List Of Generic Drugs That Have Been Banned

Generic drugs are duplicates of brand-name drugs and must be made to the same high standards as brand name drugs. In June 2003, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said that the use of generic drugs could save U.S. citizens $35 billion over 10 years and lowered the time limit to 30 days before the drug could be listed in the Agency Orange Book of approved drugs as part of section 505 of the Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act of 1938. The FDA has had to ban certain generic drugs when they have not met the same high standards as the brand names they imitate. In September 2008, a well-publicized banning resulted in 30 generic drugs being forbidden for importation from the Indian Company Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited because of inadequate quality controls. A partial list follows; you'll find a complete list on the FDA website (see Resources).

Acyclovir

Acyclovir is the generic name for the brand-name drug Zovirax. It is an antiviral drug which is able to slow down the spread of the herpes virus. It doesn't cure herpes; it just lessens the symptoms. Acyclovir is used to treat chickenpox, shingles (herpes zoster) and genital herpes infections.

Amoxicillin

Amoxicillin is an antibiotic in the penicillin group of drugs. It fights bacteria in your body. It is the generic name for the brand-name Amoxil. It is commonly prescribed for ear and bladder infections, gonorrhea and salmonella infections.

Carbidopa and Levodopa

Carbidopa is prescribed along with Levodopa in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. It is the generic name for the brand-name Lodosyn. Levodopa is the generic for Dopar and is the active medication, with carbidopa simply keeping the Levodopa from breaking down before it can take effect. The combination helps control muscle spasms.

Gabapentin

Gabapentin is the generic name for Neurontin, a muscle relaxer that is prescribed for epilepsy to limit seizures. It has also been used to combat nerve pain for conditions such as shingles.

Terazosin HCl

Terazosin hydrochloride is the generic name for Hytrin. It aids in bladder function in conditions such as benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH. It is also sometimes prescribed for hypertension.