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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 159. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Daniel2000 on September 30, 2004, at 7:41:28
I have yet to see a thread on this site talking about weather or not the new generic form of wellbutrin sr , called budeprion sr, is found to be as good. Most people and most pharmacists argue tht all genrics undergo testing to prove they are the same, that they have the same bioavailability in the body and everything,and that any differences would be purely a kind of reverse placebo effect, but I was interested to see if anyone else has found a difference between the two. I have only tried budeprion sr 150 mg and it has seemed to have some side effects which seem inconcistent with what many users of brand name wellbutrin sr claim to experience; mainly being a worse experience of side effects from it. Anyways, I would appreciate some feedback from anyone who has tried both,tried budeprion, and who tried wellbutrin sr to see if we can get anywhere with this. Mainly I want to see if it is worth it to tell my doctor weather I should try brand name wellbutrin this time or not.
Posted by Sebastian on September 30, 2004, at 12:09:33
In reply to Budeprion (Generic) vs. Wellbutrin, posted by Daniel2000 on September 30, 2004, at 7:41:28
My opinion and many others is that generic is not as strong. 300 mg brand = 400 maybe 450 generic for the sr version. The effects might be a little different.
Posted by rcd on August 12, 2005, at 8:16:31
In reply to Budeprion (Generic) vs. Wellbutrin, posted by Daniel2000 on September 30, 2004, at 7:41:28
I have tried both, and find no difference at all. I started in 2002 with Wellbutrin SR, 150 mg daily (ne tablet daily). Over time my dosage was increased to 300 mg daily, for which I took Wellbutrin XR, 300 mg (again, one tablet daily.)
Changes in my employer's prescription drug insurance plan prompted me to try the budeprion. Instead of paying around $30 for a month's supply of Wellbutrin XR 300 mg under the old insurance plan, I could get THREE months' supply of budeprion for $5 under the new plan.
As far as I know, budeprion isn't manufactured in the 300mg strength, so now I take a 150 mg tablet twice a day instead of taking one tablet daily of the 300 mg XR formulation Wellbutrin.
It's been two months now, and so far, everything's just fine. Aside from getting accustomed to taking meds twice a day, I haven't discerned any difference at all between the Wellbutrin and the budeprion. Budeprion works just as well for me as Wellbutrin.
Posted by Dubster on September 5, 2005, at 21:28:05
In reply to Budeprion (Generic) vs. Wellbutrin, posted by Daniel2000 on September 30, 2004, at 7:41:28
> I have yet to see a thread on this site talking about weather or not the new generic form of wellbutrin sr , called budeprion sr, is found to be as good. Most people and most pharmacists argue tht all genrics undergo testing to prove they are the same, that they have the same bioavailability in the body and everything,and that any differences would be purely a kind of reverse placebo effect, but I was interested to see if anyone else has found a difference between the two. I have only tried budeprion sr 150 mg and it has seemed to have some side effects which seem inconcistent with what many users of brand name wellbutrin sr claim to experience; mainly being a worse experience of side effects from it. Anyways, I would appreciate some feedback from anyone who has tried both,tried budeprion, and who tried wellbutrin sr to see if we can get anywhere with this. Mainly I want to see if it is worth it to tell my doctor weather I should try brand name wellbutrin this time or not.
I HAVE TAKEN, WELBUTRIN SR, BUROPRION AND BUDEPRION. WHEN SWITCHING FROM WELBUTRIN SR TO BUPROPRION I NOTICED NO DIFFERENCE. RECENTLY HOWEVER, MY PHARMACY SWITCHED ME TO THE BUDEPRION AND I HAVE NOTICED A MARKED INCREASE IN THE SEVERITY OF EXISTING SIDE EFFECTS AS WELL AS SOME NEW ONES I NEVER HAD BEFORE (HEADACHES & NAUSEA). I HAVE CONTACTED MY PHYSICIAN AND AM AWAITING A RESPONSE. IF YOU ARE HAVING A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE WITH THIS DRUG I WOULD DEFINITELY RECOMMEND YOU SPEAK WITH YOUR DOCTOR. WE TAKE THESE DRUGS TO RELIEVE SYMPTOMS, NOT ACQUIRE THEM. THERE IS NO POINT IN TAKING SOMETHING THAT MAKE ONE FEEL WORSE.
DUBSTER
Posted by nutmeggins on August 18, 2006, at 13:06:14
In reply to Budeprion (Generic) vs. Wellbutrin, posted by Daniel2000 on September 30, 2004, at 7:41:28
My preference in general is to use brand name medications since I have noticed quite a bit of fluctuation in the dosage equivalency of generics. For cost reasons, however, it has become a necessity to use generic drugs whenever they are available.
I have used the Wellbutrin SR brand, bupropion SR generic, and budeprion SR generic and have noticed differences between them. Bupropion SR gave me no more side effects but seemed to be less effective than the brand name medication. Budeprion SR not only seemed less effective to me, it also caused extreme nausea - possibly because there is practically no coating on the tablet to slow the drug's absorbption. I have gone back to bupropion SR even though it is almost twice the cost of budeprion SR.
Posted by Michelle Schultz on October 31, 2006, at 7:46:27
In reply to Re: Budeprion (Generic) vs. Wellbutrin, posted by Sebastian on September 30, 2004, at 12:09:33
I was on the generic for one month and had a massive nervous breakdown. I was told that the generic was not meant for someone bi polar but the well butrin was okay. This drug is not the equivilant of well butrin. I spent over a month and a half in la la land. Please remember it is not the same as the brand name
Posted by smom on January 17, 2007, at 10:16:55
In reply to Re: Budeprion (Generic) vs. Wellbutrin, posted by Michelle Schultz on October 31, 2006, at 7:46:27
I recently was changed from Welbutrin XL to Budeprion XL by my pharmacy. I assume this is to keep the cost down for my insurance company. I however, can tell a major difference. Except for the few side effects that I now have that I did not with the Welbutrin, I feel as though I am not taking my medication. I am now experiencing the symptoms that lead me to seek help to begin with. This could be a dangeous situation.
> I was on the generic for one month and had a massive nervous breakdown. I was told that the generic was not meant for someone bi polar but the well butrin was okay. This drug is not the equivilant of well butrin. I spent over a month and a half in la la land. Please remember it is not the same as the brand name
Posted by Smeee on January 20, 2007, at 15:28:57
In reply to Re: Budeprion (Generic) vs. Wellbutrin, posted by smom on January 17, 2007, at 10:16:55
What follows is my story - the quick answer to the question begins with paragraph two. I started Wellbutrin XL 150 in November. I asked my GP for it because it worked for my brother so genetically I thought perhaps it would not cause anxiety. FYI - I have tried Prozac, Zoloft and Lexapro in the past. The first two caused anxiety within days and I did not continue either much past a week. Lexapro made my heart race wildly on the first day.
I started WB XL 300 the first of the year 2007. On the 16th I took generic budeprion for WB XL 300 and within 3 hours felt racy and agitated, a feeling that persisted throughout the day. The feeling was primarily in the torso, upper arms, upper legs and some in the face. There was a tight band of pressure across my chest into both upper arms. I took an .5 mg ativan after work which helped for about 1.5 hours. I had my wine and hit the sack. The next AM I tried it again and had the same reponse so I had my BP checked in the PM and it was normal. The 3rd day I took it again but did not drink my usual two cups of coffee and I went to the GP. (I persisted because I need help with the depression and thought perhaps my body had hit saturation point and I needed to stick with it to feel better) Doc put me back on brand and the agitation ceased. When I went back to brand I had my coffee and all was well. Unfortunately, at work the first day back on brand, I had a maddening computer error where all my data got scrambled and I came home super frustrated and decidedly depressed. I wept and wailed more last night than I ever have in my life, even when folks have died. I did not have my usual two glasses of wine and went to bed and wept some more. I slept soundly and throughout most of today then I called a pharmacist thinking I had the wrong drug and had lost three days of building up the Wellbutrin in my system.
Wellbutrin XL is enteric coated and chemically named BUPROPION. The 682 yellow ovoid generic is not not coated, powdery and is named BUDEPRION. The enteric coating affects how the drug is released in the body. If the two are chemically the same then they should have the same name. The primary chemical ingredient should be the same despite any additives the generic might include in their product! One other question one may ask is how the additives may affect the primary chemical? THE END! Aren't you glad? I AM!
Posted by zenhussy on February 1, 2007, at 19:24:50
In reply to Re: Budeprion (Generic) vs. Wellbutrin, posted by smom on January 17, 2007, at 10:16:55
dangerous for sure! three weeks of generic XL and the mood decline and energy drop were significant enough to have folks remind us to tell pdoc sooner than later. thank goodness the chart shows years of buproprion HCl issues and now has an entry about how patient cannot take budeprion.....NO SUBSTITUTES! Go pdoc and pharmacy...nice to have them both in our corner!
the score as follows:
zenhussy advocating for medically necessary medications!!--1
medicare forcing generics on patients--0
other generics have been non-issues for us....this one made life very slippery and scary to have a decline start so quickly after the med switch. definitely something to be aware of for those who are sensitive to certain meds.
ymmv.
here's hoping going back on name brand goes smoothly and mood returns to more up than this. fingers crossed.
Posted by SallyAnne on February 3, 2007, at 11:34:34
In reply to Re: Budeprion (Generic) vs. Wellbutrin » smom, posted by zenhussy on February 1, 2007, at 19:24:50
At first I thought the pharm was in error because the pills are huge and oblong. But the label said it was substituting for Wellbutrin. I'm all for saving money. So I took the pill. I'm amazed at the negative difference this form of med had on me. I called my Doc on 02-01.But at first I didn't realize it was the pill causing my problems, after all I am a depressive. Specifically I experienced digestive upset and sleep disturbance. I was achey and my mood was different subtle crankiness, feelings of failure. I wasn't as down as I had been before treatment but I was getting there and it frightened me, hence the call to Doc. He didn't give me any argument and in fact seemed grateful for the feedback. I am back on WB xl 300 as of this morning. This is the first time since taking the generic that I have not been nauseous. I hope I sleep well tonight. There is a problem though. My insurance will only pay for generics when they are available so I have to go through a lot of red tape to get a brand necessary exemption and it is not a sure thing. I'll pay out of pocket if I have to. My Mom died in a mental home after years of electroshock and talk therapy which is all they had available at the time. So I'll pay if I have to.
Posted by zenhussy on February 5, 2007, at 13:48:13
In reply to Re: Budeprion (Generic) vs. Wellbutrin » zenhussy, posted by SallyAnne on February 3, 2007, at 11:34:34
>>> At first I thought the pharm was in error because the pills are huge and oblong. But the label said it was substituting for Wellbutrin. I'm all for saving money. So I took the pill. I'm amazed at the negative difference this form of med had on me. I called my Doc on 02-01.But at first I didn't realize it was the pill causing my problems, after all I am a depressive. Specifically I experienced digestive upset and sleep disturbance. I was achey and my mood was different subtle crankiness, feelings of failure. I wasn't as down as I had been before treatment but I was getting there and it frightened me, hence the call to Doc. He didn't give me any argument and in fact seemed grateful for the feedback. I am back on WB xl 300 as of this morning. This is the first time since taking the generic that I have not been nauseous. I hope I sleep well tonight. There is a problem though. My insurance will only pay for generics when they are available so I have to go through a lot of red tape to get a brand necessary exemption and it is not a sure thing. I'll pay out of pocket if I have to. My Mom died in a mental home after years of electroshock and talk therapy which is all they had available at the time. So I'll pay if I have to. <<<
SallyAnne,
So sorry that you went through what you did with your mother and her hospitalizations. :(
You're very fortunate that your doctor took you seriously and remedied the situation quickly.
How are you feeling now? out here it has only been a few days back on the namebrand XL 300 mg....can't tell anything yet.
still doing the six hour midday power naps....makes life hard when the ability to get up and go has got up and gone. would understand if sleep wasn't happening at night but full night sleep AND full daily power naps too. too much!! don't feel rested...feel leaden limbed and sluggish.
tc and hope the XL returns you to feeling more like yourself. also hoping that you might be able to get an override for the insurance formulary to pay for namebrand.
good luck!
--zh
Posted by Simcha on February 5, 2007, at 15:06:39
In reply to Budeprion (Generic) vs. Wellbutrin, posted by Daniel2000 on September 30, 2004, at 7:41:28
I have to say that I have experienced no difference between brand Wellbutrin XL and generic Budeprion XR. I've only been on the generic for two weeks or so.
Simcha
Posted by smom on February 5, 2007, at 15:36:55
In reply to Re: Budeprion (Generic) vs. Wellbutrin, posted by Simcha on February 5, 2007, at 15:06:39
It is unfortunate that insurance companies can require the use of generic. I pay the difference for the name brand Wellbutrin XL because taking the generic was just as bad or worse than not taking anything at all.
Posted by SallyAnne on February 6, 2007, at 9:05:26
In reply to Re: Budeprion (Generic) vs. Wellbutrin, posted by Simcha on February 5, 2007, at 15:06:39
I think that you would be feeling the difference by now if you were going to have a bad reaction. I wish the generic had worked for me. It's a lot less expensive. Also, I believe that my bad reaction is because the generic does not have a coating and so the absorption is affected.The generic is a lot bigger than the brand so perhaps it is also the filler that I am reacting to. If that is true then it is the "inactive" ingredients that are causing the problem.
Posted by SallyAnne on February 6, 2007, at 9:16:50
In reply to Re: Budeprion (Generic) vs. Wellbutrin » SallyAnne, posted by zenhussy on February 5, 2007, at 13:48:13
I've only been back on Brand for a few days. I feel better, I'm not nauseous or dizzy, but I'm still not sleeping well. It may take some time to get my system back on track.
I hope you fatigue lessens. What does your doc say? Maybe, hopefully the med needs time to build up to the proper levels. That fatigue must be awful. Good luck.
Posted by Brutus1 on February 7, 2007, at 18:00:48
In reply to Re: Budeprion (Generic) vs. Wellbutrin, posted by Simcha on February 5, 2007, at 15:06:39
Simcha
What happpened with the Cymbalta?
> I have to say that I have experienced no difference between brand Wellbutrin XL and generic Budeprion XR. I've only been on the generic for two weeks or so.
>
> Simcha
Posted by BroncoGirl on February 7, 2007, at 20:14:07
In reply to Re: Budeprion (Generic) vs. Wellbutrin, posted by Brutus1 on February 7, 2007, at 18:00:48
I just recently started taking Budeprion and i am not liking the results. I am having a bit of nausea and all through the day I keep having these moments of light headedness. Has anyone experienced this symptom? I am not sleeping well either.
I just noticed the differance tonight of my prescription. I had been taking bupropion for about 2 years, when suddenly in December my insurance company decided not to cover the cost anymore. I saw the nurse practitioner and she prescribed me Cymbalta. I didnt like it as good as the bupropion and my co-pay was higher. I mentioned this to my doctor last week and he was livid at the insurance company. He called them and got them to cover it for me but now they have given me Budeprion. It just makes me want to scream. I will just have to call the pharmacy tomorrow.
But I am glad I found this website. I was thinking it was all these symptoms were in my head.
If anyone has experienced the light headedness though, I would love to know. Thanks.
Posted by zenhussy on February 9, 2007, at 12:06:38
In reply to Re: Budeprion (Generic) vs. Wellbutrin, posted by SallyAnne on February 6, 2007, at 9:16:50
>>>I've only been back on Brand for a few days. I feel better, I'm not nauseous or dizzy, but I'm still not sleeping well. It may take some time to get my system back on track.
I hope you fatigue lessens. What does your doc say? Maybe, hopefully the med needs time to build up to the proper levels. That fatigue must be awful. Good luck.<<<it does feel like it will take some time to build the meds back up in the system. the fatigue is lessening quickly...a friend on the phone said we sounded wired the other afternoon/evening. guess it will take a while to balance out going from sloth to wired back to steady medium.
the pdoc wasn't keen on this trial but as with many docs their hands get tied by medicare and bean counters saving money with generics---damn the patients and their well being! it was required to try the generic to show it didn't/wouldn't work as well. three weeks or so was the limit before the decline was rapidly apparent to folks outside.
pdoc has years of notes showing less than positive responses to wellbutrin (buproprion hcl) in the instant and sustained release forms. the newest namebrand XL (once daily) was the first and only wellbutrin that didn't come along with all the GI woes of the other ones.
the dizziness and slight nausea are par for course and a trade off that is acceptible for us given our track record with meds.
right now feeling a bit uncomfortable with the amped sensations going on bodily but it will balance out soon hopefully.
how are you coming along? any difference in sleep?
Posted by zenhussy on February 9, 2007, at 12:15:17
In reply to Re: Budeprion (Generic) vs. Wellbutrin, posted by smom on February 5, 2007, at 15:36:55
>>>It is unfortunate that insurance companies can require the use of generic. I pay the difference for the name brand Wellbutrin XL because taking the generic was just as bad or worse than not taking anything at all.<<<
not sure if income restrictions apply in your case but glaxcosmithwhatever has a meds program that can help with costs or even provide free medications. this was the case with wellbutrin XL before medicare kicked in.
Bridges To Access was the name of their program. couldn't hurt to see if they can't perhaps assist.
it is fortunate that some companies have overrides for medical necessity requirements for medications not covered in their formularies. sometimes it is a matter of fighting the good fight to get that override.
wishing that your insurance company recognized your medical necessity for namebrand.
how it feels when bean counters interrupt a patient's effective treatment: "oh hey, sorry your leg is broken...glad the morphine is helping with the pain but it costs too much...here's some aspirin...it should be the same to morphine so you'll be fine." yeah yeah apples and oranges but the best we can express as this brain is not stabilized from the weeks of less than adequate meds (the major AD component of the cocktail)
Posted by zenhussy on February 9, 2007, at 12:37:36
In reply to Re: Budeprion (Generic) vs. Wellbutrin, posted by zenhussy on February 9, 2007, at 12:15:17
Posted by smom on February 9, 2007, at 14:05:00
In reply to Re: Budeprion (Generic) vs. Wellbutrin, posted by zenhussy on February 9, 2007, at 12:15:17
> >>>It is unfortunate that insurance companies can require the use of generic. I pay the difference for the name brand Wellbutrin XL because taking the generic was just as bad or worse than not taking anything at all.<<<
>
> not sure if income restrictions apply in your case but glaxcosmithwhatever has a meds program that can help with costs or even provide free medications. this was the case with wellbutrin XL before medicare kicked in.
>
> Bridges To Access was the name of their program. couldn't hurt to see if they can't perhaps assist.
>
> it is fortunate that some companies have overrides for medical necessity requirements for medications not covered in their formularies. sometimes it is a matter of fighting the good fight to get that override.
>
> wishing that your insurance company recognized your medical necessity for namebrand.
>
> how it feels when bean counters interrupt a patient's effective treatment: "oh hey, sorry your leg is broken...glad the morphine is helping with the pain but it costs too much...here's some aspirin...it should be the same to morphine so you'll be fine." yeah yeah apples and oranges but the best we can express as this brain is not stabilized from the weeks of less than adequate meds (the major AD component of the cocktail)
>So far I have been able to manage paying the difference. But, I do appreciate the information in case I get to the point that I cannot. I do fear the day they pay nothing at all for the name brand, then it would be a different story as to being able to afford to pay for it.
I have leveled out pretty well being back on schedule with the 300 mlg Welbutrin XL. I hope to keep things on track.
Posted by zenhussy on February 9, 2007, at 14:40:20
In reply to Re: Budeprion (Generic) vs. Wellbutrin, posted by BroncoGirl on February 7, 2007, at 20:14:07
what a drag! to have to discontinue the original wellbutrin, go to cymbalta for over a month and then to return to what you thought would be wellbutrin only to find you've been given a less than adequate generic.........argh!
the symptoms you describe often can accompany starting wellbutrin. the nausea often abates after two weeks for some....longer for others. as for the lightheadedness it could be from the wellbutrin building back up in your system.
the raciness and amped feelings aren't comfortable but since we know they're not permanent we'll ride out the bumpiness and wait for that middle ground to come again.
lightheadness often happens within an hour or so of taking the namebrand XL for us....we chalk this up to acceptible SEs as we've been through worse and this is good 'nuff for us. if it was ongoing throughout the day then we'd not be so accepting of that particular SE.
good luck with the pharmacy. let us know how things turn out.
dang this budeprion once daily (generic for wellbutrin XL) just doesn't have enough of the active ingredient or just doesn't have the same time release as the namebrand.
it isn't a matter of anti-generics as four of five meds are generics for us. no problem with the other four.....just this one. let's keep a working thing going, eh?
Posted by BroncoGirl on February 11, 2007, at 7:58:15
In reply to Re: Budeprion (Generic) vs. Wellbutrin » BroncoGirl, posted by zenhussy on February 9, 2007, at 14:40:20
Thank you for the infomation.
The day after I post my original post, I skipped my morning dose, just to see if I still had the symptoms. And, no I didnt have any nausea or light-headedness.
I then resumed taking the budeprion that evening and so far the symptoms do seem to be not as severe as they were before.
So I am going to try it for another week or so and hope for the best. Keeping my fingers crossed.
Thanks again for the information, it good to know I'm not the only one having problems.
Posted by notfred on February 11, 2007, at 14:57:48
In reply to Budeprion (Generic) vs. Wellbutrin, posted by Daniel2000 on September 30, 2004, at 7:41:28
Cool, the generic version of Wellbutrin XL is now on the market. I just refilled and got the Teva version, Budeprion.
Posted by zenhussy on February 11, 2007, at 15:45:28
In reply to Generic Wellbutrin XL, posted by notfred on February 11, 2007, at 14:57:48
good luck! hope you have no ill effects switching from brandname to generic....the teva versions can differ.
which one are you getting? Teva (Gate) or Teva (Lemon)? ours was the Teva (Lemon)....large oval yellow chalky tablet.....massively underwhelming when it came to being same as namebrand in our system.
some are lucky and don't have any SEs to slight changes while others are flattened by any miniscule difference in the active ingredient in their medications.
here's hoping you're one of the former.
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