What Is The Best Generic Version Of Wellbutrin Xl - Watson Or Anchen? (Page 61) (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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Sarah, I have insurance and the coupon. My insurance is blue cross. Direct Success didn't even ask for the coupon because she said she had one.

My order from Direct Success is arriving tomorrow.

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Can you post the phone number you called to order the Wellbutrin ? Thanks so much ??

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"It's simply outrageous that this 20 year old medication (Wellbutrin 300xl and 150xl) have been priced to gauge the public due to lack of quality competition."

It's the people using the coupons who are directly responsible for Valeant gouging the people who can't use the coupons. Only when those who are eligible to use the coupons refuse to use the coupons will Valeant be forced to lower it's price across the board for everyone. The coupons are nothing more than a marketing ploy by Valeant. The real battle is between those using the coupons and those who are ineligible to use the coupons. This is how Valeant makes it's profit. Pitting the haves against the have-not's.

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I agree. I'm one of the ones who can't use the coupon since I can't afford health insurance . I called direct success again today and they pretty much told me to get insurance before they can give me the discount .

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You could try Santos 150sr (3) times per day to reach 450mg; and yes, they also have 75mg., 100mg.- that are not slow release (like the original Wellbutrin prior to 1996). At that time I was on 75mg. (4) times per day - but then, the patent ran out and Glaxo introduced the time release XL brand. Good luck!

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Kathy - I have a feeling that thousands of people are going through the "exact" frustrations of finding a suitable replacement for the $1300 per month 300xl brand. Unfortunately, most people are taking the Anchin (ultra-cheap) generic because the national pharmacies can buy a 30 day supply at wholesale for $20 or less. Anyway, I like the idea of adding Adderall for those who need an extra boost. My situation is a bit different - I'm trying 5mg of Librium (not Lithium) to take the edge off and smooth things out a bit. So, adding another med to the mix is a good idea for adjusting bupropion's various after-effects. Thanks for the input.

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I think I am just going to try to get health insurance for a few months so I can get my Wellbutrin back . These generics have been horrible on me. The direct success rep said all that matters (if using the coupon )is the co-pay Any advice on who to go with ?

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For some reason, my insurance company balked at more than 2 doses per day. I'm glad to hear somebody else took SR more than twice a day. Why would anybody care if it's broken up 3 times a day, or 2? I hate when rules take precedence over the patient!

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When I was buying from Direct Success, they never asked for my insurance information, beyond asking if I had it. My insurance is United Healthcare, and they refuse to cover brand name Wellbutrin. That makes it $50 per bottle, out of pocket, for me...which is steep, but better than $1300!

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"Geminiguy, this doesn't seem to be working. It's valeant who is giving out the coupons. Insurance is refusing to pay for Wellbutrin brand, only generic. So somehow, I guess Valeant figures $50 bucks a bottle is better than nothing. I don't know which insurance companies allow only a $5 copay for Wellbutrin--it sounds like an urban myth! I don't know how anybody pays $900 per month, I couldn't do that. It feels desperate, sometimes."

It's not me making the $5 and $900 claims. You will need to get the answer from the ones who are making the claims.

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Can someone help me out with what insurance company covers name brand Wellbutrin xl ? I'm just going to get insurance so I don't have to be on these generics anymore. I've wasted $120 this month on tying generics out that could have went to insurance payments. Frustrating to say the least ??

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I talked to my doctor about this today and
She said she could just stop the Wellbutrin and put me on lexapro instead . Anyone ever done this ?

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"I joined this discussion to find help with a better generic and not to have to defend myself for using a coupon that was offered to me. I've learned a lot from the members who post here and I am grateful for the help. My posts are my way of helping others"

I wasn't trying to imply that's it's wrong to use the coupons. If I had access to the coupons (which I don't) and really needed them, which I don't because it's nothing more than luck brain chemistry that Par works for me (sort of, at least to the extent that I'm not willing to shell out $4,500 a year for brand), I would use the coupons in a minute. If you were willing to give up the coupons, others wouldn't and you wouldn't have gained anything, either personally or to the benefit of others. The point I was trying to make is that only when everyone refuses to use the coupons (which will never happen) and all insurance companies refuse to cover Wellbutrin at all (which will never happen), will the price of brand Wellbutrin fall. Valeant would have no choice but to do this because if it didn't it wouldn't have any market and thus no profit. But as said, none of this will ever happen. Therefore, I would continue to use the coupons and have no moral compunction whatsoever against doing so.

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The branded wellbrutrin xl in my experience is tier 3 or not covered on most insurances which means the cost is next to zero reduced. If cost is 1500 a month and copay is 80% well it's crazy.. I had to talk with my dr try 2 generics fail and then Dr completed a preauthorization form sent to insurance ..Dr can call as well.. then get approved for a tier 1 or tier 2 status..which brings cost way down and then still copay was 250 so coupon helped tremendously for me. So in my experience I don't know of any insurance that covers brand at a reasonable affordable copay without a preauthorization file with insurance so when pharmacy runs the prescription against insurance that copay comes up tier 1 or2.

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Sarah- I took Alexa pro and it made me gain weight and foggy. It's way different than Wellbutrin, I'd research it and think about t before you switch.

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Love the generic. That's all I've ever taken. Works great.
Crystal

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Crystal, wish I could say the same. I was put on Wellbutrin before there was a generic, or an XL! When my insurance switched to only covering generic, I found it felt like I wasn't on any medication. I payed the highest tier copay, until they won't cover namebrand at all. Last year, the coupon was $50 per bottle, or $100 per month, via Direct Success pharmacy. This year, it is $100 per bottle, or $200 per month for me (300mg plus 150 mg). Even with the coupon, that's a 100% increase. I'm not finding a workable option, but am hoping I will adjust to the generic with time.

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Which manufacturer Crystal? I'm glad it worked for you !

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Anyone have any updates ? My generic is still not working like the brand name did. I'm going to see about changing manufacturers yet again

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Sarah talk to your doctor about Contrave. It has Wellbutrin in it and it's cheaper than the brand name . I pay $90 a month

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