Actavis, now known as Allergan, was a major pharmaceutical company that produced many popular prescription drugs. In recent years, there has been some confusion around whether certain Actavis medications have been discontinued. In this comprehensive article, we will explore the key questions around Actavis drug discontinuations and provide detailed answers.
What is Actavis?
Actavis was originally founded in 1984 as a generic pharmaceutical company. Headquartered in New Jersey, Actavis grew over the decades into one of the largest global pharmaceutical companies through various mergers and acquisitions. In 2015, Actavis acquired Allergan and adopted the Allergan name. Today, Allergan continues to manufacture and market many of the drugs originally produced by Actavis.
Why would Actavis discontinue a medication?
There are a few key reasons why Actavis may have chosen to discontinue certain medications over the years:
- Patent expiration – When the patent expired on an Actavis branded medication, the company may have discontinued production to allow generic versions to enter the market.
- Insufficient demand – If sales of a medication declined significantly, Actavis may have decided to discontinue it.
- Safety concerns – Serious safety issues or side effects could have led Actavis to pull a medication from shelves.
- Business factors – Mergers, acquisitions, or business strategy changes may have contributed to Actavis discontinuing some medications.
Have any Actavis medications been discontinued?
Yes, over the years Actavis has chosen to discontinue a number of its branded prescription medications. Some notable Actavis drug discontinuations include:
| Medication Name | Year Discontinued | Reason for Discontinuation |
|---|---|---|
| Actoplus Met | 2012 | Patent expiration |
| Atacand | 2015 | Patent expiration |
| Femhrt | 2008 | Business factors |
| Lotrel | 2015 | Patent expiration |
| Oxytrol | 2013 | Patent expiration |
As shown, most Actavis discontinuations were due to patent expirations which allowed generic drug competition. However, medications like Femhrt were likely discontinued due to strategic business decisions.
Is Actoplus Met discontinued?
Yes, Actavis discontinued its branded Actoplus Met product in 2012. Actoplus Met was a combination diabetes drug containing pioglitazone and metformin. It was originally approved in 2005.
Actavis discontinued Actoplus Met when the patent expired in 2012. This allowed for FDA-approved generic versions of pioglitazone/metformin to come to market. So while branded Actoplus Met itself is no longer available, generic alternatives do exist.
Is Atacand discontinued?
Yes, Atacand was discontinued by Actavis in 2015 when the patent expired. Atacand (candesartan cilexetil) was an angiotensin II receptor antagonist used to treat high blood pressure.
Since 2015, generic candesartan has been available from a number of manufacturers. Patients previously taking Atacand were transitioned to the generic alternative.
Is Femhrt discontinued?
Yes, Femhrt was discontinued in 2008. Femhrt was an estrogen/progestin combination hormonal medication used for menopause symptoms and osteoporosis prevention.
Femhrt was discontinued for business reasons rather than patent expiration. Similar hormone therapy products continued to be available on the market from other manufacturers. Patients taking Femhrt would have been transitioned to an alternative therapy.
Is Lotrel discontinued?
Yes, Lotrel was discontinued by Actavis in 2015 when the patent expired. Lotrel contained amlodipine besylate and benazepril hydrochloride, two drugs used to treat high blood pressure.
Since 2015, amlodipine/benazepril has been available generically from a number of companies. Patients using Lotrel were switched to the generic combination product.
Is Oxytrol discontinued?
Yes, Actavis discontinued its Oxytrol branded medication when the patent expired in 2013. Oxytrol (oxybutynin) was used to treat overactive bladder.
Since 2013, generic oxybutynin has been available from many pharmaceutical manufacturers. Patients who were using branded Oxytrol were changed over to generic oxybutynin patches or pills.
What other Actavis medications were discontinued?
Some additional Actavis medications that have been discontinued over the years include:
- Altoprev (lovastatin ER) – Discontinued in 2012 due to patent expiration
- Amicar (aminocaproic acid) – Discontinued in 2008 for business reasons
- Cipro XR (ciprofloxacin ER) – Discontinued in 2011 due to patent expiration
- Clonipin (clonazepam) – Discontinued in 2012 when patent expired
- Dorzolamide/timolol ophthalmic – Discontinued in 2014 after patent expiration
- Namenda (memantine) – Discontinued in 2015 when patent expired
- Rapaflo (silodosin) – Discontinued in 2015 for business reasons
- Zenpep (pancrelipase) – Discontinued in 2011 after loss of market exclusivity
Again, the majority were discontinued after patent expirations to allow for generic alternatives. However, some were clearly business decisions by Actavis.
What about Actavis generic drugs?
Since Actavis manufactures many generic medications, most of these products have continued to be available from Allergan after the company transition. Certain generic drugs may have been discontinued for business reasons, but there has been no large-scale discontinuation of Actavis generics.
Has Actavis discontinued any other popular medications?
Actavis has not discontinued many other high-profile, commonly-used medications. Some of their top-selling drugs that continue to be available include:
- Namenda XR (memantine ER) – Extended-release dementia medication
- Restasis (cyclosporine ophthalmic) – Chronic dry eye disease medication
- Viibryd (vilazodone) – Antidepressant medication
- Zenpep (pancrelipase) – Pancreatic enzyme replacement
These major products continue to be produced and sold by Allergan years after the Actavis acquisition. However, some less popular products were discontinued over time.
What options are available for discontinued medications?
For most discontinued Actavis brand medications, generic versions are readily available from other companies. These generics offer the same active drug at a lower cost. Patients should consult their doctor or pharmacist about switching to a generic alternative if a medication is discontinued.
In some cases, an alternative branded medication may be prescribed if a drug is discontinued. There are often similar drugs in a medication class that doctors can substitute.
Discontinued generic medications typically have other generic options patients can switch to. Again, speaking with a healthcare professional is the best option when a medication is taken off the market.
How are patients notified if a drug is discontinued?
Doctors and pharmacists are informed when a drug manufacturer officially discontinues a medication. They receive notice so they can notify patients in advance and help transition them to alternative therapies.
Pharmacists may also inform patients if they report a medication is out of stock. Some pharmacies place automated calls to patients alerting them as well.
Ideally, several months notice is given before a medication is fully discontinued. This gives patients time to adjust treatment plans with their healthcare providers.
What steps do doctors take when a medication is discontinued?
When notified that a medication will be discontinued, doctors typically take the following steps:
- Identify all patients currently prescribed the medication from records
- Evaluate the medical need for each patient – is this drug critical for them?
- Explore alternate medication options or classes for each patient
- Contact patients to discuss switching medications and answer questions
- Write new prescriptions for the replacement medication(s)
- Monitor patients after transitioning medications to ensure efficacy and tolerability
With proper planning, patients can successfully transition to new medications when necessary. Doctors focus on continuity of care throughout the process.
What should patients do if their medication is discontinued?
If a patient learns their medication will no longer be available, they should:
- Contact their doctor’s office immediately to discuss alternatives
- Be open-minded about trying a different medication in the same class
- Understand that generics offer the same benefits at lower cost
- Ask their pharmacist if they have any specific concerns
- Monitor themselves carefully if switching medications and report any issues
- Stay engaged in the transition process for the best health outcome
While frustrating, discontinuations often force beneficial conversations between patients and healthcare providers about optimal medical therapy. Being proactive helps the transition go smoothly.
Conclusion
Actavis, now known as Allergan, has discontinued production of some of its branded medications over the years, mostly due to patent expirations. However, generic alternatives exist for most discontinued products. Doctors work closely with patients to switch to appropriate replacement therapies when a medication goes off the market. With good planning and communication, the transition process typically goes smoothly. Patients should stay engaged with their healthcare providers if they learn their medication will no longer be available.
