Is there a generic Requip, the RLS medicine?

Answer 1

No. Requip (ropinirole hydrochloride) is used for both Parkinson's disease as well as restless leg syndrome.

Drugs are covered by patents just as other inventions. The patent life is a minimum of 17 years. Drugs are allowed an extention of the patent to offset the years a drug has to be tested before marketing approval. Generally the most common extension is up to 7 more years. However, drug companies also patent processes involved in manufacturing a product and they can be granted other patents which can further extend a patent. This process is called "evergreening" a patent.

Since Requip was recently brought onto the market, its patent has many years remaining before a generic version can be marketed.

I hope this helps.

Rick the Pharmacist

Edit: Regarding the next answer, all drugs are given a nonproprietary name, commonly called a generic name. But that does not mean it's available as a generic. Requip's generic name is ropinirole hydrochloride, but it is not available as a generic medication for the reasons listed above.

The Wikipedia link has much more info about generic drugs and patent life.

Answer 2

GENERIC NAME: ROPINIROLE - ORAL (row-PIN-uh-roll)
BRAND NAME(S): Requip

As you can see, there is a Generic brand of Requip.

God Bless You :)