Generic Aceon: An Overview
Aceon® (
perindopril erbumine) is a prescription medication that has been approved to
treat high blood pressure (
hypertension). It is part of a class of drugs called angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, or ACE inhibitors for short. This medication helps to block the angiotensin-converting enzyme, which is normally part of a reaction in the body that causes blood vessels to narrow (constrict).
Aceon was originally developed by Solvay Pharmaceuticals. It is currently protected by a patent that prevents any generic Aceon from being manufactured.
Yet, if you search the Internet for "generic Aceon," you may find a number of companies selling it. The fact is that these medicines could be fake, substandard, and potentially dangerous. You should not buy any generic Aceon until there is an approved generic form available.
When Will a Generic Version of Aceon Be Available?
The patent for Aceon currently expires in November 2009. It is expected that once Aceon goes off-patent, several companies will begin manufacturing a generic Aceon drug.
Is Perindopril a Generic Aceon?
The answer is no.
Perindopril erbumine is the active ingredient in Aceon, but is not a generic version of it. What can be confusing is that, oftentimes, the active ingredient of any drug is referred to as the "generic name." The generic name is different from 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 must make the product.