What Is The Best Generic Version Of Wellbutrin Xl - Watson Or Anchen? (Page 54)

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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The same thing has happened to me I suffer with depression and the brand-name Wellbutrin is the only antidepressant that works for my body I have a very strange make up hardly any medication works with me so when I became depressed years ago and it went through so many antidepressants and all of the different classes that was the only one that worked I've tried generic and I became depressed all over again my insurance decided they're not going to pay for it even though my doctor says namebrand necessary. My husband and I are currently appealing this with Blue Cross and Blue Shield we have great insurance a PPO and great coverage so far our insurance agent said that they are going to most likely give me the name brand so cross your fingers if I hear anything new I'll definitely let you know and good luck I hope you can get it done all you have to do is file paperwork and they have to give it to you they can't just stop a medication that you're taking and say you can't have it anymore you have to take the generic because whether people tell you were not there is a difference in generic medication and namebrand medication there is a chemical difference because I feel it whether it's a one chemical difference my body is so sensitive so I have to take the medication that I was prescribed I honestly hope that this works out for you because I know exactly how you feel

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I have BC/BS, and they cover it, but it's considered Tier 3, so I would have to pay 60% of the total cost. It's me not even sure what that is now but it's hundreds per month and unaffordable for me. I'm now paying $50 per month through Direct Success Pharmacy.

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I was taking the generic brand of Wellburtrin by Mylan for two years, but my pharmacy has discontinued the generic Mylan and has switched to a SOSCO brand. I have had headaches for the past month and jaw pain because I must be grinding my teeth at night, and have had trouble sleeping. It is the only medication I take so it has to be the change of brand. I called pharmacy and they are going to give me the last of the Mylan brand and see if the switch is actually the cause of the grinding teeth and headaches and restless nights but I am pretty sure the switch of brands is the source.

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Thank you for this response. I was very skeptical of my generic Wellbutrin sr 150 mg when I received it from my pharmacy this past refill. It smelled so strong of chemicals and I recently noticed a very strong smell to my urine. The only change was the "brand" of generic Wellbutrin which I just checked and it came from Watson labs! I did not have these side effects from my previous pills. I will no longer be accepting this refill from Watson.

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Watson Labs stopped making buproprion almost 3 years ago. (They bought Actavis, and decided to market their drugs with the Actavis name.) If those are Watson-made, then the drug is old, or counterfeit, or old AND counterfeit -- no wonder they smell like chemicals and don't work!

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I had to switch to an HMO insurance and had to switch pharmacies. They gave me the generic form and I feel HORRIBLE! I feel dizzy and a little buzzed all the time. I have been taking Wellbutrin 150XL for over 10 years. I knew within 24hrs that something was different. I thought it was in my head until I just started doing some research.
I hope it works for you. I'm trying to get the Dr and insurance to agree that I need the brand name.

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The pharmacy just recently filled my prescription with Apotex brand instead of the Mylan 75 mg I usually take. My blood pressure is up...was not with the Mylan at all. Nausea. Palpitations. Felt good at first but as the days have gone on I am not feeling well. Hands tremble a little also.

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Are the brand name Wellbutrin 300xl by Valeant made in the US the same as the brand name in Canada, the look so different. I always felt fine on the Wellbutrin that I got from here, but very tired on the ones from Canada. Anyone else had this experience?

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Kathy- I wanted to tell you that my son's MAP test scores for this fall were outstanding. ... so much so the IEP teacher asked when he was placed on medication (since she was not involved at all last yr since she is new to this school)... Both her and my son's teacher do not believe he needs to be on a IEP anymore,. His test scores were: Math (national avg 202, him 212, top score was 215), Reading: again 212, national avg 208, top 214. His behavior has been very good- no calls at all this year!! When he raises his hand to be involved it is pertinent to the topic. Teacher & IEP are going to target him for Challengers class. Amazing how one medication can make all the difference in the world. For my son that was vyvanse.

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I transitioned from brand name to generic (par) and I feel great. There are obviously a lot of people who this didn't work for- so sorry to hear as I know how frustrating is to suffer from depression.

With that said, I imagine for the people like me whom it worked for, might not be inclined to post on here. I'm here to say that for some of us it works.

My suggestion is to try it and see what happens.

Also a little research will show that not all generic brands where killed by FDA

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Thanks, how long have you been on the generic from Par?

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I thought Par was going to be Ok, but I could tell that I was slowly sliding into depression as the first couple of weeks went on. So I talked to my pharmacist, and she tracked down Activas for me. I had one 60-day bad batch of that followed by 90 days of a good batch, but that was before Watson took Activas over. I've been on the Activas for 5 months now and I think it's better than the Par for sure, but still not as good as the real thing. Hopefully Watson will police the quality control problems better...

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I am on bupropion 300 xcl.. I was taking wellbut Ron and insurance would not pay for name brand. Changed to bupropion 300 xcl with no problems.
( manufacturer Anchen) Pharr pharmaceutical bought Anchen and did well
with new manufacturer. When I had to go on medicare I was told about the great benefit of the national phar. in Phoenix , Az. Worst mistake of my life.
Had a set back that lasted for about 3 years. Be careful if you change mfg
companies. As stated in other blogs the fillers and binders are usually different
in composition. AND THAT CAN HAVE DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS.

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I had the same issue with the generic. Recently I obtained my Wellbrutrin XL at a much lower cost.. used my insurance too. Not sure what is going on behind the scene but I was shocked! It may not last for maybe there is litigation going on between OptRx and the pharmacy which I sure hope so.. but WOW I was shocked.. Now I have put aside $1200 for 2017 and now the cost is $30..well ..umm guess I could have cosmetic surgery....just kidn. Probably go have a hysterectomy in all seriousness.. Still its funny.

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My MD refuses to prescribe generic Wellbutrin XLl. He will only give me the SR which has to be taken twice a day. He simply says the generic XL sucks. My brother does well on the generic so I am thinking of switching up MDs for convenience. He is a MD psychiatrist so he must have some rational.

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The same goes for Nexium & all GERD, Heartburn, etc. scripts! I stopped Nexium "cold turkey" after being on it for years. Doc kept me on it & I couldn't afford it anymore! I was NEVER told not to stop suddenly! That was back in January 2016. It's much better, but I am still suffering side effects....vomiting, diarrhea, bad stomach cramps, hiccupping, etc. Now I still have diarrhea unless I take Imodium plus Probiotics [daily], now & Metamucil! AND watch out for Chocolate which I dearly love!

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I have been on Wellbutrin since before the patent expired and since that, my insurance insists we use generics. It is not the same! At first I was getting the Mylan and/or Watson brand but last year I started having problems getting those brands. Next I was getting Sandoz and Solco brands...neither of those brands work. Period. I've been going downhill since :( now I'm going to be fighting my insurance company to get them to pay name brand :/

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Pepperthecat1969, if you figure out what is going on, please fill us in! (Especially if there is some new program, new politics, whatever, which would allow us to receive name-brand Wellbutrin for a reasonable cost.)

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I have tried MANY of the generic xl. I had high hopes for Par, but about 2 2/2 months into it, I started the downhill slide. After much research, I decided to try the SR and went with Sandoz. That was the closest I have come to brand. However, I was still battling some brain fog and late afternoon fatigue. My doctor suggested adding a very small dose of Adderall (generic) - 5 mg 2X/day. That is the magic combo for me. Also, I always thought Wellbutrin XL, and I was on the brand name for YEARS, made me emotionally "flat". I didn't care as long as the depression was gone. With the generic sr I think I am more myself than I have been in a very long time. My heart goes out to anyone struggling to find an affordable solution.

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Actavis is horrible. I have been taking Zydis for years and all was well . Felt great. Then pharmacy says Zydis no longer makes this.They switched to Actavis and in a week I have had so many bouts of crying and emotional. I will have to go back to welbutrin and pay over 100.00 per month for 3 months because script was filled for 90 days and this is hell.

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