What Is The Best Generic Version Of Wellbutrin Xl - Watson Or Anchen? (Page 48)
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My doctor will not prescribe generic Wellbutrin XL but my insurance will no longer pay for brand name drugs. I will have to pay about $7000 per yer for what I am taking now (3 of the 150mg Wellbutrin XL brand name per day). I am reading that the problem with the generics is the time release mechanism and not the drug itself and that some are better than others. Anybody have experience with the generics made by Watson and /or Anchen?

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I have been taking Welbutrin, in one form or another, for over 10 years now. About 7-8 years ago, when I was taking Welbutrin SR 300 mg, my pharmacy suddenly decided to switch me to the generic. I didn't notice at first because the pills were the same shape and colour. I started feeling sick, headache and nausea, and thought I had a virus. It gradually got worse over a two week period until one day at work the manager had sent me to the break room because I looked so sick. I was in agony with the worst headache of my life and stomach cramps. It was then that I looked more closely at my pills and noticed they didn't say "Wlebutrin" on them. Through the haze of pain it dimly registered that something was not right there, so I looked at the bottle and saw that it also did not say Welbutrin. And that's when I realized that my symptoms had started when I got my prescription refilled.

Two years ago I started taking Welbutrin XL, 300 mg. I had been off of antidepressants for awhile but went into a new period of severe depression. Remembering my last experience just, I asked the girl on cash if they had given me the brand name. The pharmacist who was on duty at the time told me there was no generic for Welbutrin XL. So I relaxed and didn't worry about it.

I got my prescriptions filled on Tuesday and the pharmacist informed me that the generic was now "back in stock". Which came as a shock to me since I didn't know there was one. I groaned and made faces and told her I had problems with the generic in the past. But then I realized how long ago that was and said "well, maybe it will be okay". She acknowledged that there have been problems but said that it's a new formulation and a new manufacturer. (Mylan)

So, I've been taking it for 4 days now. The first day I had a headache, which I attributed to my other medication being increased and didn't worry about. Later in the day, I had some nausea, which I attributed to drinking too much coffee. The second day, I had nausea in the morning but it went away and felt really good. Yesterday, I had nausea all day and felt really blah. And this morning I woke up early feeling agitated and just generally unwell. And the nausea started and continued to increase over the next hour until I finally vomited.

I can't be certain yet that the generic bupropion is the culprit, but I suspect it is. Which really sucks, since Welbutrin is the only antidepressant I can tolerate.

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I just wanted to weigh in with my own personal experience with Wellbutrin and the generic Bupropion. I've taken the brand name for years, but due to the cost I have tried the generic a couple of different times. It honestly does not work for me the same way and I wish it did. Obviously different people have different reactions. I would just like to encourage everyone to try both, if one doesn't seem to be working for you!

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You should go to Costco and get a membership I take the Bupropion 150mg XL 30tabs and it is $23.00

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There never was and never will be any generic equivalent of Wellbutrin. The FDA only checks the release rate and cannot possibly determine the effects of the fillers and dyes on individual brain chemistry above and beyond release rate. The FDA can provide no explanation why TEVA Budeprion works for some and not for others, why Actavis works for some and not for others, why Watson works for some and not for others, why Anchen works for some and not for others, why any "equivalent" or "non-equivalent" works for some and not for others. The FDA can call TEVA Budeprion "non-equivalent" to Wellbutrin or any other name it want's to and sell it to me and thousands of others for who it works. It can call any other so-called "generic equivalent" of Wellbutrin any name it wants to and sell it to the thousands for who it works. Place a statement on the literature of each medication to the effect "This medication may or may not duplicate the effects of Wellbutrin for you. If it doesn't work for you, discontinue it's use and try another." Both don't pull drugs from the market based on meaningless conclusions that cannot possibly assess the effects of the medication on individual brain chemistry.

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..Valeant manufactures wellbutrinxl....GSK holds the patent (trademark). I am positive they will refer you to Valeant as they are not making this drug Valeant is. Really doesnt matter though. Everybody has their own unique way of processing drugs in their system...what works for some may not work for others....no matter who makes it.....nowadays there is no guarantee with drug manufacturers what you are getting, I just want what I pay for to work on me. I feel that all Drug manufacturing regulations in U.S. is a joke.

From wellbutrinxl.com website..

Global Headquarters
Valeant Pharmaceuticals International
One Enterprise
Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
United States of America
1.800.548.5100
1.949.461.6000
1.949.461.6626 (Fax)

US Customer Service
For product related inquiries or to request product information, please call:
Valeant US Pharmaceuticals Customer Service
1.800.556.1937
1.848.461.6626 (Fax)
e-mail: [email protected]

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We already know all of that. Read the postings from the middle of last year up to now. That's been the main topic of discussion.

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Check the FDA site. They have interesting information on Watson generics. Watson should have pulled some of their generic wellbutrin in late 2013. Their generic version was officially judged not equivalent to the brand name. I take a generic version by Actavis but it is not good. And also, Watson merged with Actavis recently so you guys do the math...not good news for us generic Wellbutrin users. I have a request in to my doctor to switch me to brand name Wellbutrin. Just google it or go to the FDA site and search for it. You will be unpleasantly surprised with Watson and Teva brands and now I don't trust Actavis either as they are merged with Watson! It pays to do some quality research. But pay attention to the data. Look for studies that are comprehensive and FDA approved.

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Can't wait to hear the answer to that question.

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I sent an email to GlaxoSmithKline asking if the Direct Success Pharmacy promotion is for real and if "real" Wellbutrin is manufactured by Valeant now. We'll see if they reply.

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TEVA Budeprion works the same way for me as coffee. I drink two cups of coffee first thing in the morning, get a big blast of caffeine and then nothing for the rest of the day. I don't need to drink a small amount of coffee spread evenly throughout the day to get the effect I need. I only need to have the initial jolt, both for TEVA Budeprion and caffeine, and I'm good for the rest of the day. But there are others who would need to have an equal amount of Buproprion and caffeine spread evenly throughout the day to get the effect they need.

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I would not think that Valeant would risk their reputation and set themselves up for possible litigation by publishing their Wellbutrin logo on the Direct Success Pharmacy website if the Wellbutrin was not 100% the same. But I suppose anything's possible.

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The Teva generic put me in the hospital. I can't imagine anyone would do well with something that gives you a big blast of medicine and then nothing... but if that's what feels "normal" to you, then go for it.

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That's true about the time release. But even if the time release doesn't work as specified, it doesn't mean that the medication won't work for some people. TEVA Budeprion worked for me and many others as well as brand Wellbutrin. But because the medication didn't pass the FDA's time release trial, TEVA Budeprion was pulled from the market. That forced me and many others into $300 a month brand Wellbutrin instead of $50 a month TEVA Budeprion which worked for us as well as brand Wellbutrin. And Anchen and Actavis which the FDA kept on the market was a disaster for me and many others. So back to the $300 a month brand Wellbutrin. The FDA needs to kept it's hands off all generic brands of Wellbutrin and let each individual decide which brand works for them. When any government agency tries to tell you what's good and what's not good for you, run. Only you can decide what's good and what's not good for you. Everyone's brain chemistry is different and different release rates affect everyone differently. What's good for the goose may not be good for the gander.

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YES - I think it's a generic thing. The problem is the generics use a different filler than the name brand. Even if the medication is the same, the filler is what creates the "time release" aspect. If the time release doesn't work, a big chunk of the medicine can go into your system at once, and then wear off all at once. This would completely explain your "coming down" feeling. That roller-coaster is dangerous. It can cause suicidal feelings - it has in me and is documented in others.

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I haven't started the Direct Success Pharmacy Wellbutrin yet so I don't know if it will work for me or not. I checked the labels on the pharmacy brand and on the Direct Success Pharmacy brand. The pharmacy label said "Wellbutrin XL TABS". The Direct Success Pharmacy label said "Wellbutrin XL Oral Tablet ER". Don't know if the difference in labeling means anything. Both labels say "Valeant" and the actual pills themselves appear to be 100% identical in physical appearance. When I first called Direct Success Pharmacy I asked them if the Direct Success Pharmacy $150 Wellbutrin was the same as the $900 pharmacy Wellbutrin. I was assured it was. In any case, once the FDA officially took the position that generics were the same as brand, "Equivalent" and "Same" became totally meaningless in actual effect on different people. From my personal experience and hearing the experiences of others, I now trust nothing what the FDA, any government agency or any manufacturer says. If the $150 Wellbutrin doesn't work for me, I'll go back to the $900 Wellbutrin. It is what it is.

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I am really bummed to hear that. I went ahead and paid over $300 to the pharmacy to get name-brand Wellbutrin since my insurance won't cover it. Then I signed up with Direct Success thinking I could go forward at $50/month. The person I talked to said this is the real Wellbutrin. Now you are saying this is not the case? I have only been taking Wellbutrin for 2 weeks, I have not really felt any improvement but it is not making me feel spacey, weird and tired like the generic was (Global). Why would Wellbutrin allow their name and logo on the website and put the Direct Success Pharmacy on the wellbutrin.com website if it is not the real thing? No ethics in the pharmaceutical company, that's one thing for sure.

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We are getting a refund from Direct Success in New Jersey. The product they are selling as the name brand is NOT the name brand. They said so in the phone call. They asked us if the label said it was Wellbutrin and we said yes. Then we told them that the label, while it says it is Wellbutrin, does not look like the label on the namebrand we normally get. I asked, "Is this the same product?" They said their product was EQUIVALENT to the namebrand and then told us (and I quote) "If our product is not working for you, then it's probably best to get the name brand from your local pharmacy." And they are sending us a refund.

They are printing labels that seem to indicate it is the name brand but it is NOT the name brand. If this product works for you, great - but it not only did not work for me (as the other cheaper knock-offs I tried earlier have not) but it made me feel much worse than taking no medication at all.

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The is NO REASON to continue taking the generics that are often unreliable. See posts 435, 462, 470, 473, 480. Through the program described in these posts (and even further back), you can get the brand medication through the Direct Success pharmacy in New Jersey (direct from the manufacturer Valeant) for $50/month. Several of us are now getting our medication through this program.

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Called my doc to switch to brand name, even said I was having side effects that disrupted my life. He never called me back. Wow what shocker ,he isn't the most reliable.well I've been on the generic by anchen for about 13 days now, I weirdly had no side effects as of today, I still cry a little easier then normal ( I don't even know what normal is anymore being on all different meds for anxiety and depression since I was 15 and I'm now about to be 29 ) but I suppose that should subside as time goes on. I actually feel like I could be happy.I'm looking up now that I don't have headaches and I'm not dizzy or stuck in a depression anymore. You really do just have to stick it out. The process sucks , I know. But just hang in there. Being depressed, you always want a quick and bettering effect. I definitely went down before I picked up when on these meds but I have higher hopes now on feeling happy soon. I feel a he'll of a lot better then I did just a few days ago.I don't have the libido back yet but I now feel not so opposed to it anymore. Which my husband is thrilled about hoping soon I'll be the one to jump onto him for once.

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I've been taking brand name Wellbutrin and switched two weeks ago to generic. I've been on Wellbutrin for one year when I switched to generic. I can definitely tell the difference. I've had depression, not wanting to go anywhere, not wanting to socialize, headaches. But, Wellbutrin is so expensive. I guess I'll just have to try & give the generic more time. Not happy

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