What Is The Best Generic Version Of Wellbutrin Xl - Watson Or Anchen?
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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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Re: CMH (# 1458)

Sorry to hear that. My dr recommended a different drug instead of trying a bunch of different generic wellbutrin manufacturers.

She thinks, and I agree, that wellbutrin didn't have my anxiety under control. If this new drug doesn't work I'll have to wade thru the generics.

Good luck to you, I hope you find a suitable alternative.

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Reg (# 1451) --

Yup. I'm having the same exact problem. My card expired on 12/31.

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Re: Matt (# 1455)

That's really sad because it's not like other antidepressants that there are lots of similar dupes. I've tried the others and so far name brand Wellbutrin is the only thing that works.

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Re: Matt (# 1454)

Thank you for that info Matt. That was very helpful!

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Re: Reg (# 1453)

Yes - I ran into the issue as well. It appears that only the upper tier insurance plans are now covering Wellbutrin XL (with the coupon). Wellbutrin XL appears to be on a fast track to being priced out of existence/discontinued. I suspect that the scam will be up within the next few years once the money flow dries up.

My doctor mentioned that the Bausch and Lomb/Valeant representative hasn’t been by the office in quite a while. So they’re not advertising the product anymore since the price range is out of reach for the vast majority of patients.

FYI - I’ve read that there’s also been widespread shortages of Wellbutrin XL and Wellbutrin SR in Canada lately.

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There’s been two new generic Wellbutrin XLs which have come out since the patent expired last year - Accord and Graviti. They may be worth a try. Note that the key ingredient is Povidone which is what makes Wellbutrin xl so great.

Has anyone tried the Wellbutrin SR brand?

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Momo (# 1450) --

I've been using the coupon program to get my Wellbutrin XL 300mg for $100/month for the past couple years. This past refill in January the pharmacy said the coupon program had changed and if your insurance doesnt pay anything at all toward the rx, which mine doesnt, then the coupon wont either, making it full price if I want it. Anyone else having this problem?

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JJ (# 1443) --

Where do I find this info? I am having problems when the pharmacy changes my generic!

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Re: Matt (# 1450)

That's interesting! I wonder how I can get ahold of the new generic wellbutrin XL. I'm in the US...I hope we'll see the "real" generic version being supplied soon.

The generic Bupropion XL (i'm on 150mg) has worked really well for me except for one issue, which is it completely killed my libido. Wellbutrin is actually more known for increasing libido, so I wonder if this is just a problem with the generic form.

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FYI - The last patent (time release mechanism patent) for Wellbutrin XL expired on October 30, 2018 so they can now make a "real" generic Wellbutrin XL with a more effective delivery mechanism.

https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/patent_info.cfm?Product_No=001&Appl_No=021515&Appl_type=N

Sun Pharma appears to be number one on the generic list according some of the Canadian pharmacies.

Has anyone tried the new accord Bupropion XL (became available on 10/31/18)?

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Not much activity here for almost 6 months - wondering if folks could update what they are taking now in regard to brand name Wellbutrin XL - have you switched to generic? If so, what generic seems to be working for you?
If you are taking brand, how are you affording it - are there any new programs out there?
If you are taking Valeant brand from Canada, are you having problems getting it, since it appears to be on backorder?
FYI - Valeant has changed their name to Bausch.

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Wellbutrin XL by Valeant - told today that it is on back order with no date for it being available again. Anyone else? Feeling so frustrated with the constant problems with drug costs/availability/backorders/discontinuations.

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Re: JJ (# 1445)

Where on that page is this list? I can not locate it. Thanks!

Chuck

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Re: MS chick (# 1410)

Were you ever able to share this spreadsheet? I’d love to see it.

Chuck

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If anyone is needing to check on specific ingredients in their bupropion or Wellbutrin, I found a source of information for gluten free drugs at glutenfreedrugs.com. They list each manufacturer & give info on gluten, corn starch, potato starch, lactose & soy. Could be very helpful if you’re having tummy troubles or allergies.

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Re: Mason (# 4)

Brand and generic drugs are far from being identical. I contacted the fda about a generic drug, that made all my symptoms worse. Yes there is a 20% variancefrom brand to generic. The fda representative I contacted told me the medication wasn’t inspected by fda, the findings are reported to the fda by drug manufacturer!!!! I reported my adverse effect in my mood, after changing to Cipla Lamotrigine. It’s important to contact the fda report adverse effects of a drug.

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I know this is a thread for Wellbutrin but was wondering if anyone can suggest help with Lexapro which I also take. My insurance company no longer covers the brand Lexapro. I have had good results with the brand but will soon be running out. I previously tried a generic from a Canadian pharmacy. The pills were oval shaped, not round and I got headaches. Does anybody either know of a discount program similar to the Wellbutrin or have any suggestions for a Lexapro generic? Any help would be appreciated.

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So I've spent countless hours reading and researching and decided I should add finally that I've tried a couple.

Was on cipla I 13 150mg bupropion pill for a month and despite horrible reviews I felt no side effects and a little tiny bit more motivation but not enough to get me really out of bed too often or effect my life in a big way. Well actually one weird side effect was it made me really tired right after my dose and I would nap sometimes.

Week 5 this week we upped it to 300mg and that's when it started going really bad on the same cipla pills. After my dose I would literally be knocked out in deep sleep for 3 hours and feel out of it and the other half the day feel very irritated and angry. Made the mistake of drinking as I usually do on the weekend and had crying spells bouts of rage and paranoia and was uncharacteristically rude and verbally abusive.

I felt crazy rage at every sound and everything which was horrible since today was my final in calculus.

So based on that and these forums I researched what generics were available around me and I was stuck with cipla lupin and par which is anchen I guess because they were bought. Went and picked up new 300xl a102 pills from Walmart took a couple hours ago and for one I am not asleep and for two I feel less murderous & insane already. I really thought I was losing it and was scared for myself and others on the cipla dose of 300mg

Praying that par works better & stops making me tired but I have a paradox effect with all drugs I've ever taken so we will see & I will keep you guys updated.

Side note this medication has made my psrioisis had been so bad but maybe that's just linked to the major amount of anxiety this med has been causing.

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Watson is Actavis and works for me. Anchen is PAR and that works for me also everything else does not work for except brand name. Interestingly a couple years ago Watson had to pull their generic bupropion off the market because of the problems but the Actavis ones (owned by Watson Work well for me)

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Re: Susie (# 1415)

I am on 200 mg hcl SR- I, too, went thru a terrible time when my pharmacy switched manufacturers- I was on bupropion by Solco healthcare which was just fine for me, then the pharmacy went to DR REDDY’S and I will tell you it was like taking nothing. I went thru 3 months of hell- and if you google dr reddys they are out of India and there have been issues. I ended up going thru my insurance mail order (express scripts) and I spoke directly to a pharmacist and told them I had to have either Solco, Mylan or Watson as those 3 are the closest for me as it applies to taking Wellbutrin. I was a military spouse where I got actual Wellbutrin and it was worked wonders and then I was no longer a military spouse and the fun began. I will say that as all have mentioned the manufacturer does matter and pharmacists know that- the techs will argue. If you can switch to a mail order like I did that was what finally stopped the issues. If they run out or if they are back ordered they will call me and tell me but the longest I’ve had to wait is 5 days and I am allowed to refill at the 80 day mark for those reasons. Good luck to everyone. I have PTSD and Wellbutrin/bupropion is the only thing that works for me.

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