Is a Generic Version of Duraclon Available?
Duraclon® (
clonidine hydrochloride) is a prescription medication approved to treat severe cancer pain. It belongs to a group of medications known as alpha-2 adrenergic agonists.
Duraclon is made by Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals, Inc. The patents for this medication have expired, but there are no generic versions available at this time.
When Will a Generic Version Be Available?
It is difficult (if not impossible) to predict when a generic version of Duraclon may become available. It is not entirely clear why no generic manufacturers have chosen to make a generic Duraclon. Duraclon is an "orphan drug," which means that it was developed to treat a condition that was rare (defined as occurring in fewer than 200,000 people in the United States per year). This suggests that the market for this medication is small, and it might not be financially profitable for a generic manufacturer to make a generic version of Duraclon.
Is Clonidine a Generic Duraclon?
The answer is no. Clonidine is the active ingredient in Duraclon (as well as a few other medications) but is not a generic version of Duraclon. 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.
