Posted by Sunnely on September 2, 2000, at 21:42:53
In reply to zyban for depression? Any info, posted by dari on September 2, 2000, at 17:04:10
> Hi everyone:
>
> I have a friend who was just prescribed zyban for depression. I thought this was a smo_ing cessation pill. Is it also used as an AD? Just curious. Any info would be appreciated. Thanx.
>
> dariWellbutrin SR (sustained release) and Zyban are similar in every detailed comparison. One is the clone of the other. (BTW, there are two formulations of Wellbutrin, IR [immediate release] and SR [sustained release]). The generic name for both drugs is "bupropion hydrochloride." They have similar pharmacological action and side-effect profile. So in effect, both Wellbutrin SR and Zyban are effective as antidepressant and for smoking cessation. The difference in the labeling of the brand name is mainly for marketing purposes (maker GlaxoWellcome, Inc.), and to avoid the "stigma" of depression attached with Wellbutrin SR.
Although one is the spitting image of the other, there is one big difference between the two drugs that is not widely recognized, and in fact, a costly one. In the US, most insurance companies will reimburse patients for prescription of Wellbutrin SR but not Zyban. The reason for this is that, insurance carriers are afraid that reimbursing for Zyban will open the floodgates of every kind of addiction therapy on the market.
To sidestep this kind of barrier imposed by the insurance carriers, and to avoid patients from paying for this costly prescription, doctors are writing prescriptions for Wellbutrin SR instead of Zyban for smoking cessation. I guess insurance companies would rather pay for the costlier medical complications of long-term smoking such as emphysema, lung cancer, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, etc., rather than the cheaper preventative measure i.e., help people quit smoking before the irreparable damage to the body sets in.
Incidentally, while Zyban is making the rounds of newspapers, weekly magazines, and TV news programs, its identical twin, Wellbutrin SR, is getting the lion's share of the business. In 1998, there were $506 million worth of prescriptions written for Wellbutrin (excluding Zyban); most were written for depression, some for smoking cessation. Don't understand why your friend's doctor would prescribe Zyban for depression instead of Wellbutrin SR.
Incidentally, another antidepressant fluoxetine (Prozac), was recently approved by the FDA for the treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). However, this drug will be marketed under a different name, Sarafem, for the same reason cited with Wellbutrin SR, to avoid the "stigma" of depression attached with Prozac. Eli Lilly's patent for Prozac (long-acting fluoxetine) is about to expire (next year, either February or August 2001; Lilly is appealing, however). Awaiting on the wings is the generic version of Prozac, and ready for release, if the court does not intervene.
Although the "stigma" of depression for the name change (Sarafem) was cited, I believe this is another last ditch effort of Lilly to "milk" the consumers of their hard-earned money. We all know that the generic version of any drug is cheaper than the brand name, call it Prozac, Sarafem, or what have you. If drug companies think that the consumers are dumb, they should think again. Remember: 1) Zyban (not covered by insurance) is Wellbutrin SR (covered by insurance); 2) fluoxetine (Prozac) which will most likely be available in cheaper generic version early next year, is identical to the costlier version, Sarafem (for premenstrual dysphoric disorder).
I do not understand why these drug companies would cite the "stigma" of depression for the change in the brand name of these products. Is it immoral, shameful, embarrasing, or criminal to become depressed? Should the following people be outcast and/or stoned as the lepers of the old days, for having suffered from depression: Tipper Gore (future first lady), Mike Wallace ("60 Minutes"), Art Buchwald (journalist), just to name a few?
MOHO (My own humble opinion).
poster:Sunnely
thread:44308
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000822/msgs/44319.html