Par Bupropion Xl 300mg Vs Actavis

I've been taking the generic brand PAR of Buproion LX 300MG for over 2 years and haven't run into any problems. Walgreens switched the brand to Actavis generic this month and I feel extremely depressed. I plan on seeking medical attention from my doctor right away-- but I'd like to hear about your experiences to not feel so alone. I started taking Actavis around January 15th and I've noticed my mood has completely shifted and no longer feel like myself. PAR seemed to work well for me. Before I switched brands my depression was manageable but now it's out of control. I constantly feel angry, annoyed, and highly irritated and it scares me. Can generic brands of the same exact medication cause your mental health to decline?

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Hi Emma,

Sorry to hear about your reaction to the Actavis brand. I've seen this manufacturer get a lot of heat for producing allegedly weak medication (including anything from pain meds to antidepressants); throwing long term patients into a state of withdrawal because they are used to ingesting better quality meds. So if I had to speculate why you might be feeling this way on Actavis, hopefully this reasoning helps put things into perspective... Personally, I'd try to avoid Actavis at all costs. Perhaps your doctor could specify a particular manufacturer's name on the prescription so pharmacists will only give you what has been proven to work...

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Emma, I had exactly the same experience with switching from Par to Actavis. I contacted my doc who told me to tell the pharmacist about my difficulties. The pharmacy was very accommodating and returned me to the Par generic, and I'm feeling much better. It's an interesting situation, though, Par buproprion had some bioequivalency problems at one point and had to be re-approved by the FDA. Still for whatever reasons, I respond much better to the Par product than Actavis. Even if your doc won't specify a generic manufacturer when he writes your prescription, you can always call your pharmacy to see if they have options, and if they don't, call around to other pharmacies and ask what generic they're dispensing. I feel your pain. Good luck.

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I was also taking the PAR brand and it was working fine with no side effects. Recently my pharmacy changed drug manufacturers...not sure which one. But, I used to take a round pill and these are now oblong and yellowish in color. Caused HIVES! I can't take the generic versions. So, even though you are supposed to taper this drug to get off of them completely I couldn't do that and has been causing problems.

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Stay away from anything that Actavis makes they took over Watson and so far every thing that I got from them does not work I have gotten Norco and also Kadian which is a time released Morphine pill and they did nothing for me my Dr. switched me to a tablet instead of a capsule which Kadian is and now the Morphine is from a different Manufacture and they work the Norco from Actavis doesn't do anything and a lot of people have complained about them and it sems like Walgreens deals with them. I have complained to the FDA about this company, I heard that this company is from India

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I had the same experience. I was taking par pharma bupropion xl 300 mg. My pharmacy? switched to act. and I was having high irritability and just generally feeling awful. There are articles on the web about the FDA recalling at least 2 generics. I asked my Dr to specify par pharma on the script and also made sure the pharmacy had that brand before picking it up. Switching back solved that problem.

Unfortunately, now I'm having other problems with it. I've always had constipation with it and had to take laxative. I've also had heart palpitations and removed all caffeine from my diet. It has been a wonder drug for my depression but due to the side effects I've tried to ween off twice, both times dropping to 150 xl. After about 2 weeks my depressive symptoms come creeping back and I've gone back up to my 300xl dose. Now it seems to just not work anymore. It feels like I somehow broke it by going up and down on it. My major depressive symptoms seem to be under control, but I have lost motivation, energy and desire to do anything. It's really hard to get going and just want to drink coffee and eat sugar to get a boost. I'm not doing so well at work either. I've gained almost 10 lbs and just not sure what to do now. Has any one had this and found a solution? I've tried Prozac in the past with no effect. I don't think I need serotonin. It's the norepinephrine and dopamine that I need.

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Funny, I have exactly the opposite reaction. I've been taking Actavis for a long time, and at one point Walgreens switched me to the Mylan (and I think also to the PAR for awhile) and they didn't work at all for me. I had to go back to the Actavis. I guess everybody reacts differently to different brands of generic. I also have to use the Actavis (Cartia XT) for my blood pressure medications; other generics just don't work for me.

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I was on Bupropion 150 Sr
150mg 2 times a day with a 12hr period in between my dr. now has changed it to Bupropion XL 300mg 1 tablet a day
This has made me very shaky not feeling well, and did not sleep, called my Dr. but she is on vacation and has no one covering for her should I go back to Bupropion 150mg also stomach upset . My doctor is on vacation so should I go back to what I was taking till she gets back as I cannot take XL300

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I had the exact same problem, and was only able to trace it back to when my pharmacy switched from PAR to Actavis. The new pharmacy I am working with now has been lovely about ordering the PAR generic for me, and my old pharmacy was just as nice when I went in and asked what the old brand was, even let me take a pic of the label on an older bottle set to be tossed. A lot of pharmacies are more willing to work with you than you would think.

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This has been my experience exactly. Wellbutrin has been life-changing for me...Then out of nowhere I gained almost 30 pounds in less than a year(while dieting), I have no motivation, and my depression is back worse than ever. My doc actually just increased my dose from 300 xl to 450 xl(which seems like a very high dose to me) and yet I feel no different. I realized everything started going downhill when my pharmacy (Walgreens) switched to Actavis. I apologize I don't have any advice to offer, I just felt it was important to share my experience in hopes that you'll see you aren't alone in this. Best of luck!

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This is the 3rd time I've been on Bupropion 300 XL from PAR Pharmaceutical and can't tolerate it from the beginning. I have been on it for a week and would like to know if that morning crash will ever go away? Any help will be greatly appreciated.

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Posted something similar earlier w/o mentioning Walgreens. They also switched my Bupropion from 300 mg XL by Mylan to Actavis w/o my knowledge.I am now in a depression, all four days I have taken it. I switched to three 150's as I normally take 450 a day; one 300 + 150 also They worked fine for a wee, the Actavis ones yet today is tues., and I was functoining perfectly until sun., thus this is my 3rd day of immobiling depression and my third depressive episode since taking Actavis Bupropion 300 mg XL

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Same here: PAR pharma (imprinted A102 round white pill) worked great. THEN every few months or so I'm very depressed, insomnia, irritable... Usually a few days after the pharmacy ran out of Par & switched to Actavis. The pharmacist at the usual drug store says, depression makes me "imagine" that there's a difference from each manufacturer. New pharmacist says that a particular manufacturer is sometimes chosen by the best wholesale $ their buyer can get. This new pharmacist only stocks Par Pharmacy (A102) because of complaints w/ other brands. It was worth the effort to transfer my Rx to a new pharmacy. Also wise to verify what's in stock so you won't run out of your med. I wish you well!

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Re: Handyman 1959 (# 12)

Hi there!
I had to quit Bupropion from Actavis because of feelings of anger, depression, psychotic symptoms and allergic reaction.
I developed a whole body rash and my blood pressure went up to the roof.
Can anybody relate?
Thanks!

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Re: Hemaro (# 13)

Yes! My blood pressure was in the "dangerous" range at my last appointment and now have to take medicine for that. Again, something else that never happened until I got switched to Actavis. I didn't have a rash like you mentioned, but my depression definitely resurfaced big time!

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My blood pressure has been out of control for several months and I have been taking ACTAVIS 300 XL bupropion and also so having nightmares. Did not realize there could be connection but I am changing pharmacies and I'm being switched to PAR so hoping it will work.

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i mean come one there are why to many drug componys making this drug its all greed and feed if we are going to take this drug give us brand name dont play with our lifes

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Re: Amy (# 6)

I'm hoping for the same reaction. PAR pharm Bupropion isn't working for me and is making me gain weight. Some posts on another forum indicated Activas worked better for some mentally, AND their appetite went back to normal, so I just ordered the Activas brand. Fingers crossed. Thanks for posting, reading this feed nad me worried I made a mistake, until I read your post. That relived me and I think I was right to order the new brand and that it's worth a try.

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This is Glo again - nightmares gone with PAR

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I think I'm having the same issue and I'm so glad it's not just me. I had been taking the PAR 150 XL once a day and felt great, then the doctor instructed me to start taking 2 of the 150s to see how I would do at the 300mg dose - felt even better. Finally she prescribed the single 300mg XL, which my pharmacy filled using the Actavis. It's been about 10 days and I have been very noticeably depressed. I'm going to look into finding a pharmacy with a different generic or try to get the brand name Wellbutrin. Good luck!

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Re: David (# 1)

I have experienced the exact same thing as Emma. I WOULD LIKE for the DFDA to look into this matter.

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Re: Greg (# 31)

Following up. Back on PAR and feeling better. Nothing is perfect and I may have it increased but I don't feel awful anymore. There is a difference. Find out which one is better for you.

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As of today I got switched from Actavis - which was working - to Lupin. I am getting side effects I never had before and am freaking out. Apparently there's a huge shortage of Actavis with no predicted end in sight. I am miserable, anxious, irritable, itchy, experiencing bruxism, and I have a terrible headache. I may have a nervous breakdown.

There is definitely a distinction between the manufacturers. The inerts lists for each one are different and can cause reactions. It's also an issue of this being an extended release drug; those inactive ingredients are what makes this extended release.

It doesn't seem to matter which mfg you use; whichever one you are used to is the one that more or less works, and any change can cause serious problems.

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Same here. The PAR from Walmart was working pretty well for me for a few years. Switched to Walgreens Because it was closer and got the Actavis. Things got worse. Depressed, low energy and irritable. Didn't believe it had anything to do with the brand. Read a bunch of studies saying they're all identical, but there are no outside contributing factors. Everything is better in my life and I felt like I was on a roll. No change in diet but I have been jogging more frequently which I've read can make me feel emotional perhaps as much as it can help lift spirits. But I'm waking up depressed. Feels like there's pressure on my temples. Short fuse and impatient. ADD seems worse even while taking Dexedrine. Will have doctor order me some PAR online if we have to and see how it goes.

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I'm just about to start taking Bupropion XL. My doctor ordered the brand name manufacturer, but Kaiser Permanente must have changed it to a generic "PAR PHAR". The tablet looks like it's coated which is good because I have a very sensitive tummy. Is Par Pharm a good generic? No icky fillers? Thank You!

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I'm an so glad I found this. My wallgreens switched in July. I felt different right away but it took me a long time to figure out what caused the change. Anger, weeping, annoyance with everyone...it sucked. So I went to my dr and she said, yup that can happen. She called wallgreens. I went into today to pick it up....and they gave me the same thing as before!! I was so mad. I explained that it was wrong. I didnt know it was PAR that I needed....but the pharmacy had no idea what I was talking about when I said they switched it. Although it didnt help that I described what it looked like wrong. J hope they can do something about it tomorrow. I cant fo through another month as miserable as I am.

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I really prefer Activis worked great. I was taking the brand and was concerned when I went to Activis and it worked much BETTER. So now, Duane Reade (which is Walgreens) has switched to Par, so I am super concerned. Good to hear that people think Par is better...but I tell you that Activis was amazing for me.

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I was on a generic brand of Wellbutrin 300 XL myself for years. Sorry not sure what brand. When I moved my new Pharmacy filled that script with the generic brand Actavis. It only took four days of taking it for me to know it was NOT good for me & was NOT going to work out!!! It gave me terrible nightmares, headaches & stomachaches!!! As if that wasn’t bad enough I was nauseous & vomited a couple of times!!!

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Re: Always Looking for the Pony (# 24)

I have had this problem for some time, noticing multiple times at Walmart or Walgreens when other than Anchen (I believe is PAR - A 101 imprint for 150 mg) was given to me. I always returned it and until now they were able to fill with the right generic. Now they say Walmart no longer gets meds from Anchen. Called CVS but they don’t have any PAR in stock. Will try Target . Thanks for the post saying that they carry PAR. It should be covered but cost a little more based on Express Scripts’ new tier system for Pharmacies.

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Please see my post from June 8, 2018 at 2:31 a.m. (Debbie). It's very detailed, so I won't repeat it here. You are not alone. Please reply if you need any clarification.

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I was searching the web today for "problems with generic Wellbutrin" and came across this site and thread. THANK YOU all for your posts! I have been recently experiencing many of the same (sudden) side effects after years of successfully taking 300 mg Wellbutrin XL daily: agitation, hives, nightmares, and worst of all, I've felt very unlike myself. I also used Walgreens, and they of course use Actavis. I called Target Pharmacy, they use PAR as their supplier. I had my Rx switched, and will pay out of pocket. I'll let you know how it goes. Many thanks!

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