What Is The Best Generic Version Of Wellbutrin Xl - Watson Or Anchen? (Page 70)

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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REPORT

There are people that are desperately doing an online search about generic Wellbutrin XL…people that are depressed and struggling because several years ago they started taking brand name Wellbutrin XL and did well on it – then their insurance quit paying for it, and they have been through the gamut of generics trying to find something that works. Anyone that runs across recent posts on this forum will just move on - in the past it has been a wealth of information - about different generic brands, options for purchasing brand name, and information about new “programs” as they become available. MS chick is right – this is serious stuff, and nothing to joke about. With the ending of the Direct Success program, and prices of Wellbutrin XL skyrocketing, there are a lot of people looking for help - please, folks, let’s return this forum to trying to help each other and share what we have learned!

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Thanks for the post, Hope. I was about to unfollow this group over the weekend. Let's get back on subject.

I have a question for those of you who are finding success on the SR twice a day. I've seen some people say they add a dose of adderall to the Bupropion SR. My question is, does the adderall help the Bupropin, or is the addition of it to tread the specific sysmpoms of adult ADD or ADHD. I'm currently getting brand Wellbutrin XL through the Valeant discount card, but if it gets discontinued then my next move will be to the SR twice a day.

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Crosbysmom-I took about a 7 week trip down adderall lane in an attempt to replace Wellbutrin XL. I know you were privy to those posts. At first I thought it was the miracle drug & I could finally stop worrying about chasing down Wellbutrin XL. I was very wrong. I only needed 5mg though I was prescribed 20mg which I could cut. (I should add that indeed I've always had ADD symptoms, just found the Wellbutrin XL seemed to cover that as well).
Soon the "crashes" developed. Emotional swings,crying in afternoon, & then the hyperfocus where I could sit for HOURS getting stuck in whatever it was I was doing....or NOT doing. And I did not lose any weight. That's for sure.
I would not recommend this for you. That's my 2 cents. I then went back to experimenting w/PAR generic & Valeant Canada's Wellbutrin XL 150. That's when my stomach became bloated & irritable,etc. if you'll look back
, you can see where I stated that the ingredients in Valeant Canada's Wellbutrin XL differ from those on the Valeant Wellbutrin "made for North America" label.
MS chick-TY for your report. I have heard many users having success w/the SR generics. I'd be inclined to return to that perhaps if your Dr & Pharm friend can look again for something compatible. I understand completely your issue w/the weight gain. That in itself is a huge contributor to depression for me. I'm sitting here now looking at this stomach that came about during my various trials & errors. I get you. And these fillers & binders must be the issue for me. Just because we're not intolerant or allergic to ingred doesn't mean we're not sensitive to them. I've entered my 3rd week w/o Wellbutrin or anything else. I have some slight bouts w/nausea but no other ill effects & my stomach has quieted & is returning to its former self. THAT makes me less depressed. I'm giving it 8 weeks. My next move I think will be (if necessary)-to check out the labels for SR generic versions.
I do apologize for my participation in the turn this discussion had taken last week. There were a few things I just didn't let go by posters -whom I'd not seen here prior. I stand on my point that there IS NO generic substitution for the original GSK Wellbutrin XL. Again that was the starter for this whole thing. But I am open minded after accepting that, to something possibly close ENOUGH w/o dreaded effects. That's why I'm inclined to look into SR generics. If necessary. Presently I'm holding my own. And THAT's precisely the proof I have that anything I tried just wasn't the same. And many had me worse off.

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One more thing Crosbysmom-is the Valeant you're taking now made "for North America" on the bottom of the lengthy label? If so-that's what I was rcvg from Direct Success. I want to reiterate that when I ordered Wellbutrin XL through Canada, made in Canada I knew the pill markings would be diff. Pills are imprinted w/"WXL 150". I did NOT know beforehand that the ingred would differ. And they do.
I'm going to find out what US pharmacies stock when it comes to using the Valeant discount card.
Others can say I'm a woman w/too much time on my hands. No-I'm a woman who knows her body & am MAKING the time to try to help myself & others who know none of this is anything we'd desire spending time on IF any generic was effective.

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I'm done responding to this thread. JJ- Valeant is a Canadian company. Brand name Wellbutrin is made in Canada. Good luck trying to get a $1600 bottle for free or discounted. Perhaps you should get better health insurance. I wouldn't be surprised if most of the people complaining about generics actually voted for Trump. He'll fix your healthcare issues alright!! JJ- you tried correcting someone about Teva's Budeprion. You're def not an authority, and you should probably just stop trying to spread misinformation. If you're so confused, go talk to your pharmacist. I really don't care to read your wall of text. Like seriously, get a grip.

For all others: Generic Wellburtin sucks and it's not even real! So, either get on the real stuff, or find another AD.

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JJ, my Wellbutrin is marked Wellbutrin XL 300. I fill it at my local pharmacy (Walmart) with the discount card I received from Valeant. My prescription comes in the sealed packaging that says Valeant Pharmaceuticals for North America.

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TY Crosbysmom for your (always) specific info!
And who is "downvoting" these comments? Contribute SOMETHING relevant to the current topic or GO AWAY !!
Why would you hang around reading this "banter" if you've nothing to contribute?

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Crosbysmom – would you mind sharing what it ends up costing per month with the discount card from Valeant, and if you can tell if there is a max amount of savings per year (very common with these discount cards)?

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Hope I thought you had this info nailed down in your post #1351. That is a question I too was going to ask Crosbysmom. Your info is the reason I was considering moving on to investigating generic SR formulations, also keeping in mind that the "program" can end at anytime, but is supposed to be valid through 12/2017-WHICH is fast approaching.

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Hope and JJ. I'm getting the brand XL 300 for.$5.00 per month. I used to use Direct Success, but now I take the card to any pharmacy (which is Walmart in my case). My insurance covers a portion and then the card covers the balance. I don't understand how all of this works, but I am using it while I can. That's why I still follow this board, because I know it will end and I'll be searching for an alternative again. My doctor and I just discussed the SR recently. The whole thing reminds me of the Epi-pen saga that got Mylan into so much heat. It got national attention though. I'm sure that is because those pens are a matter of life and death with so many Children and adults. From what I understand, those parents are still being gouged on the generic version of them and that's a crime.

Our drug isn't a household name so we are the only ones who really I understand what is going on with it. The pharmacists don't even seem to understand that the generics are so different.

I typed this whole response without my glassss so please overlook any typos or autocorrects.

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JJ – I honestly have been very confused about this…I went ahead and called Valeant again and asked about the co-pay savings card program – because my insurance does not provide any coverage at all for Welbutrin XL, my cost would be $100 for 30 pills. If my commercial insurance provided any coverage at all for brand, my cost would be $5 for 30 pills (up to $200 max, which I could not get rep to explain in a manner I could understand). By the way, double-checked my insurance coverage, and indeed there is $0 coverage, and as of today, is priced at $48.40 per pill, for a 90 day supply.

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Thanks for sharing, Crosbysmom – so to sum it up, if your insurance provides any coverage toward brand name, you will pay $5/30 pills. If your insurance provides no coverage at all for brand, you will pay $100/30 pills. Evidently, Valeant then hits the insurance company with that difference (?) This is a great program for someone whose insurance provides even minimal coverage…otherwise, it is exactly like the most recent Direct Success program of $100/30 pills.
It’s a shame that it is not widely recognized or understood how these meds that mess with brain chemistry can be affected by time release mechanism, fillers, etc., and how it affects each person so differently, and what the dollar cost is to those that deal with depression. Even $100/month is a struggle, and the cost just keeps going up.

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Hope, I'm not sure about the cost difference with the card. i believe they explained it to me several months ago, but I forgot already.

I totally understand about paying $100 a month. It's just not even an option for me right now. I have two kids in college. I did pay $50 for a few months last year, but then I tried generic Actavis for the second time to save money.

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Crosbysmom, in response to a previous question, I have been doing great on the Sandoz SR 150 mg/day, plus 10 mg of generic Adderall. I do not have ADHD/ADD, but the Sandoz generic still left me with an energy crash late afternoon and some brain fog. Honestly, I was so happy that I did well on the generic, I would have just dealt with those 2 things, but my doctor wanted me to try adding the small dose of generic Adderall to see if that helped.

Of course, I realize that this would not work for everyone, but want to share my experience in case anyone would want to explore the same regimen.

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Lluvco, thanks! That's what I thought I read on here before

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Wow Alex...I agree...you really should stop responding. This board has always had really nice supportive comments, but you are snapping at everyone. When I first started taking welbutrin that was exactly how I was snapping at ppl. Now I am starting to wonder if your welbutrin is really working. Maybe you should go back & read all yr comments & see how mean you have been.

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Just a correction on my post.... I take 150 mg 2X/day.

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lluvco-you were the one who asked if I tapered. I was wondering, if anything, what you decided w/regard to stopping the generic SR? I've no idea if you're male or female.....but I'm 46 yr old female & not long after I began the adderall (trying to completely replace Wellbutrin XL), it really messed up my cycle & I had an agonizing ovarian cyst rupture. I since did research on adderall'a effects w/regard to females' cycles. (I really wasn't wanting to throw another wrench into all this, but I must tell you). I went on it w/the encouragement of my psychiatrist , & thought it to be my miracle-initially. I sure don't mean to sound like I know it all ....cuz I DON'T that's why I keep reading & posting. But my trial w/it (@ only 5mg) threw me off track. How long have you done the adderall & at what dose ? Do you think possibly it's the adderall working & not the bupropion at all at this juncture? I did the adderall for 7 weeks.

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Oh I see lluvco adds 10mg of adderall. For how long ?

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Oh MY, I'm ROFL cuz I just read Alex's personal attack on me.

- I "tried" to correct someone's Budeprion post by quoting a statement from the FDA?
- Alex doesn't like reading my texts?

By all means - DON'T! Go to your safe space.

- I should get better ins? My husband is the President (yes Alex, President) of a major distributor in this country. I purposefully neglected to specify of what. Impressed now? Does Alex have the ins that the govt has? Y'know-the ins benefits specific to them while many (not me) were forced to Obamacare?

That's the last I will comment on Alex. I'm a part of this conversation as it was intended at its inception. And I attempted to bring it back to such. You're unkind Alex. You've been insulting & not a gentleman. Take something (a class perhaps?) to obtain some skills in relating to real people. Y'know.....the kind who come here cuz they must just be too stupid to "get better insurance". My family founded Asplundh Tree Co & my Grandfather told me "be careful who you step on climbing your way up....they're the same that'll break your fall on your way down". Good riddens.

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