What Is The Best Generic Version Of Wellbutrin Xl - Watson Or Anchen? (Page 55) (Top voted first)

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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Glaxo can no longer be sold in Canada.. I had been getting Wellbutrin XL 300 mg from Canada Pharmacy. And then they didn't work. They were made by Biovail. They LOOKED EXACTLY LIKE THE REAL THING. Counterfeit pills. I had a devil of a time getting my money back.

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Yes I've tried both and both did not work. Devliery system is different and for this medication it makes a difference in my body. Sucks for I, too am in the same boat as you yet I take 450mg so I have a $100 payment now.

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Diane, I had the same experience. I was ordering from a Canadian pharmacy and the first couple of orders actually came from Turkey and it was the GlaxoSmith Kline company and I was fine. The next order was from Canada - Biovail - I was okay for about a month, then started going downhill. GSK was bought by Biovail, but it was NOT the same medication. I have read from a couple of people who got the Wellbutrin from Turkey - GSK - and did not do well, but that is the way it is. What works for one person, may not work for another. Anyway....Biovail merged with Valeant and I strongly suspect that is why the Wellbutin by Valeant is not
working for me. I think my next step is to change from the XL to the SR version and start trying some generics again. I am going to start with the generic by Sandoz on recommendation by a pharmacist friend.

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I had the same problem with Canadadrugstop Wellbutrin bad side effects and I was so hopefull on getting the name brand. They acted as if they was no difference how did you get your money back. I started getting Mylan brand again with very good luck, Parr has also been good but it's had to say what we're really getting some times, if all of a sudden your new filled script is not working like yesterdays. There answer is aways talk to your doctor, as if your not compendent. Easy out for them.

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Have you tried Direct Success Pharmacy? I have been getting Wellbutrin XL from them for over a year for zero copay. They just raised my copay to 50 so I am trying some generics again. I am doing fine after three weeks on Par.

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Gabbysmom, have you had contact with Direct Success in the last few months? After January, they just stopped sending mine. I was set up to pay the $50 copay with a credit card, with no insurance. They just stopped coming, with no notification, explanation, or anything -- last bottle was mailed out January 13th.

I've now switched back to generic, starting with Par and now Activis (which seems ok). But I still have about 50 days worth of the real stuff that I'm hanging on to...

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Well, now I'm screwed. I finally, *finally* got it all sorted out. I got myself on the only name brand my insurance would cover, namely the plain old Wellbutrin. I am fine with three pills a day over the complete hell the generics put me through.
So what's the problem? GSK has decided to stop making it. And I have a days worth left. I don't know what is going to happen.

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It is Bad . I have been on it two weeks. I have been on blue point for the past year. My insurance
would no longer cover this brand. I started par it's been 3 weeks. it is a bad medication
I dident even know about all these problems until I lost my regular brand.
This is cruel especially since the Rx companies are aware

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Purchased Welbutrin XL at Costco in Windsor Canada. It looks different - it was Written DAw

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The Wellbutrin I was getting from a Canadian pharmacy had different markings than the Wellbutrin in the U.S. The Canadian Wellbutrin XL had WXL and 300 in gray print. The Wellbutrin from the U.S.has the full name - Wellbutrin XL 300 in black print. I called Valeant here (U.S.) and they confirmed that the Wellbutrin by Valeant in Canada is the brand name. I told them it was not working for me and it was like the generics I have tried. The person I spoke to told me that Canada has different regulations and the medication may very well be different. Hope this is not the case for you. I am at a loss. I have no way to get brand unless I pay $4000 for a 90 day supply. I have to go back to trying generics that I have not tried.

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I opted to not run the RX through my insurance Prescription Carrier and instead just purchased each bottle (for 30 days) for $50.. I take 450 so I'm on 150 & 300, paying $100.. doesn't go towards my deductible which is a bummer. However I cannot afford $300/month so I will send in the $100 towards my flex plan and once that is done then oh well.. guess I'll write off what I can regarding prescription costs on my taxes.

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I have heard from friends that the generic 150 buproprion is more effective than the generic 300XL. They speculate it's because the 150's are made by a different pharma. So they take 2 x 150/day and are pleased with the results. Has anybody had a similar experience ?

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Mylan and Par did NOT work for me. It was when the product wasn't working that I had to look more closely into the issue. What I found out was the delivery is different from the Branded and it is this that I believe messed me up. Some can tolerate the difference on when drug peaks as well as how the product is absorbed. Based on what I'm hearing from the noise on the net many are NOT tolerating these two manufacturers of generic Wellbrutrin XL versions. It is truly a shame that our insurance companies can just flip a switch to not approval the assistance program Wellbrutrin offers. I will not hit the minimum deductible if at the high cost so screw the insurance company - I bought from Direct Pharmacy for $50/1 bottle of 30pills... Direct Pharmacy has always been very good at follow up and delivery times. I don't have any issues with Direct Pharmacy.. it truly is my insurance company contracted pharmacy manager company. For that business it IS all about the money. If it wasn't there would not be such a fuss about the members taking Wellbrutrin to be forced to purchase through them. I say screw them! This issue is most likely in court already so it is a matter of time before it is sorted out- at least that's my opinion. I just don't believe it can not be in court by now...but anything can occur so who knows.

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Jenee -- look more closely at your prescription coverage at your insurance company. You may want to call their customer support line and ask too. I found a form on the internet, which is for what you do if you fill a prescription without going through a "preferred" pharmacy, or just what you use if you go to a new pharmacy (where you are not in the computer) and forget your card. I got this to work for me -- I paid Direct Success the $50 with my credit card. Then when the receipt came I made a copy of it and mailed it with the form, and I wrote on the form that I was doing it this way to save the insurance company money. My prescription coverage is a 30% co-pay. So they sent me a check for $35. And automatically generated a check for $15 out of my flexible spending account.

The co-pay for Par is $15.10 -- so Direct Success is actually cheaper!

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Jenny, the insurance company is right to reject the Patient Assistance Program because it’s a fraud on all of us. When you give Direct Success your insurance details, Valeant passes inflated invoices to your insurer — I think it’s in the order of $500 or $600 a month, and that means your premium goes up next year. The “villain” here is Biovail/Valeant, who set the exorbitant price in the first place. The way to shift the cost back to Valeant is to use Direct Success without insurance.

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cf: That is an even better solution! Very smart :)

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I got My Canada Welbutrin Brand 300 Xl Monday. I was nervous about the Labeling letters sight grey color. I called after I got home and talked to Costco pharmacist- Took Her time -made in Canada By Valent. I took it Tuesday, and Wednesday, felt no ill effects. This week, same day I got my Welbutrin, my disabled Adult daughter broke a small bone metatarsal below baby toe. 4 Hours Urgent Care.(July is the month hospitals Interns become residents, med students become interns- Retired RN- know that these new folks are nervous ...Anyway I was told to go to Orthopod, we did Tuesday, another long wait 3+ hours...overbooked- we where add ons?? Then drove to pick up her medical supply to get an air walk boot.

A Good test drive of the Welbutrin? Wednesday she had a dental appt. She is doing great. I got in earlier than usual..but that has been the case when I am stressed. I think it is going to work.

Unbelievable Money saving. I had two 90 day 1 a day scripts, you do have to talk to a Canadian Dr. He was in a real medical clinic, no phone booth office. Got in quickly. Receptionist had me sign a few documents, asked for the $40.00 USD before I went to the exam room. (AMT machine in the lobby). Saw Dr Pleasant looked kindly in his 50's, asked me a few questions, like how long have I been taking the drug. He knew about Direct Success taking Medicare patients out of a discount program.

By the way I don't remember Direct Success getting Insurance info from me, I'm still sharp, I would have remembered?? I was lucky I had a stock pile of several months so I didn't panic too badly-- Except for Cost $1,400 dollars when I paid the deductible. I came here to this site and the Costco Manager of the Pharmacy gave me great information. Called Winsdor ont Costco for Price on 90 tablets $122.15 Canadian I had two Scripts each 90 days worth, I asked Dr if he would write for 180 and he did (voided my US Scripts...Drove to Costco on Walker Rd. 20 min. husband drove me anxious - worried about customs. They asked But I don't tell Put meds in My empty Bottles. Hope this is useful to someone. I will tell you how I am feeling. I had been put on several generics 10 or more years ago and I had panic attacks, so bad I called Community Mental Health Hot line in middle of the night... So I know how I feel on the generics...I have a heart condition that made me very sensitive to the way the generic released - I Agree Horrible Teva... Take Care it's not all in your Head??? Meditation, gardening, water, exercise ...staying active is useful. Welbutrin makes me Feel Happy and normal.

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Does anyone know WHY the Wellbutrin Guarantee Program - Direct Success will no longer work with you if you are on Medicare. I got a call in Jan. telling me I could no longer be in the program because I am on Medicare. I was paying the $50/month just like anyone else. Nothing went to insurance. When I told my doctor about it said that is clearly discrimination!! I have called and talked to them, but no one can explain why people on Medicare were dropped.

Any insights?

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Did you ask to be put on the cash program? I don't have Medicare, but they stopped billing my insurance so they said I could go on the cash program for 50 a month. I was paying ZERO before!

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DIrect Success has never billed Medicare. Anyone on Medicare was on the cash program from the beginning. That is why it makes no sense that they would not continue it. My doctor is correct.....it is age discrimination.

I have just started on the generic by Sandoz. I have tried Activis, Watson, Par and one other, so the Sandoz is new for me. Also, my doctor switched me from the XL to the SR and added a small dose of Adderall. I really think that is going to do the trick for me. It was the fatigue and horrible brain fog that was the problem with the generics.

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