2006-06-28 03:47:22 · 3 answers · asked by janethann 1 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Other - General Health Care
I don't know but I want the same thing. I have been taking it for 2 years and it cost me $25.00/month to get them. My doctor put me on them for migraines and chronic insomnia and they are the best thing I have taken.
2006-06-28 03:51:47 · answer #1 · answered by brittme 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Generally a medical formula has a 20 year patent! But part of that 20 years is spent in research and development and also in testing and clinical trials. The average drug uses up at least 10 and some times 15 years of its patent before it ever hits the market. So roughly 5 years from now there should be a generic equivelent of Ambien.
Now the tricky thing that drug companies do is alter the formula JUST enough to get another patent and then they can remarket it and still keep their patent. Remember Prilosec? It was a huge deal. Well about 6 months before its patent was set to expire AstraZeneca released Nexium. It is the same as Prilosec with just a little different formula. So now they get to keep their corner on their market. To make sure that doctors continue to support them and prescribe the new formula they spend MILLIONS of dollars on marketing and "spifs" for the docs, like dinners, show tickets, sporting events and such.
So bottom line - about 5 years from now there will be a generic equivilent, but by that time the manufacturer will have come out with a "new and improved" formula and it will be really difficult to get your doctor to prescribe it.
2006-06-28 03:56:29 · answer #2 · answered by emilysmoma 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Brand name drugs are not released until after they have been on the market for 10 years. After that point in time the companies usually have developed another product, similar, to replace the "older" one. (so they can continue to make money) Generally the new product has only a small change to make it different from the last, to be released as "new". Chances are, Ambien is a "newer" drug version to something else. I would ask your doctor and/or do research into what ambien is. There may already be a "generic" or "older" version of Ambien out there.
2006-06-28 04:02:38 · answer #3 · answered by smartypants 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ambien will me marketed generically when the patent that the original company holds expires. At that point, other companies can make a generic version of the drug. As for when the patent expires, it really depends from drug to drug, but usually it's 7 years.
2006-06-28 03:52:50 · answer #4 · answered by Archangeleon 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
u will be lucky if ambien even stays on the market. with all of the cases of sleep walking, sleep driving , sleep cooking and other hazards associated with this sleep aid. they are conducting futher test studies to see if this sleeping aid should stay on the market.
2006-06-28 03:56:13 · answer #5 · answered by naztman2000 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It takes 7 years for the patent to expire. So you have awhile to wait for a generic!
2006-06-28 03:50:26 · answer #6 · answered by Mary Q 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋