Posted by kingcolon on February 18, 2008, at 11:00:24
In reply to Re: Budeprion (Generic) vs. Wellbutrin » mom2, posted by 30years on February 18, 2008, at 3:51:40
> > I got my Wellbutrin XL filled yesterday, and
> > also was switched to the generic Budeprion XL
> > without notice from the pharmacy. I am curious
> > if there is anyone that has taken the Budeprion
> > XL without any problems? I am nervous about
> > taking a generic for depression when the brand
> > works so well. Thanks!
>
> I've never noticed any difference whatsoever between the brand and the generics over the 30 years I've been taking medication (and that's about all of them--I'm treatment resistant). They are chemically identical, which means there is no way your body can tell the difference (as long as the generic is identical in all aspects; for example: immediate release, sustained release (SR), extended release (XR or XL), etc.)
>
> My guess is that for those that notice a difference, it is either psychological or symptoms that would have occurred regardless. Aspirin is aspirin, regardless of what brand you buy.My feeling is that the question is not whether the chemical bupropion is identical in the generics vs. the brands, but whether the release formulation is identical. Even if a generic says XL or SR, I believe the FDA does not monitor the composition of the release component. Therefore, a generic might release differently--eg, more erratically, with poorer absorption, leading to lower bupropion blood levels. Some sustained release formulations have been known to pass through the GI tract intact and emerge as whole pills!
poster:kingcolon
thread:397165
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080207/msgs/813427.html