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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 18 of 18. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by loolot on April 1, 2004, at 13:13:36
Has anyone here switched from brand name to generic wellbutrin and if so, did you notice any change in its effects? thanks
Posted by CareBear04 on April 1, 2004, at 17:10:30
In reply to generic wellbutrin, posted by loolot on April 1, 2004, at 13:13:36
hi there,
i've been on all the types of wellbutrin, and i'm back to the generic because it's what works best for me. for awhile, i was on the SR type, but it made me nauseated, and the rotten egg smell was too much. i tried wb XL, which was super-convenient, but i don't think it was nearly as effective in its actual functioning. i also lost the appetite-suppressing effect when i was on the XL. taking the generic is a little annoying because, for me, it means taking two pills three times a day, but i just take them before meals, and i've gotten used to it. i really think the regular stuff works best for me, but we're all different of course. good luck!
Posted by loolot on April 1, 2004, at 19:20:28
In reply to Re: generic wellbutrin » loolot, posted by CareBear04 on April 1, 2004, at 17:10:30
So is the generic wellbutrin not SR then? BC I just switched from SR to generic and I feel tired and depressed today. Hmmmm. You would think they would tell us this stuff at the pharmacy
Posted by Iansf on April 1, 2004, at 20:55:20
In reply to generic wellbutrin, posted by loolot on April 1, 2004, at 13:13:36
> Has anyone here switched from brand name to generic wellbutrin and if so, did you notice any change in its effects? thanks
I found no difference between Welbutrin and generic buproprion. However, I do find a difference between standard buproprion/Wellbutrin and the SR or XR versions. I think the standard version is superior.
Posted by King Vultan on April 2, 2004, at 7:58:13
In reply to Re: generic wellbutrin » CareBear04, posted by loolot on April 1, 2004, at 19:20:28
> So is the generic wellbutrin not SR then? BC I just switched from SR to generic and I feel tired and depressed today. Hmmmm. You would think they would tell us this stuff at the pharmacy
>
>Recently, generic Wellbutrin SR has become available. It should be labeled as bupropion SR on the bottle rather than Wellbutrin SR. There has been a generic non-sustained release version of Wellbutrin for years. This would simply be labeled as bupropion on the bottle.
Todd
Posted by Barbara_H on May 9, 2004, at 12:41:28
In reply to generic wellbutrin, posted by loolot on April 1, 2004, at 13:13:36
> Has anyone here switched from brand name to generic wellbutrin and if so, did you notice any change in its effects? thanks
I switched from brand SR to generic SR a few weeks ago, and something is definitely going on. I'm experiencing more anxiety and depression than I have in years. I'm worried because my insurance won't cover Wellbutrin if generic's available, and I don't want to keep feeling like this.
Posted by Idmundo on May 10, 2004, at 11:47:59
In reply to Re: generic wellbutrin, posted by Barbara_H on May 9, 2004, at 12:41:28
> > Has anyone here switched from brand name to generic wellbutrin and if so, did you notice any change in its effects? thanks
>
> I switched from brand SR to generic SR a few weeks ago, and something is definitely going on. I'm experiencing more anxiety and depression than I have in years. I'm worried because my insurance won't cover Wellbutrin if generic's available, and I don't want to keep feeling like this.I noticed the same effect when I switched from Welli SR to the generic bupropion. I suspect the same effect with generic SR, but dunno yet. Lemmon (the producer) may be cutting the strength to up their profits. It has happened before. What other explanation could there be? I'd try upping my dose to see if things improved.
Posted by terrics on May 11, 2004, at 15:24:38
In reply to generic wellbutrin, posted by loolot on April 1, 2004, at 13:13:36
Hi, I just switched also. The new generic is called budiprion. I thought it was a mistake but I checked. I was on wbSR and now I am on budiprion SR; So the generic does come in SR. Funny that you said it doesn't work as well cause my pdoc increased my dose due to depression, maybe that is the reason. terrics
Posted by Sebastian on May 11, 2004, at 18:02:45
In reply to Re: generic wellbutrin » loolot, posted by terrics on May 11, 2004, at 15:24:38
I didn't think about this either. Not my last visit but the one before, on 4/7, my doctor was giving me another prescription for Wellbutrin. When he was writing it he said how about 2-200 mg pills a day. I said no, 3-100 mg pills. Later I found out about the generic, and asked for another prescription, in generic. Turned out the 2 prescriptions were the same. I didn't realize what "product selection permited" meant. Thought he had given me a script for brand?!
So maybe you all are right and the doctor knows it, generic is weak! Think I will present this question next time. Maybe I should take 3-150 mg generics???
Posted by King Vultan on May 14, 2004, at 16:57:52
In reply to Re: generic wellbutrin » loolot, posted by terrics on May 11, 2004, at 15:24:38
> Hi, I just switched also. The new generic is called budiprion. I thought it was a mistake but I checked. I was on wbSR and now I am on budiprion SR; So the generic does come in SR. Funny that you said it doesn't work as well cause my pdoc increased my dose due to depression, maybe that is the reason. terrics
No, actually, the generic name for Wellbutrin SR is bupropion SR. There is also a standard (non-sustained release) generic version that is just plain bupropion, but this is not widely used because it has a somewhat greater chance of causing seizures and has to be taken more often than the SR and XL versions of Wellbutrin.The differences you are discussing as to the efficacy of the drug could be due to a difference in the sustained release mechanism or a difference in absorbtion rate due to a different formulation of binders, buffers, and other inert ingredients. Rest assured that the pills do contain the amount of drug specified, but it is certainly not true that a drug from one manufacturer will work exactly the same as the same strength of drug from someone else. Even if the mg of the drug itself is the same, different formulations can have a noticeable impact on effectiveness, depending on the particular individual taking the drug.
Todd
Posted by Sebastian on May 14, 2004, at 21:57:55
In reply to Re: generic wellbutrin, posted by King Vultan on May 14, 2004, at 16:57:52
Tod
How do the generic companies get the formula?
Ivan
Posted by King Vultan on May 15, 2004, at 10:48:25
In reply to Re: generic wellbutrin » King Vultan, posted by Sebastian on May 14, 2004, at 21:57:55
> Tod
>
> How do the generic companies get the formula?
>
> Ivan
This pharmaceutical stuff is all heavily patented, and the information is basically public knowledge. Now, with Wellbutrin SR, there was quite a bit of litigation between two or three different companies before the generic bupropion SR versions actually got released. I do not know in this case if the generic versions use the same sustained release mechanism as GlaxoSmithKline's (the original patent holder), or if the generic companies have come up with their own.Todd
Posted by Sebastian on May 15, 2004, at 16:25:31
In reply to Re: generic wellbutrin » Sebastian, posted by King Vultan on May 15, 2004, at 10:48:25
Would it not be public knowledge?
Posted by King Vultan on May 15, 2004, at 19:31:41
In reply to Re: generic wellbutrin » King Vultan, posted by Sebastian on May 15, 2004, at 16:25:31
> Would it not be public knowledge?
The sustained release mechanism that Glaxo uses in Wellbutrin SR is patented and would be public knowledge, but I don't know if their patent has actually run out on it or if a generic company has devised a sustained release mechanism of their own that is maybe slightly different. I suppose it's a good assumption that the Wellbutrin SR patents have indeed run out, given that more than one generic company is producing bupropion SR.Todd
Posted by Sebastian on May 16, 2004, at 10:49:45
In reply to Re: generic wellbutrin » Sebastian, posted by King Vultan on May 15, 2004, at 19:31:41
How many different companies are producing the generic SR. Which ones are the best?
Posted by snood on May 18, 2004, at 20:55:30
In reply to Re: generic wellbutrin » King Vultan, posted by Sebastian on May 16, 2004, at 10:49:45
I recently filled a script for Wellbutrin SR and was given Budeprion SR. I haven't noticed a difference...however, I have been tapering off Zoloft for the past 2 weeks, and I'm extremely depressed today. I haven't been depressed like this since about 3 months ago! So, I was assuming that the depression was from less Zoloft, but now I'm questioning if the generic WB SR is causing it. Maybe I should just keep assuming the Zoloft is the problem? Who knows?!?
Posted by jeff c on May 28, 2004, at 12:34:54
In reply to generic wellbutrin, posted by loolot on April 1, 2004, at 13:13:36
i had been switched to the generic budeprion about a month ago and have had some real problems with it. very bad dizzy spells, tintinitus, and headaches, and some confusion. i was on wellbutrin for two years with no problems at all. i have since asked my dr to write the rx for brand name only, and have been taking that again now for a three days. still having issues, but i guess the stuff has to get out of your system. anyone else have these symptoms? is it posible these are some kind of withdrawl?
Posted by jooy on June 6, 2004, at 14:30:01
In reply to Re: generic wellbutrin, posted by jeff c on May 28, 2004, at 12:34:54
Hi, just wanted to let you know about another site where this dicussion is also taking place. It might be helpful since there are more recent postings there:
http://www.thinkless.org/archives/2003/september/wellbutrin/index.php
This is the end of the thread.
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