Carprofen Generic Alternatives

Generic Carprofen Brands Compared

Availability and exact strengths vary by pharmacy and region. Confirm what's in stock with your pharmacy or vet clinic before assuming a specific brand will be filled.

Are Generics as Safe and Effective as Rimadyl?

Yes — each of these products underwent FDA approval demonstrating bioequivalence to the reference brand, meaning they deliver carprofen to the bloodstream in an equivalent way. See our full carprofen vs Rimadyl comparison for more on brand vs. generic differences.

Quellin, OstiFen, Flexprofen and Levafen

These labels are less often stocked by retail pharmacies, so most owners meet them on a bottle dispensed by their clinic. Each is carprofen at the usual 2 mg per pound per day; what differs is the form.

• Quellin (Elanco US Inc.) was introduced as the first FDA-approved soft chew carprofen for canine osteoarthritis. It's closer to a soft treat than a firm tablet, so it helps dogs that spit out tablets or have dental problems. Soft chews are less suited to splitting than scored tablets, so if your vet prescribes a half dose, ask whether a scored tablet would suit better.
• OstiFen (Norbrook, sold under the VET one label distributed by MWI) comes as flavoured tablets, chewable tablets and an injectable solution. A clinic can give the injection around surgery and send the same brand home as tablets. Norbrook also makes Novox and Carprieve.
• Flexprofen (Vetoquinol USA) is a sister label to Vetprofen from the same company, in chewable, caplet and injectable forms. The caplet suits dogs that refuse flavoured chews.

What Is Levafen for Dogs?

Levafen is a brand of carprofen sold under the Pivetal label, mainly as an injectable solution (50 mg/mL) for clinic use. Its label indications are the same as every carprofen product: pain and inflammation from osteoarthritis, and pain after soft-tissue and orthopedic surgery in dogs. It is prescription-only and given under the skin by the veterinary team, so most owners see the name on a surgery invoice or discharge sheet rather than a bottle at home. A tablet listing under the Levafen name also exists, but it is rarely stocked by pharmacies.

If your dog had a Levafen injection and is going home on carprofen tablets of another brand, that is the same drug continuing. Your vet will time the first tablet so the two don't overlap. Don't give a tablet on the day of the injection unless the discharge instructions say to.

If your pharmacy can't get one of these, any FDA-approved carprofen at the same strength is an equivalent substitute. Ask your vet to write the prescription for "carprofen" so it can be filled with whichever brand is in stock. See carprofen tablets vs injection and giving carprofen to picky dogs.

Switching Between Rimadyl and a Generic

Because every brand contains the same drug, switching from Rimadyl to Carprieve, Novox, Vetprofen or any other carprofen (or back) does not need a washout gap. Give the same number of milligrams on the next scheduled day. Milligrams are milligrams whatever the brand: a 25 mg Novox caplet holds 25 mg of carprofen, a quarter of a 100 mg tablet of any brand. What can change is the tablet itself: flavour, size, chewable or caplet, and where the score line sits. Check the strength on the new label, and tell your vet if your dog refuses the new tablet or has stomach upset after the switch.

Carprofen Brand Names Around the World

If you travel or move, or your dog's medicine came from abroad, you may see carprofen under a different name. The active ingredient is printed on every pack. Look for the word "carprofen".

Names in this table come from regulator product listings and manufacturers' catalogues. If you're unsure whether a product contains carprofen, ask your vet or pharmacist to check the active ingredient.

Names That Sound Similar but Are Not Carprofen

• Cartrophen (pentosan polysulfate) is an injectable joint medicine used in the UK, Australia and elsewhere. It is not an NSAID, works differently, and is not interchangeable with carprofen, although vets sometimes use the two together.
• Galliprant (grapiprant) is a different arthritis drug. See Galliprant vs carprofen.
• Meloxicam (Metacam, Loxicom), firocoxib (Previcox) and deracoxib (Deramaxx) are other NSAIDs. Never give them together with carprofen. See meloxicam vs carprofen.
• Ketoprofen is a different NSAID, sometimes given by injection at the clinic. Ask how long to wait before starting carprofen.

Novox, Vetprofen & Carprovet: A Closer Look

These three generics come up in search and at the pharmacy counter often enough to deserve their own dedicated pages, covering strength-specific detail, chewable tablet notes, and how each fits into a typical dosing plan:

• Novox for dogs — from Norbrook and distributed by Vedco; notably supplied as a non-chewable caplet rather than a flavoured chew.
• Vetprofen for dogs — from Vetoquinol USA, available as both caplet and chewable, and the brand behind the widely searched BP CAR tablet imprint.
• Carprovet for dogs — from Dechra, an artificially beef-flavoured chewable sold in 60- and 180-count bottles.

How to Choose Between Generics

In most cases, the choice comes down to price and what your pharmacy has in stock — your vet's prescription will typically specify "carprofen" generically unless there's a specific reason to request a particular brand (for example, if your dog has previously done well, or poorly, on one manufacturer's tablet). Ask your pharmacy to compare current prices across brands before filling, and see our carprofen cost and insurance guide for more ways to save on a long-term prescription.