Generic Didronel: An Overview
Didronel® (
etidronate disodium) is a Paget's disease medication available by prescription. In addition to treating Paget's disease, Didronel is also approved to prevent or treat abnormal bone formation (known as heterotopic ossification) after total
hip replacement surgery or spinal cord injury. It is part of a group of medications known as bisphosphonates.
Didronel is made by Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals. However, it has come off patent and is available as a generic.
Strengths of Generic Didronel
Generic Didronel tablets are available in the following strengths:
- Etidronate 200 mg
- Etidronate 400 mg.
Who Makes Generic Didronel?
Generic Didronel is currently made by one company, Genpharm.
Is Generic Etidronate as Good as Didronel?
All generic medications must undergo certain tests to compare them to brand-name medications. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) then looks at these tests to decide if the generics are equivalent to the brand-name medications and assigns each generic a rating. An "AB" rating means that the FDA has determined that a generic medication is equivalent to a brand-name medication. All of the generic etidronate versions currently available have an "AB" rating, meaning they should be equivalent to Didronel.
However, generic medications are allowed to have different inactive ingredients than the brand-name medication. This might include fillers or dyes or other ingredients that may cause problems for people with
allergies or sensitivities.