Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 929745

Shown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Aplenzin

Posted by john51 on December 17, 2009, at 17:28:20

Has anyone tried a new AD called APLENZIN?
Aplenzin is the same drug as Wellbutrin except for one thing. Wellbutrin is Bupropion Hydrochloride and Aplenzin is Bupropion Hydrobromide

 

Re: Aplenzin

Posted by Phillipa on December 17, 2009, at 17:40:19

In reply to Aplenzin, posted by john51 on December 17, 2009, at 17:28:20

I've not heard of that will have to goggle. Phillipa

 

Re: Aplenzin

Posted by mtdewcmu on December 18, 2009, at 13:37:29

In reply to Re: Aplenzin, posted by Phillipa on December 17, 2009, at 17:40:19

My doctor gave me samples of Aplenzin, and I took the first one today. So far there is no glaringly obvious difference from Wellbutrin. The doctor told me that people have felt less jittery on Aplenzin.

 

Re: Aplenzin

Posted by john51 on December 18, 2009, at 13:47:34

In reply to Re: Aplenzin, posted by mtdewcmu on December 18, 2009, at 13:37:29

> My doctor gave me samples of Aplenzin, and I took the first one today. So far there is no glaringly obvious difference from Wellbutrin. The doctor told me that people have felt less jittery on Aplenzin.

That's realy weird to hear because it has made me feel very jittery. But everyone is different! And, it's been quite a while since i have taken Wellbutrin and who knows that might also make me feel jittery now....thanks for the reply

 

Re: Aplenzin » john51

Posted by Phillipa on December 18, 2009, at 21:16:57

In reply to Re: Aplenzin, posted by john51 on December 18, 2009, at 13:47:34

I don't get it? There seem to be so many forms already sustained release of wellbutrin why is this different? Thanks Phillipa

 

Re: Aplenzin

Posted by john51 on December 19, 2009, at 9:01:34

In reply to Re: Aplenzin » john51, posted by Phillipa on December 18, 2009, at 21:16:57

> I don't get it? There seem to be so many forms already sustained release of wellbutrin why is this different? Thanks Phillipa

Well Phillipa, the only chemical difference is that Wellbutrin is in hydrochloride form and Aplenzin is in hydrobromide form. As far as how this could make any difference my doctor couldn't give me an answer. He simply stated that "maybe that 1% difference could make all the difference". The ONLY other difference is that with Wellburin XL you only have to take it once a day, however, if your doctor increases your dose to 450mg, which does happen, you will have to take 2 pills once a day...1 300mg and 1 150mg. Aplenzin is touting the fact that you only need to take one pill once a day which is their 522mg tablet which they say is equivalent to 450mg of Wellbutrin. Personally, I think it is just a gimmick to put out yet another "slightly" different form of a nearly identical medication that is motivated more by marketing than by research or providing relief that can't be found elsewhere. Just my opinion. Just one more thing, Aplenzin is not even incuded in my Rx Drug Insurance Formulary which means I would have to pay the retail price which is nearly $250 for a 30 day supply of the 348mg tab and over $500 for 30 day supply of 522mg tab. I have already stopped taking it and am going to give Nardil another shot. It did help me almost 18 years ago.
Thanks
John

 

Re: Aplenzin » john51

Posted by Phillipa on December 19, 2009, at 20:17:22

In reply to Re: Aplenzin, posted by john51 on December 19, 2009, at 9:01:34

Ah if that is the only difference agree with you about the drug companies. So you do well on nardil? Phillipa

 

Re: Aplenzin

Posted by john51 on December 19, 2009, at 22:44:54

In reply to Re: Aplenzin » john51, posted by Phillipa on December 19, 2009, at 20:17:22

> Ah if that is the only difference agree with you about the drug companies. So you do well on nardil? Phillipa

Yes I have done very well on Nardil in the past and I was getting ready to go on it again until I did some research and found out about the whole "New reformulated Nardil" and how TONS of people are up in arms about how it doesn't work like it used to and how Pfizer took it over in 2003 and changed it. So now I am probably going to do Parnate instead. Got any opinions or comments on either of them or any of the MAOIs?

John

 

Re: Aplenzin » john51

Posted by mtdewcmu on December 20, 2009, at 10:13:14

In reply to Re: Aplenzin, posted by john51 on December 19, 2009, at 9:01:34

You are right, I hadn't thought of the existence of a 522mg tablet as a potential advantage.

I am a pretty well informed layman when it comes to pharmacology and chemistry, and I can't think of any major advantage to using the hydrobromide salt instead of the hydrochloride salt. Perhaps it dissociates at a different rate, thereby changing the rate of absorption. Since the bromide ion is larger, it would tend to dissociate more in solution. Another, slightly wild-eyed, thought that I had is that perhaps the bromide adds a sedative effect. Bromides used to be used as sedatives in the 19th and early 20th centuries, but were supplanted by better pharmaceuticals and disappeared.

The Aplenzins seem well-manufactured and are kind of pretty, slippery little things. (You know you've been on medication for too long when you start admiring pills for their aesthetic properties.) I like taking them, but I could not afford them if I was paying for them.

 

Re: Aplenzin

Posted by mtdewcmu on December 20, 2009, at 10:17:06

In reply to Re: Aplenzin » john51, posted by mtdewcmu on December 20, 2009, at 10:13:14

Here's a photo, if you want to see what it looks like:

http://www.pharmer.org/forum/new-medicines/aplenzin-new-hydrobromide-salt-bupropion-xl

 

Re: Aplenzin

Posted by herpills on December 21, 2009, at 13:22:10

In reply to Re: Aplenzin » john51, posted by Phillipa on December 18, 2009, at 21:16:57

> I don't get it? There seem to be so many forms already sustained release of wellbutrin why is this different? Thanks Phillipa

Seriously how many versions are there now?? SR, XL, XR...and don't forget "Zyban"

the whole bromide vs chloride thing reminds me of celexa vs. lexapro...
herpills

 

Re: Aplenzin

Posted by jch on October 15, 2011, at 16:41:08

In reply to Re: Aplenzin, posted by mtdewcmu on December 20, 2009, at 10:17:06

Aplenzin vs. Wellbutrin

Most obvious is a lower seizure rate than Wellbutrin (Documented in study at NIH).
Additionally seizures are of shorter duration and cause less brain damage.

Differences between HBr and HCl:

HBr is twice as heavy (81g/mol) as HCl (36.s.46 g/mol

HBr is more than twice as dense (3.3) as HCl
(1.49)

HBr has a higher solubility in H2O, 193 vs 72 in HCl.

At room temp HBr is a liquid, HCl is a gas. This indicates that HBr molecules are more tightly packed than HCL.

Both are dipolar however HBr is 0.80 vs.HCl 1.05.The higher the polarity of a molecule the more able it is to influence the polarity of another molecule.

HBr is much more reactive than HCl.

So although they are both halogens there are some concrete differences between the molecules, the most important possibly, the difference in their reactivity.

 

Re: Aplenzin

Posted by ger man on October 17, 2011, at 13:11:17

In reply to Re: Aplenzin, posted by jch on October 15, 2011, at 16:41:08

> Aplenzin vs. Wellbutrin
>
> Most obvious is a lower seizure rate than Wellbutrin (Documented in study at NIH).
> Additionally seizures are of shorter duration and cause less brain damage.
>
> Differences between HBr and HCl:
>
> HBr is twice as heavy (81g/mol) as HCl (36.s.46 g/mol
>
> HBr is more than twice as dense (3.3) as HCl
> (1.49)
>
> HBr has a higher solubility in H2O, 193 vs 72 in HCl.
>
> At room temp HBr is a liquid, HCl is a gas. This indicates that HBr molecules are more tightly packed than HCL.
>
> Both are dipolar however HBr is 0.80 vs.HCl 1.05.The higher the polarity of a molecule the more able it is to influence the polarity of another molecule.
>
> HBr is much more reactive than HCl.
>
> So although they are both halogens there are some concrete differences between the molecules, the most important possibly, the difference in their reactivity.
>

There is no difference in effectivity i think, its just the antiion that is different,the active compund is the same. I wont spend too much time speculating about what this difference could mean for the whole med. I just think its more kind of a marketing gimmick as many of us hope that those changes have an effect on how it works for us.

 

Re: Aplenzin

Posted by jch on October 17, 2011, at 15:39:46

In reply to Re: Aplenzin, posted by ger man on October 17, 2011, at 13:11:17

CH2=CH2+HBr goes to CH3-CH2Br Bromoethane,
a pesticide

whereas:

CH2=CH2+HCl goes to CH3CH2Cl Chloroethane,
used in production of TEL an antiknock additive
A mild anesthetic, narcotic popper

Obviously the addition of HCl or HBr to the same substance create different substances.

I don't know how each of them reacts when consumed, but they are not interchangeable

 

Re: Aplenzin

Posted by jch on October 26, 2011, at 14:53:23

In reply to Aplenzin, posted by john51 on December 17, 2009, at 17:28:20

I have now taken both Wellbutrin and Aplenzin. I do not remember having any noticeable side effects with Wellbutrin, which I took for over a year, sometimes in combinations with lithium(very bad) and something else. I have,however experienced, two noticeable side effects with Aplenzin. The tinnitus(which I have had for 30 years) has raised in pitch and become much louder and much more of a problem. I have also developed trouble peeing; sort of like urinary constipation. This is particularly problematic for me as until I was 53/54 years old, I peed 2 maybe 3 times a day.It wasn't something I ever thought about. In the past few years I suddenly am waking up to go,(never used to happen) and going 5/6 times a day. My doctor says it has to do with menopause and age. Doesn't everything. Now I dread going.
Am seeing my doc this evening and hoping to try Wellbutrin, as I didn't have these problems with it before. For those of you who were sure there was no difference, I think that this indicates that there is.


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