Is there a generic of Asacol available

Hi Dolores,

Unfortunately the answer to your question is, No. I've taken Asacol for 10 years and was surprised after the first 5 that there wasn't a generic so I asked my pharmacist and my doctor about it. The answer I got from both was that pharmaceuticals don't go generic unless there is a large enough universe of people taking the drug to make it "worth while" for the pharm company. Since there are only a few hundred thousand people who specifically take Asacol the companies just wouldn't make enough money if they went generic.

Unfortunately, it's all about making money rather than making real, helpful treatments affordable for the people who need to take them. I currently pay more nearly $400/mo. for my Asacol Rx and am trying many other things to control my symptoms to see if I can't reduce or get off it all together.

If you need some help paying for your Asacol, you might try contacting P&G - proctor and gamble - to discuss their program that helps patients get a month or so of the drug free.

Good luck,

Elizabeth