What Is The Best Generic Version Of Wellbutrin Xl - Watson Or Anchen? (Page 56) (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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Kathy: I'm taking a small dose of Adderall too with my bupropion (Par, in my case). Adderall has been something of a miracle for me. I was already doing fairly well mood-wise on 300mg of bupropion XL, but the Adderall really put me over the line in a way I had missed all my life. I got energy back, and more importantly for me, I developed the straightforward motivation that had often eluded me (it's an ADD thing).

Regarding Medicare: My understanding is that Medicare Part D has not covered Wellbutrin for a long time. As the article revealed, Valeant only has use for any pool of insurance customers as long as they can convert a good percentage of them into full-price claims. It sounds like they can't get any blood out of the Medicare stone, so they dropped you all. Very unfair indeed.

I imagine that if you had never provided insurance details, they would have kept supplying you in the hopes that you would one day get upgraded cover that they could bilk. If it were me, I would be coming back at them with a new address, new phone number and new prescription to see if you could make it look like I was a 'new' customer.

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Eric said:
> If it were me, I would be coming back at them with a new address, new phone number and new prescription to see if you could make it look like I was a 'new' customer.

Yeah, except that they have my social security number... :-(

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They don't actually need your SSN, do they? What they need is a name, address, credit card and prescription. To become a "new" account, you just need to make sure you come up with a new address and prescription. That would break the link back to your SSN.

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This is normal in my experience. Our Walgreens gets it for me in about 3 days, that's why I always give them a heads up about a week before my scheduled refill date, just to be safe. It is like night and day, all for the better. I feel like I'm living a normal life for the first time in years! No side effects, just "normal". I can't describe how good it feels to be free from the debilitating side effects of the generics, of which I feel I've tried them all, looking for the holy grail of wellness.

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I can't say I know all the details for I don't. I know my co-pay is way high on this branded Wellbrutrin XL and it sucks. If I have money in my flex spending acct I can send in the receipts from Direct Success Pharmacy (I buy 2 -30ct bottles/month so $100/month). I didn't budget for this money for Flex Spending in the beginning of the yr for I didn't know I'd be in this situation therefore I can't send in the receipts for reimbursement. If there is another option to obtain money back from my insurance or the insurance's preferred mail order pharmacy please explain.

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Kathy- I have ADHD and was on Adderall and Wellbrutrin XL for a long time. It worked. Here is my experience: First was placed on Wellbrutrin XL for depression worked up to 300mg then much later Adderall. Addreall first dose changed my life, head was clear, I was focused, motivated. Over time I felt I was a bit more agitated so dropped Adderall and increased Wellbrutrin XL..THAT was the key-that is when I felt the calmest and people around me noticed since I was asked why I was so calm.. still though my concentration was not good.. much later Vyvanse 30mg was added. This is working. I do see it working with my 9 yr old as well. BIG huge difference with him. (I waited 3 yrs to place him on any medication while we went to counseling - 3 yrs of counseling and evaluation with child psychiatrist with pediatric physician (whom has known my son since birth & is highly respected in school system/community)...I needed to be absolutely sure all avenues were tried before medication.) With my son the difference is so blatantly obvious I received a call from the school principle, vice principle, his teacher and YMCA teacher for his behavior is calmer-before he was aggressive, impulsive-never sat still to play with legos, color etc... He is calmer, is able to concentrate on reading & tests. In fact his reading level test was 1 wk after starting Vyvanse & his score went up 4 levels... I know sounds like BS.. however there was a IEP (individual education plan) put into place so my son did his reading and tests in a quiet room w/ school reading specialist-works with kids with IEP plans and the test is a state test so there was no way the result was biased. My son knows he is in the drivers seat and his pediatric dr & pediatric psychiatrist meet with him to monitor him. He is in the driver's seat for it is his body & I'm not a parent that is going to force him to take it. I want him to understand what the medication is & why he is taking it & he has a choice. He says he feels so much happier & I bet he does for now he is in control of himself-before his impulsivity was so high he was constantly being told to stop this, or you did that --all negative.. It's been 3 months on Vyvanse 30mg & his self esteem has gone up, he joins in groups of kids, adds his ideas -before he didn't. I add all this for there are many out there that do not believe in medication for kids- well I say live my son's life Before Vyvanse & see it now then lets talk. That is the same for me when I hit 450mg Wellbrutrin and now added Vyvanse. Huge difference. That's my experience.

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Use a Canadian phamacy. Dr can write rx brand only. 90 day supply a lot cheaper.

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

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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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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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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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Direct Sucess Pharmacy. Brand name Wellbutrin for $100/month.

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3 people in my family take Wellbutrin. ALL 3 INDEPENDENTLY scorned SANDOZ. I tried and I had to agree because I had always preached to them that it was all the same. NOT SO.
Get WATSON and demand this. There is a HUGE difference. It's the first time in 30 years that I could really tell a difference. I hope this helps. Bill G.

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It is amazing how each generic can be either effective or ineffective for different people. I have read a lot about it and I have never seen a generic that all liked or all hated. Sandoz has been awesome for me and Watson was a disaster. Some people get lucky and find one right for them, and others have to suffer through trial after trial. The Sandoz SR has been better than the brand name Wellbutrin SR or XL. Strange, but I am very thankful.

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