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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by maxeeeeene on August 28, 2007, at 20:46:10
I've been taking wellbutrin for about four months. Last months I was switched to the generic, and ever since then I've been getting exhausted in the afternoon. Never had this problem before. If anything, the brand Wellbutrin gave me a lift. I started taking it at night, thinking it would help, but it hasn't. Has anyone had this experience? Thanks.
Posted by tecknohed on August 28, 2007, at 21:15:39
In reply to wellbutrin, posted by maxeeeeene on August 28, 2007, at 20:46:10
Is it possible that you've also switched from a 'sustained/prolonged release' form to an 'immediate release' form of the drug, or vice-versa? It can make a big difference.
Can you not switch pharmacies, finding one which stocks the branded type? I live in UK & have often visited several pharmacies to find the branded version of a drug (Provigil for example), and I wont hand in my script until they can confirm that they have the branded type I've wanted. Can you do this where you live?
Posted by Phillipa on August 28, 2007, at 22:03:05
In reply to Re: wellbutrin » maxeeeeene, posted by tecknohed on August 28, 2007, at 21:15:39
Very smart never thought of that before. Will do it from now on as once they have the script here you can't get it back. You know I picked-up on UK with whilst. Phillipa
Posted by Racer on August 28, 2007, at 22:05:50
In reply to Re: wellbutrin » maxeeeeene, posted by tecknohed on August 28, 2007, at 21:15:39
> >
> Can you not switch pharmacies, finding one which stocks the branded type? I live in UK & have often visited several pharmacies to find the branded version of a drug (Provigil for example), and I wont hand in my script until they can confirm that they have the branded type I've wanted. Can you do this where you live?Over here, it's much more usual for the insurance company to require switching to generic, rather than the pharmacy itself. In fact, our insurance company will not cover any brand name drug if there's an equivalent generic. (I take 450mg of Wellbutrin XL, which means taking three of the name brand 150mg tablets, for instance, but if I went to 300mg, I'd be forced either to pay entirely out of pocket for the name brand, or go to the generic.)
Some doctors over here will write prescriptions saying "Brand name only," and some insurance companies will then pay for the brand name. Some, however, like mine, will not. Last year, I had a reaction to a generic fluoxetine, and had to switch to the name brand Prozac, and then pay out of pocket for it.
To the original poster, if you do a search of the archives here -- using the search feature -- you'll find an awful lot of discussion of the Budeprion generic. It seems to cause a lot of people problems, although I'm not sure I've heard fatigue specifically mentioned. It's very possible that you really are reacting differently to it. Can you switch back to the name brand? If your insurance company does not specifically exclude name brands when there's a generic option, just ask your doctor to specify name brand on the prescription.
Good luck.
Posted by alexal34 on August 29, 2007, at 18:17:27
In reply to Re: wellbutrin, posted by Racer on August 28, 2007, at 22:05:50
I switched once back when I was on 200 mg Wellbutrin SR for a year. Figured I'd save a lot getting the generic. It was awful...I noticed a huge difference. I didn't figure it out until 3 weeks into it and then went back to the brand. The dr.'s and pharmicists assured me it is the same exact drug, so I never understood why such a difference for me.
Switch back to brand if you can. Good luck.
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