bad.
Legitimacy: Viagra is a registered trademark of Pfizer Inc, and so no other company is authorized to make a product (drug) and name it Viagra unless they have Pfizer’s permission to do so. Also, sildenafil citrate (the active ingredient of Viagra) is patented worldwide by Pfizer, and so no other drug maker can manufacture sildenafil citrate (generic Viagra) in any form until Pfizer’s patents on this drug expire (in 2011–2013). Simply put, any form of generic Viagra that is currently being manufactured and sold (mostly on the Internet) is illegal.
Effectiveness: There are some pharmaceutical companies that (illegally) make generic Viagra that is identical to, and acts as effective as, the genuine drug. However, studies have shown that a lot of the generic Viagra pills sold over the Internet contain no effective ingredients, i.e. pure scams.
Safety: Since generic Viagra is manufactured unlawfully, it is usually made in unlicensed factories and under unhealthy conditions where standards and regulations are absent. In fact, many investigations proved that generic Viagra promoted online often contains unknown/dangerous ingredients, non-approved substances, and harmful (or even fatal) overdoses.
What applies to Viagra also applies to Cialis (generic: tadalafil) and Levitra (generic: vardenafil).
Cialis maker, Eli Lilly, currently holds the patent for this drug, and until the patent expires (in 2016) all generic versions of Cialis made by other drug companies are not legitimate. Levitra’s manufacturer, Bayer, also has worldwide patents on this ED drug, first of which expire in 2018.
The video displayed below is made by the FDA to educate patients about faux drugs on the Internet and help them avoid such scams.
Vizarsin is the Upcoming Viagra Competitor
The famous Slovenian drug maker, Krka is set to launch a new major rival to Pfizer’s Viagra called “Vizarsin”.
Vizarsin is a generic form of Viagra that contains the same active ingredient, namely sildenafil citrate, and has the same effective results in treating erectile dysfunction.
This new generic Viagra will be available in three doses: 25mg, 50mg and 100mg. The pills will be white rather than blue (Viagra’s original color). And most importantly, this generic equivalent will be about 30% cheaper than the brand name Viagra.
The European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has approved and recommended this new medication.
Krka is now selling Vizarsin in Slovenia, but as soon as Pfizer’s patents on Viagra expire (mostly in 2012), Krka shall be granted authorization to start marketing Vizarsin in the European Union and other parts of the world.
There have been many attempts by numerous competitors to make and market generic versions of Viagra (sildenafil citrate) since the drug’s approval in 1998, but none of them succeeded as Pfizer always had the power of law (patent protection) to shut them down. The only FDA approved and real rivals of Viagra so far are: Cialis (tadalafil) and Levitra (vardenafil).
Is Generic Viagra Illegal?
Most medications have a brand name version and a generic version. A generic drug contains the same active ingredient/s found in its brand name counterpart.
The active ingredient of Viagra is sildenafil citrate. Pfizer Inc is the only pharmaceutical company that holds worldwide patents on sildenafil citrate, and so no other manufacturer can make sildenafil citrate and sell it under any brand name as generic Viagra until Pfizer’s patents expire (most of them expire in 2011–2014).
As an example, Pfizer has recently won a Viagra patent dispute in Canada, where the Federal Court of Canada prohibited Novopharm (a Canadian generic pharmaceutical company) from making generic Viagra until Pfizer’s patent expires. (Source)
But many bad companies and dealers have been making lots of generic Viagra, most of which comes from India, China, and other third world countries were law enforcement is limp.
In addition to being illegal, a lot of the generic Viagra sold online for low prices was found to contain unknown, unapproved, and/or dangerous ingredients, which may lead to serious side effects or even death in some cases.
But does it work?
Yes, there are still a few “good” manufacturers who make “decent” generic Viagra (sildenafil citrate tablets), which works the same way as brand Viagra.