Is a Generic Version of Pataday Available?
Pataday™ (
olopatadine ophthalmic solution) is a prescription eyedrop approved for treating itching due to eye
allergies (known medically as allergic conjunctivitis). It is an antihistamine medication similar to
Patanol® (another prescription eyedrop), except it comes in a higher strength (0.2% versus 0.1%) and is taken just once a day, instead of twice daily.
Pataday is manufactured by Alcon Laboratories, Inc. It is currently under the protection of a patent that prevents any generic Pataday from being manufactured in the United States.
When Will Generic Pataday Be Available?
There are several different patents for Pataday, the first of which is set to expire in December 2010. The other patents expire significantly later (as late as November 2023). Currently, Alcon is involved in a lawsuit with a generic manufacturer who has filed an application to make a generic version of Pataday. At this time, it is not clear when generic Pataday will become available, since this lawsuit has not been resolved.
Is Olopatadine a Generic Pataday?
No -- olopatadine hydrochloride is the active ingredient in Pataday (as well as in Patanol eyedrops and
Patanase® nasal spray), 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.
