Side Effects of Generic Wellbutrin

I have been taking several different medications to see which one fits. The latest on the list is Budeprion xl. The symptoms of bloating, fatigue, being tired, the worst of all, extreme weight. I've only taken the medicine for about 4 to 6 months and my original size was 185 pounds, and now i am about 230.

My story is the same as the others--I was on Wellbutrin XL and felt great, was switched by insurance to bupropion and everything gradually changed for the worse. Rapid weight gain (without changing my eating & exercise habits), bloating, anxiety, insomnia and my depression returned. The worst part is the weight gain--talk about depressing!

My doctor switched me to Celexa (because my insurance wouldn't pay for Lexapro!), but I don't like the side effects so right now I'm not taking any anti-depressants. It borders on fraud that insurance companies force the generic on you when it not only isn't effective but actually makes things worse!

I've been doing well with buproprion 150 SR 3x, but Rite Aid apparently has decided to get cheap and shifted to TEVA budeprion. In the last three weeks, I've been getting more and more depressed and I finally realized today that it's the change in the drug. I dug around and found a few days' worth of buproprion from Watson and I'm going to get a real buproprion or Wellbutrin XL in the next couple of days.

I cannot tell you the relief that I felt after reading the posts regarding generic Wellbutrin XL (TEVA budeprion). I too have the same story. After years of great success with Wellbutrin XL my insurance company switched me to budeprion. My pharmacist told me that it was exactly the same as Wellbutrin XL.

I started feeling extreme fatigue and irritability, anxiety, insomnia, increased headaches and migraines, severe PMS, joint and muscle pain, bloating, rapid weight gain (even though I increased my walking to 20 miles a week and have a good diet, I am still gaining). My GERD was under control but suddenly returned.

A friend told me to think about when my symptoms first started and try to remember if I had changed anything. That's when I realized the change was budeprion. After finding this website I immediately called my doctor to ask for name-brand Wellbutrin XL. I just hope my insurance will agree.

I have been taking Bupropion HCL XL since it came out in generic. The generic pills were BIG and yellow. I received a new prescription about two weeks ago and these pills are very small and white. They say that it is the same thing, but a lot of people have noticed (especially my family) and so have I that I seem to be like I was before. Could it be this new generic pill?

Insurance company has Tier meds and Wellbutrin XL is on the highest Tier, meaning the most out-of-pocket expense. The $45.00 monthly seems minimal, but not when you are single and really trying to stay afloat. I have BUDEPRION XL 300MG and have been taking them (3) days with my symptoms of depression worsening.

My experience of switching from wellbutrin 300 XL to the TEVA generic is very similar to others posted on this site. Last spring my health plan immediately switched from wellbutrin to the TEVA generic. I reported to my pharmaceutical nurse that my symptoms (of paranoia, nervousness, and doom) were returning. I asked if the TEVA generic was identical to wellbutrin. She said generics are "basically" formulated in the same manner, but that depression is an episodic disease. I requested a DAW prescription for wellbutrin, but the pharmacy wanted to charge me nearly $300.00. I continued to take the TEVA generic, but it was not the same as Wellbutrin. Today I picked up my new generic prescription and it had now changed to a generic by Watson. Though I'm glad to see the tablet resembles wellbutrin 300 XL, I'm nervous about any possible side effects and acclimmating horrors from changing brands. Has anyone experienced any dentrimental effects with the Watson Bupropion generic?

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! I was switched about a year ago to Budeprion XL 300 and I have yet to feel right. I just thought it was me! Why can't we just get the drugs we need?

In the past few months, I have felt my depression & anxiety returning. I purchased so many TUMS that I should be given stock in the company. My anxiety attacks me in the form of severe chest pains and the weight gain is unbelievable. I too, was at 185lbs and am now diabetic and tipping the scales at 240.

I was beginning to think it was me until I found your website! I was put on a sample of Wellbutrin by my doctor and after finishing the samples, got the prescription filled. The pharmacy gave me Budeprion XL. Depression is coming back, dull headaches have started, and I have developed circular type rashes on my stomach, back and side of neck. Also, I feel shaky.

I am calling the doctor today to get put back on the Wellbutrin even if my ins. doesn't cover it!

I am sorry for everyone else who is going through this, but I am glad that I am not alone.

Sad that so many of us are being affected by the poor showing of TEVA vs. Wellbutrin. I had been taking Wellbutrin SR for Seasonal Affective Disorder and recently my scrip was changed to the generic form produced by TEVA. My progress went right into the tank and I was back to square one after 2 weeks!! I'm calling my doc today to request he re-write the scrip for Wellbutrin products only--fortunately, right now I can cover any excess cost for the non-generic form.

Why can't we get people to believe us when we insist that "One Size Does Not Fit All" when it comes to switching from brand name to generic drugs? I don't know why these two products affect ME in different ways--all I know is that they do and this is a serious quality of life issue for myself and other users. I hope everyone finds a workable, cost-effective answer for their problems!

This is just not fair. I was told the same thing, that Bupropion XL was the same as Wellbutrin XL. My God, if we are prescribed Wellbutrin, it is because we have been diagnosed with depression. Why have us switch? I had been taking Wellbutrin XL for a year and can honestly say I was feeling and had felt like my old self. However, since switching to the generic, my symptoms were slowly returning. At first, I thought it was my imagination. I would fight my daily feelings of depression, as I had done in the past, not really knowing what I was doing. As it came time for me to refill my prescription, I started thinking that over the past month, I really had not been feeling very well, more crying episodes, extreme sadness, loneliness and irritability. It made sense now, it had to be the generic medication, as nothing else had changed in my life. This issue needs to be addressed. We have enough to deal with. Our medication should not be causing us more problems.

I just got on the 300 MG wellbutrin generic brand and I have been throwing up and cannot sleep. I am gonna get back on the real wellbutrin, this generic stuff is just not the same as they told me it was at the pharmacy.

I have been on Bupropion for a couple of years, and it has worked beautifully. I switched from Paxil, and it was so nice to have more energy. I'm not sure I ever used Wellbutrin. But the Bupropion works great (even though it did not work so well for my sister). I hope my insurance doesn't ever tell me to go to the Bodeprion. Sounds like this version is not making the cut for a lot of people.

My first episode of depression was handled by Lexapro and Wellbutrin, excellent results after six weeks. Side-effect was decreased libido.Tapering off medication after two years.

Recurrence of depression six months later following a period of great stress. Started with generic Prozac (fluoxetine). Added generic Buproprion after four weeks. TROUBLE. Eyesight got blurry, anxiety, unable to work during the day, shaky. Tapered off, ramped up on Lamictal. Blurred vision cleared up, anxiety greatly reduced. Working normally now after five months- it took a while. Article on NPR this am made me aware of the problem with Buproprion. I agree strongly.

Very interesting. I have been on Wellbutrin for 10 years. OUTSTANDING drug--changed my life. Thank you GlaxoSmithKline! First the 150 then XL300.

In January '07 my insurance unilaterally placed me on the cheap generic Bupropion. I tried it for exactly 23 days and then my significant other "ordered" me back to the doctor. She noted a huge rise in irritability-(flash snap temper) followed later by listlessness, unfounded guilt and depression.

I went immediately back on the good old pills. Noticed immediately a return to level headedness, confidence and focus. Funny how I didn't personally notice the regression that came on almost immediately (it was pointed out to me--and i agreed) but did experience the remarkable recovery when I went back on the original formula. I can only hope someone finds a nice mean attorney out there and gets this figured out before someone gets hurt.

My physician told me that I was very sensitive to variations in the dosage of my wellbutrin. He told me never to use a generic drug for this prescription for that reason.

Twice I have tried a generic due to pressure by the insurance company. On each occasion I switched back to wellbutrin after one tablet of the generic. For one thing, I immediately experienced discomfort in urinating. I attributed this side effect to a different time release method.

If the skeptics wish to try me, I guarantee that I can take a blind dose of wellbutrin/generic and correctly ascertain within six hours which one I took with a degree of accuracy of 100%.

My insurance fully covers brand name Wellbutrin XL without hassle if that's what's Rx'ed. I'd been taking it for a little over a year for (relatively speaking) mild depression. It worked well. My last several months were generic. Why, I don't know, probably because the Dr. didn't specify. I didn't care because I was a strong believer in not wasting health care money even when it's not my money. Recently it didn't seem to be working anymore. My Dr. switched me to brand name. She said some patients claimed generic didn't work as well. It seems to be working again now that I'm taking brand name. Maybe it's not the difference between brand name and generic. It's such a subjective thing. A recent study showed that kids eating identical food in plain wrappers and in McDonald wrappers said the "McDonald's" tasted better. Although I generally support the idea of generic vs. over-priced and over-hyped Big Pharm brand names, I thought I would report my experience.

My son has been struggling with his most-recent refill of TEVA-manufactured Budeprion (TEVA's trade name for their bupropion generic).

Now that he's ready for another refill, we've called around town and successfully found a couple of pharmacies that carry the Sandoz-made generic. Sandoz bought Eon labs awhie back. Eon, in my personal experience, made the generic bupropion that seemed to work closest to brand Wellbutrin. It pays to call around.

FYI, I know Costco carries generics from a couple of different manufacturers (sadly, including TEVA). If you go to COSTCO's online pharmacy, you will quickly see why TEVA has been able to flood the market. Their stuff is a third the cost of the other generics.

This is very frightening. I had been on Wellbutrin XL for 2 years. Within 10 days of starting that medication my symptoms improved - I had previously had extreme trouble concentrating and lacked motivation to do anything that required mental effort.

I switched to Bupropion HCL XL generic in early August of this year. By the beginning of Sept. I started having difficulty again feeling motivated. Not depressed exactly, just not enthusiastic about anything. I thought it had to do with the end of summer, but now I clearly can see that I'm having that difficulty concentrating and getting started on tasks requiring concentration and have even begun to have trouble articulating my thoughts. I thought this Bupropion was exactly the same as Wellbutrin. I even asked the pharmacist and was told it had the same ingredients.

The difficulty definitely began after the switch, but how can that be if they both have the same ingredients? I'm trying to determine if this is real or imagined. It certainly seems real enough!!!

Just tapered off Paxil to start Wellbutrin SR because the Paxil didn't cut it. I am on my third day of BUDEPRION 150 MG SR--had to be changed because of insurance. I cannot function at all, and I have 3 kids. I have brain zaps, nausea, vomiting, and just feel foggy. Could it be generic or Paxil remains? Anyone?

I thought I was going crazy! I just recently got switched to (TEVA) Buderprion XL 300, this is my second refill. I feel like I did before I started taking Wellbutrin XL 300. Sad and angry, very snappy to my husband, and all I want to do is eat! I loved Wellbutrin XL 300--it saved my life, and it was safe for me to take during my pregnancy, thank goodness. But now I'm just not happy at all. I heard about people questioning the generic from a client and thought I would look it up. Glad to know I am not going crazy, or at least I'm not going alone! Call your doctor, I am!!!

I thought my body was playing tricks with me. I had been taking the Wellbutrin XL for 4years. Then was given generic by Walgreen's (without permission). In just a couple of days it seems as if everything started to fall apart... could not explain to anyone... I was having a meltdown and wanted to die... I figured out myself that it was not working and said NO MORE GENERIC anything...

The thyroid meds are suspect as well. I just heard a news report on the East Coast regarding this problem . In Calif no attention has been called to it... I will make that my mission this week...

I was feeling so bad... it scares me to think about it... Walgreens knew what had happened... I made it very clear to them all that was happening to my mind and body... I think they just dismissed me as a problem patient. I asked them to make a comment in the chart so there would be documentation of the event. It was quite horrible for me... I did wish I was not here anymore... I am happy to say I am much better MUCH better... Thank you Cynthia

I HAVE TAKEN WELLBUTRIN XL FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. NOW MY INSURANCE COMPANY IS PLACING ME ON THE GENERIC. THE GENERIC HAS TERRIBLE SIDE AFFECTS: SHAKY, BLURRED VISION, VERGE OF TEARS ALL DAY, ANXIETY. WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO SUFFER? ONE PILL FITS ALL THINKING IS TAKING A TOLL ON ME. THANK GOD I CAN AFFORD THE COST DIFFERENCE RIGHT NOW BUT WHAT ABOUT WHEN I'M ON MEDICARE AND IN FINANCIAL STRESS BIG TIME. PLEASE HELP US ALL WHO CANNOT TOLERATE THE MEDS CHANGE AND PAY TOP DOLLAR FOR THE "SAME" MEDICINE $83.00 TO $15.00 FOR GENERIC X'S 12MONTHS--AND THAT'S NOT THE ONLY MEDICATION I TAKE. HELP!

I am absolutely terrified of BUDEPRION. I have been on WELLBUTRIN XL 300 MG for at least 3 years and Unison Health Care Plan took it from me and placed me on this BUDEPRION for at least 4 months now. In the first month and since then I have become quite paranoid, emotional, moody, physically ill in many many ways, more depressed than I ever had been before I was ever place on WELLBUTRIN. I have also put on at least 30 pounds.

I happen to know four other people who are going through the exact same circumstances, and a couple of them are becoming suicidal. A friend of mine even committed suicide last November when she was on the antidepressant. I have three different doctors arguing with Unison to give the WELLBUTRIN back to me. They will not do it because they say that my pharmacy argues that the ingredients are the same...so they need to go with the cheaper one.

The same thing is going on with my Nexiums and all other meds I have to take. My stomach meds are just literally being taken from me and my esophagus is an inflamed mess to the point where I can't hardly swallow my foods at times. There reason for taking my meds: They believe that I have been on the medication long enough....I should be healed by now. (My father died of Esophageal cancer.)

Everyday I am trying to get through the day battling my own depression.....sometimes sinking down my bathroom walls to the floor in tears praying that something will change for me. I do this on my own of course because I have finally left the bottle of BUDEPRION alone because they are making me feel like I am losing my mind. I feel that the BUDEPRION and other generics are not always the same and aren't always the best for people, and it is sadly going to take a great number of human lives to use as lab rats before "the man" says "ok maybe generic medicine isn't where we should cut our costs." Anything for a buck though right?

My insurance company also stopped paying for WellbutrinXL and so I was switched to Budeprion XL. My depression is definitely back. I have that empty hopeless feeling, irritability and crying. I suspected the change was the reason and now I see I am not alone. Does someone have to die before they realize there is something wrong?

I have been taking Wellbutrin XL for the past 4 years, and it has been wonderful. But then I started getting the generic brand, made by TEVA and then Watson. Most recently, my prescription was filled with Watson bupropion and I have had a worsening rash on my neck and stomach and back. And I have been shaking so badly recently that it is actually hard to write. With the regular Wellbutrin XL, I always shook a little, but now it's awful. It just occurred to me yesterday that it could be the new drug. So, I'm going to get my doctor's opinion tomorrow as to whether the rash is because of the drug or something else. Definitely, regardless, I will switch to the name brand Wellbutrin.

I was taking Wellbutrin XL, but then the pharmacist switched me to Budeprion SR. However, the SR formulation is NOT the same as the XL; the time-release for the SR requires dosing throughout the day while the XL requires only once-a-day dosing. I have put up with the SR simply because most pharmacists I have spoken with, with the exception of one, cannot be convinced the SR is different than the XL.

My point? Not that the SR works any less well for me, but that you should be careful that you are handed XL if that is what you are prescribed. Taking the full 450 mg of the SR at once, as the pharmacist directed, would have had unpleasant results. Fortunately I am an educated consumer. There seems to be a lot of confusion over this drug and the various formulations.

See http://www.wellbutrin-xl.com/prescribed/xl_vs_sr.html.

I am so very happy that I have not lost my mind... I was thinking that it was me. I am a single mom with four children. My children have seen a drastic change in my moods. I have been more depressed, severe headaches, no energy, shaky, and have had numerous crying spells. I only get about 2 to 4 hours of sleep per day, and my anxiety is really bad. I have even started getting panic attacks again. Thank God I am not alone.

I'm glad I am not alone. I have been taking Wellbutrin XL for years, and it has always worked really well for me. Some months ago, I started taking the generic version, Budeprion XL by Teva Pharmaceuticals. I had a recurrence of depression and as a result, had to add Effexor XR along with my Budeprion XL. What I HATE about all SSRIs and SNRIs is the weight gain. I gained 13 lbs in about 45 days! I would love to go off of my Effexor XR, but am afraid to for fear of my debilitating, chronic depression returning.

When I heard on the news that there was a study finding that the generic Wellbutrin may not work as well as the brand name drug, I had an "Ah-ha!" moment. It then occurred to me that my depression resurfaced shortly after my switch to the generic.

What kind of recourse do I have? Can I force my insurance company to cover the name-brand drug at a copay to me that would be the same as if I had the generic filled ($10.00)? I would have an out-of-pocket cost of $60.00/month to have the name brand Wellbutrin XL filled.

The other thing I hate about the generic is the fact that the pill is about three times larger than the little white Wellbutrin XL tablet.

I also didn't put 2 and 2 together until I read other posts about the blurred vision -- I just thought I was getting old and my eyes were getting worse.

Has anyone compared other generic versions of Wellbutrin XL NOT made by Teva?

I had the same experience with Teva Budeprion 300mg xl. I had been taking a generic for buproprion SR 2-150mg pills each day and it worked very well. For some reason I was switched to the 300mg (Budeprion) Teva brand of XL. Within 30 days I was back in the pit of depression. I ended up leaving my part time job and avoiding my family for a good time.

My Psychiatrist decided to increase my dose to 450mg. When I looked on line to see if there was a generic brand I saw all the comments regarding the Teva brand. I went on Wellbutrin XL and was able to keep my dose at 300mg.

Thanks to everyone for writing in. I should have written sooner.

I can't tell you how relieved I've been to read these postings. My depression had been in full remission with Wellbutrin XL for over a year when my insurance company switched me to a generic (Teva) 10 months ago. Within a short time I was convinced I was losing it. I've experienced fuzzy-headed feelings, irritability, crying spells, grogginess, feeling mildly dissociated, insecurity and paranoia, blurry vision, reflux, anxiety verging on panic attacks. Because it coincided with some major stressors in my life, I assumed it was "just me". Now I'm convinced otherwise.

My psychiatrist has prescribed Rozerem to be used episodically if I have trouble sleeping and when I took it about a month ago, the problems with thinking clearly and concentrating noticeably worsened. I thought, "hmmm, must be something to do with serotonin levels". I was taking 300mg Budeprion in the form of two generic 150 mg tabs, so I decided to try taking only one just to see if the symptoms changed. I noticed a major difference the first day and watched myself carefully for any change in depressive symptoms, but actually felt better than I had in months. I let my doctor know. I'm still having blurry vision and trouble thinking, though it's less severe most days.

Then I saw an article talking about a study which found that the generic Bupropion was unpredictable in the levels that would be found in people's blood. There was wide variability, whereas the comparison to Wellbutrin XL showed much lower and very stable levels. I plan to get back on Wellbutrin XL even if I have to pay out of pocket.

Please, please, please talk to your doctor. Don't just discontinue the medication, it may be a greater risk than the side effects are to your health if you're taking it for depression.

It's so good to know we're not alone. Please ask yourself if this is worth changing and get active. Insurance companies should not have the power to dictate medical treatment, most especially for psychiatric symptoms. It's difficult enough for an experienced Psychiatrist to find the right medications to manage an individual's symptoms when s/he has built a relationship and sits face to face with someone. To think that corporations (insurance companies) have any right whatsoever to dictate treatment is outrageous and as consumers we must not stand for it. Make your voices heard!

I started Wellbutrin about 5 years ago and took 300 mg without a problem. About a year ago I was switched to the generic budeprion XL. About that time my menses became very heavy and I started having rage reactions the day before my period started. I thought it was early menopause. It is a relief to know that I am not the only one.

IVE BEEN ON "BUPROPION SR. 150mg" THE GENERIC BRAND OF WELLBUTRIN FOR NEARLY ONE MONTH. I NOTICED A HUGE CHANGE IN MY DAY-TO-DAY ACTIVITIES... THIS WASN'T A GRADUAL CHANGE... IT WAS RIGHT AWAY, I FELT MORE DEPRESSED... AFTER TAKING THIS... THEN I WAS BEFORE I STARTED TAKING IT...

I AM CALLING MY DR. FIRST THING TOMORROW AND DEMANDING THAT HE GIVE ME THE "NON-GENERIC" BRAND... I DONT CARE HOW MUCH MORE IT WILL COST... IF I HAD A MILLION DOLLARS IN MY ACCOUNT RIGHT NOW... I WOULD GLADLY SPEND EVERY PENNY... JUST TO FEEL BETTER THEN I DO AT THIS VERY MOMENT!!! BEFORE I LOSE CONTROL OF EVERYTHING... I WILL GO SIT ON MY DR. DOOR STEP... UNTIL I GET RESULTS!!! FROM THE LOOKS OF IT... I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO FEELS THIS WAY!!! I KNOW FOR SURE IT ISN'T JUST ME... I'M REALLY NOT INSANE, YET... BUT I FEEL LIKE I'M HEADED THERE...

SEQUIM, WASHINGTON

I was recently switched to Bupropion SR from Wellbutrin XL (150 ml) and have felt more irritable, nervous, and more upset about little things since. Also, I have had terrible insomnia and have noticed worse vision, though I thought that was because I was reading so much lately. I am not pleased that Wellbutrin has gone up in price so much, and sincerely hope that the price will come down as the generic substitutes do NOT seem to be the same at all!

I, too, have been on Wellbutrin for a few yars with no problems. When bupropion was substituted, I did not have any problems. But since the pharmacy switched to Budeprion, I am having all the side effects mentioned--increased depression, nausea, dizziness, loss of libido. I think this drug should be investigated further before being used as a substitute for Wellbutrin.

I've had a lot of the same problems as others that have posted here since starting the Budeprion XL 300 MG. I kept having people tell me that the generic is the same as the name brand. It is not true in this case!

My doctor wrote me a new prescription for Wellbutrin XL and put DAW on it to make sure I got the right thing. Even with my insurance it was going to cost $98! I broke down crying in the middle of the store because I didn't have enough to pay for my prescription. Even though name brand medication is supposed to be $30, HAP is allowed to charge a "sur-charge" because there is a generic available. If it actually worked the same I would be all for it.

I have been having suicidal thoughts, crying spells, increased insomnia, agitation, blurred vision, worsened anxiety, heart palpitations, nausea and shakiness. I was able to get 3 pills of actual Wellbutrin till I can get back into my doctors office. Hopefully he will be able to give me some samples. I'm going to be contacting HAP to see if complaining to them will do any good.

I too had taken the name-brand wellbutrin XL and was switched to the generic form. (Buproprion I believe). This for did not work for me. I am penalized, financially, everytime I purchase name-brand Wellbutrin.
All I can say is that it is worth it to me to pay the difference between generic and name-brand in this case. I take the generic for flonase (nasal allergies) with no issue. I absolutely hate that insurers and also employers, substitute their judgment for that of my physician who writes a specific Rx. Good luck to everyone.

THANK GOD FOR AT LEAST ONE OF THESE ARTICLES! I had been on wellbutrin XL 300 for some time and doing rather well, never gave any consideration when my pharmacy switched it over to Teva Budeprion XL other than the name difference that always throws me off! I am not sure how long now it has been (I will be checking) that I have been on the generic. However, here is what I had happen.

Although I have been questioning a little why I have been so quick to snap at others in the past few months and have had many blue days, I just assumed that those would still come now and then and that I would have to deal with them. It wasn't until three days ago that after going through many days of feeling no energy or desire and multiple times of telling other people I just didn't care anymore about things in my life that I used to care about, I finally reached a point that I spent 36 hours sleeping and not wanting or caring about leaving the house that the answer came to me!

I had just gone through this 36 hour sleep and that next night went back to what has been frustrating me, the waking up every two hours. I got up went on the computer and was searching for information on a cancer a friend of mine has just found, and I just started putting in some of the drugs I am on (for no real reason) until I put in Budeprion XL and read your article. After seeing that, I did further searching and found more and more information, leading me to believe that this may be a problem. However, still not relating it to anything going on in my life at this time. I found that night in my med area a sample box of wellbutrin XL 300 and switched the next morning.

HELLO! This morning I wake again early as I have been now for a couple of days and stood there in shock--I had figured it out! These past three days I have been getting up early, feeling MUCH better and treating everyone MUCH better. I am in administration, so to relieve the stress I picked up and have a love for photography, and had even gotten to the point that I told my wife I was going to sell all my equipment because I no longer cared about it.

Thank you for this site and for the job you are doing getting the word out. I am not sure how long I would have gone on the way I was!

For nearly a year, I've been on Wellbutrin XL (450 mg / day) so as to treat my anxiety symptoms. This stuff has worked wonders - my body is not tense, my ADHD symptoms aren't as bad, I'm more relaxed, and my libido is better than ever!

Recently my 3-month prescription of Wellbutrin XL ran out (only ~$150 for 270 pills), at which point, I had to re-fill the medication. Apparently, my current insurance plan does not cover the real medication, but instead, the generic Budeprion XL.

After purchasing the generic Budeprion XL, I quickly discovered that the generic brand is, by far, nothing like the AUTHENTIC Wellbutrin XL.

In a nutshell - I was on Budeprion XL for only ONE DAY and noticed a significant change in the effects of the medication, for the worse. This medication intensified all of my symptoms and did anything but help me, period! It is apparent that I am better off without taking any medication whatsoever (if I am forced to choose between the generic stuff and no medication at all).

I've looked everywhere for a cheaper deal on the AUTHENTIC Wellbutrin XL medication; however, it appears to be the same expensive price (~$350+ / 90 pill supply) at all pharmacies in my local area (I.E. Sams, COSTCO, Walmart, Wallgreens, and CVS). What else am I to do other than suck up the cost???? Basically, I, like many others here, am confronted with 2 options - either option A (enjoy the anxiety, ADHD, and depression symptoms that our bodies naturally give us) or option B (feel normal):D

O well, what else are we to do? ...

It is what it is ...

Matt

I'm so, so glad to see this. I started taking buproprion about a month ago to help me quit smoking. I haven't smoked in 20 days, but I also haven't been able to sleep past 4 am, have been increasingly anxious and depressed, and have begun to feel extreme loneliness and listlessness... And have even had thoughts that were borderline suicidal.

Because I wasn't depressed to begin, I was just figuring that I'd entered some horribly bleak period of my life and would have to suffer through it. I'm furious that it's this stupid pill. I wonder... does it work for anyone??

I'm going to the pharmacist tonight to ask for a refill with wellbutrin. Thanks everyone for their honesty in this forum... I am so relieved to know that I will not feel this way forever.

I started taking the generic for Wellbutrin xl 300 mg with Watson pharm about 3 months ago after taking Wellbutrin for 5 months. It's not working as well but I can manage.

Although I am comfortable with the generic, I encourge those who were switched also to try a month of the name-brand. If you see an improvement, then decide if you can afford it. Also please tell your doctor if you feel that there is a difference between the 2.

What people don't know is these pharm. companies send reps out to visit with the doctors to promote. If patients don't tell their doctor how they really feel, the doctor can't give feed back to his reps. Doctors will NOT promote a drug or substitute if they know it does not work. In fact (I am a nurse by the way) doctors that know about certain generic meds that he is told by his patients do not work, that doctor will actually say, "please tell the pharmacy not to use the generic".

So please speak up. It's your health at risk, your body, YOUR DECISION!

My insurance switched me to generic wellbutrin 3 months ago. It has taken me this long to figure out what was wrong--and I've looked at EVERYTHING else. I'm so glad to hear other people with the same issues.

I don't care what it costs me--nothing is worth feeling like this. Just had my Dr write a new script with the brand name medically necessary. I hope it kicks in soon--I'm so irritable. Also--I noticed other people write about the weight gain. I had no idea! I've gained about 7 pounds in 3 months--very strange for me.
Here's to hoping we get some say in this marketplace!

Several years ago, I took Wellbutrin SR with amazing results. The only side effect was faint, transient tinnitus. It went away after a week or so. After a while I was able to d/c the drug.

In winter 07, I was placed on generic Wellbutrin, and almost immediately I experienced loud tinnitus. The med was d/c'd. But the tinnitus continued intermittently, and was distracting.

Last week I went back on generic Wellbutrin and the tinnitus sounded like circadas. It was so loud it made conversation difficult. Also, I experienced anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and surges of happiness--sometimes within the hour. I even bought a herbal remedy for tinnitus.

I feared I would not be able to continue working. I told my husband that I just wanted to die. My physician changed the rx to the brand name, and within six hours I could tell a difference. The ringing dropped down to a muted, tolerable level. The anxiety went away. The butterflies and "little twisty lurch" in my chest went away. No mood swings, just an even keel.

The generic should be pulled from the market. The FDA is doing a disservice to the public by allowing this dangerous impersonator to remain available. Moreover, I blame the insurance companies for pushing the generic form to "cut health costs." I don't know if the pharmacies or the pharmaceutical companies are the ones jacking up the cost for the brand name; I suspect both. I sincerely hope a class action lawsuit results.

I was on the meds from Watson for a year and they were great. Rite Aid switched me to Teva, also the same for a friend, and we both found they did not work! After digging, I found out that Watson is much like Wellbutrin, and Teva is the same except testing showed it releases differently. Many people will notice problems with the generics.

When the facility I go to for counseling hired a new psychologist, I decided to go see her and see if I couldn't get my depression under control. She and I had an hour-long talk, and then I told her that I was on regular Wellbutrin. She asked me how I felt and I told her "Honestly, I am irritable all the time, like I'm a stone's throw from going off on anyone." She said it was because I was on the wrong KIND of Wellbutrin and put me on Wellbutrin XL, 150mg. Since that time, my depression improved SO much, it was if I had a new lease on life.

Suddenly, my insurance carrier (Unison) didn't want to pay for the Wellbutrin anymore and put me on Budeprion. I figured it was ok so I took it. I didn't even notice that I was sliding back into a depression until last month, when I nearly got into a fistfight with a stranger, and then a week later, after 38 years of living a good life, had to go to court on a misdemeanor.

I am just as angry and volatile and grim-thinking as I was before I was put on Wellbutrin XL. My insurance company seems to not care, because they are fighting with my psychologist tooth and nail for me to have my regular prescription.

To anyone that thinks it's all in your head when you were feeling good and now you're not, it's not you. It's the generic prescription. I haven't felt this hopeless in a very long time, and I don't know what I'll do if I can't get my prescription, since I can't afford to pay out-of-pocket for it and I also can't afford to live like this.

WOW! I took Wellbutrin XL several years ago with no really bad side effects. My doctor switched me to Effexor, then Lexapro. (Hated the Effexor and love the Lexapro.) I've put on about 30 pounds since I've been on the Effexor/Lexapro and couldn't get rid of it despite the fact that I started walking 30/40 minutes twice a day with my dogs.

I asked my doctor to switch me back onto Wellbutrin. I received the generic and have been on it for about three weeks. I'm having panic attacks, nervousness, crying spells, sleeplessness, and all-around anxiety.

I happened to talk to my sister today and her son was on XL, then moved to the generic. Exactly the same side effects as me. I've just placed a call to my doctor to put me on XL..........damn the cost.

I can't believe what I am reading. I thought I was going crazy. My depression and extreme irritability have returned with a vengeance! I took Wellbutrin for years with great results but my insurance company made me switch to their home delivery. When I received the medication it looked different but I figured it was the same. I am now in to my second month on Budeprion SR (by TEVA) and feel like I did before taking anything. I thought the home delivery sent me the wrong meds. Now I know that I have to switch back to Wellbutrin even if I have to pay for it.

I am so glad to have found this website. I have been taking Wellbutrin XL 300 and have been switched to generic about almost a year. I didn't really think anything of it, and continued with generic. Until recently, I no longer had insurance coverage so I had to pay full price to get medication and decided to just pay for the real Wellbutrin instead of the generic.

I realized immediately that I felt much better and my appetite decreased. Before, while I was taking the generic, I would eat when I'm stressed out and have been gaining weight. Since going back to Wellbutrin about two weeks, my weight and appetite is going back to "normal". I was originally prescribed Wellbutrin for depression. The doctor carefully chose Wellbutrin because she said other antidepressants may have weight gain as side effect, but Wellbutrin would help control my weight gain from feeling depressed. The generic brand did not have this benefit and I was beginning to gain weight while on the generic.

I'm so glad I unknowingly switched back to Wellbutrin XL. I will from now on ask my doctor to prescribe brand name only. It is not just "in our heads" that generic does not work the same way as brand name. I hope that enough press will be generated on this issue so that insurance companies will reconsider patient needs.

For the last 4 months I have had many of the same side-effects--and all of the concerns--with the generic drug Budeprion. However, before this, I had been on a generic version of Wellbutrin XL 300mg for over 12 months without any of these adverse reactions.

The first generic pill that was used to fill my prescription was a small, round, white pill and the bottle was labeled only as 'Buproprion XL 300mg'. However, the last 4 months, the generic substitution has been a larger, yellow oval pill and the bottle labeled 'Budeprion'. The listed manaufacturer on both labels was 'Teva', but this is not an accurate fact.

After a bit of research, I learned that Teva is only the wholesaler and distributer of these generic versions, and was not the manufacturer of either version of the pill. Over the last 18 months, Teva has had two sources for manufacturing their 'generic' version of buproprion XL 300 mg. The first was Anchen Pharmaceuticals (U.S. company now owned by Watsen Pharmaceuticals) and the second was Biovail Corporation, a Toronto-based pharmaceutical comapny.

Anchen was their original source beause it was Anchen that filed the original required FDA documentation to create a generic version of Wellbutrin XL 300 mg when the appropriate chemical patents had expired. I also learned that Biovail is the manufacturer of the Bupropion pills sold by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) under their Wellbutrin XL brand and is most likely the owner of the expiring patents that opened the door for any of these XL 300mg generics.

Since GSK neither owns the R&D related chemical patents nor owns manufacturing facilities that produce the drug, this means that they are primarily the marketing partner for taking all of Biovail's versions of Buprorpion thru the required FDA approval processes needed before being able to sell any drug in the U.S. In return, GSK received the exclusive marketing, branding, and distribution rights in the U.S. for Biovail's patented versions of the Bupropion XL pills (and then sold these under the GSK brand name of Wellbutrin XL).

The other data-point out there in this confusing mess is that there were several patent infringement law suits launched by Biovail against Teva, Anchen, and any other company involved in producing or selling generic versions of Buproprion XL 300mg. These were settled in March 2007 in Biovial's favor. While the terms of the settlement are not public--they appear to impact who can manufacture / supply Teva and other wholesale firms with their generic version of Buproprion XL 300mg.

The bottom line--from my perspective--is that over the last 18 months I have had my presrcription filled--unknowingly by either me or my pharmacist--with two very different looking and acting generic versions of Buproprion XL 300mg. Both pills had the same company listed--Teva --as their manufacturer, when Teva was not manufacturer of either version. They were only the distributor for both.

These 2 versions of the generic drug with the misrepresented labeling have produced 2 completely different levels of both safety and effectiveness, with the large, yellow, oval pill (Budeprion) giving me many of the same adverse reactions that have been listed on this site by others. But, because of the misrepresentation on the labels regarding the manufacturer, I am uncertain which manufacturer produced which version. This makes it impossible for me to request the generic version of the drug that was both safe and effective for my needs.

Has anyone else had experience with both kinds, generic Buproprion XL 300 Mg from Teva (small, round, white pill and large, oval, yellow pill)?

If so, did they have the same or different reaction to the respective pills?

I was on Bupropion until I felt I needed to up my dosage and then was given Budeprion XL in a higher dose, 300mg. I am on my second bottle and feel worse than I did before I was on Wellbutrin OR Bupropion, even on the higher dose. I have extreme nervousness, paranoia, feelings of suicide and impending doom daily and cry or yell at the drop of a hat. It's really scary. I have asked my pharmacy to change me back to wellbutrin asap (as that was what my doctor's script was for). I will have to pay the difference on top of my co-pay.

I actually had some weight loss--however, psychosis is not an option, so I'm getting off the generics at whatever cost. I am so sorry for anyone dealing with this. I only hope these postings will help you know you're not going crazy and help get you off of the generic drugs! It could be a lifesaver!!

I am glad I am not alone. I was on Wellbutrin XL 150 for a few months and asked to switch to the 300 XL. I was given the generic, without my knowledge, and feel worse than when on the XL 150. Do the ins. companies really have the right to decide what medicine we should be on? My co-pay for the brand name is $120. I cannot afford that a month! I hope asking my doc. to call in brand name only will allow the ins. co. to pay more than they originaly stated and I can get off this Budeprion!

I am so glad to have found you. I was also taking wellbutrin xl, which helped me tremendously. Then due to insurance, it would have cost me an arm and a leg to continue with name brand... The pharmacist told me there is no difference, so I tried the generic and lo and behold, I started feeling down crying and etc. and I realized I had changed, so I went back to wellbutrin. But it's such a pain; I feel bad because the pyschiatrist has to call the insurance company now each time...

I am so despondent over this feeling of being a pest to my dr. I lost my daughter and son in law in a car accident and my life has not been the same... and getting older doesn't help... I feel alive with wellbutrin and feel I can survive life... I go to a psychologist too so I am trying all I can to keep up my chin... I thought the medical industry was here to help, not to add to our depression... Thanks for listening to me... Dee

I'm reading all of the posts and not sure whether to laugh with joy for knowing that there are others that are having issues or cry because I'm so mad this is happening. I have been on Wellbutrin XL for 2 years and have been singing its praises for helping me out of depression and with my ADD.

Things changed for me once I started going through Medco to get my prescriptions filled with the generic. (I just looked at the pill and the name imprinted on it is Anchen.) I have become very sad... not quite full-blown depressed again... but definitely not my usual happy self. I could cry at the drop of a hat! I have also been having horrible headaches, nausea and blurred vision, which I attributed to the bad headaches. I was also having a very salty taste in my mouth that I couldn't get rid of, although this hasn't happened with my latest bottle. Even my teeth and gums tasted salty when my tongue brushed across them.

I am also taking generic Adderall so it could have been that as well. If I get 4 hours of sleep it's a great night! Although, I did take a Tylenol PM and I was able to sleep for a good 8 hours the other night.

I was thinking that I was feeling this way because it's that time of the year.... stressful and long, dark days. But since I have read this I am feeling better already. I am going to call my doctor tomorrow and ask to be prescribed the name brand Wellbutrin XL. Good luck to everyone!

Oh my goodness...I'm so glad it's not just me! I took Wellbutrin SR for two years to quit smoking and for depression. After 150mg a day for the first 3 days my body adjusted perfectly and I was able to go up to the 300mg per day required. I felt great! I was able to stop smoking for a year.

I relapsed and was put back on bupropion SR the generic version. Since then, I have felt terrible! I've had tremors, anxiety, stomach issues, dizziness, depression, tachycardia etc... I am on the Teva brand of bupropion.

I got online today to see why it's affecting me so differently then before. I haven't even been able to increase my dose to two 150mg tablets a day. After day 7 at 150mg with the brand Wellbutrin SR I should be able to go up to two (300mg). The way the generic is affecting me has scared me into not increasing my dose and alternating to one dose every other day.

Does anyone know which generic bupropion is closest to the original brand Wellburtin SR? I will quit taking the generic today.

Thank you,
Glad to know it's not only me.

Thanks to all who have posted. I just typed a search on wellbutrin XL and realized that I too am on the generic little small white pills, 300 mg per day. I too have been so up and down and just feeling really scattered. My husband and I have been arguing so much.

Before I was completely fine on Lexapro, which is what I was taking previously, but it made me gain 20 lbs in a matter of 6 months. I realized now that I felt so much better on that and experienced so few side effects, but yet was scared to gain any more weight so I switched to the generic brand of Wellbutrin XL.

I thought at first I hadn't given it enough time, but here we are 2 months later, and I still feel no change in my way of looking at life. I'm always sad and can cry at the drop of a hat. It's sad because I always think negatively now, and it's ruining my marriage and family.

I think I will be switching back to Lexapro, because even though I gained weight, I know that that helped me more than this generic medicine I am on now. Good luck to everyone in finding the right meds for you. There truly are meds out there for you--you just have to find them!

I was prescribed Wellbutrin XL and took that until my insurance forced me to take the generic. I have taken it for a year, and have gotten progressively worse. My depression returned and the bouts lasted longer and longer. My weight has gone up while I eat less and exercise more. I feel bloated and sluggish.

My doctor said many of her patients were suffering side effects from the generic, and that the generic was not providing the relief from depression as prescribed.

I have returned to the name brand, and the insurance company is requiring me to pay full price even though I tried the genereic for a significant amount of time and my depression returned. The insurance company is penalizing people who are not getting relief from a generic by requiring them to pay full price for the medication that actually works. Should one continue to take a medication even though it is not working because the insurance company decides that is best for you? Actually it only benefits them.

I have been on Budeprion XL for six weeks now. First
100mg for 2 weeks, then they bumped me up again 2 weeks after that. Now I am at 300mg. I have nausea, dizziness, throwing up.

I was taking Wellbutrin XL 150mg for 3 weeks. I was feeling so much better. I saw my doctor Wednesday and she switched me to the generic Budeprion SR 150mg. I took only one and felt so nauseous and dizzy that I couldn't function. I called my doctor first thing this morning and am waiting for her to call me back. I'm definitely not taking any more of these generic pills!

I can't believe that I didn't think of checking on the generic wellbutrin sooner. I was on the Wellbutrin XL 300 mg for a couple of years before the generic came out. I was thrilled to get something cheaper, but in the past few months I have become very emotional, depressed, and sluggish. I am battling with my weight even though I work out with a personal trainer 5 days a week and walk on weekends.

I was thinking about asking for my dose to be increased, but then while looking for info on the increased dose, I found this site. I called my doctor today and had him switch me back to the name brand drug. I had a hard time getting it filled because of insurance, but tomorrow I will start back on Wellbutrin XL. It will cost me $77 a month, but if I feel like I did when on it before, it is worth it.

Right now I am just as depressed as before I took anything, but am feeling better knowing that I might have found the problem. The pharmacist also told me that the generic was the same and said that is was made by the same company as the name brand. I don't think that is true and don't know why someone would tell me that. Hope anyone having problems reads these posts. Thanks to all of you for helping me.

I am so happy that I found this site. After talking to my endocrinologist today and telling her how awful I felt on the "generic" after taking the XL 300 tabs for 2 years, she told me about the controversy. She gave me the 150 mg Wellbutrin so that I can taper off, and then we'll start over.

Like many others who have commented here -- I thought that it was me!

Five years ago I took Wellbutrin, the name brand, for about two years. I went off, to see how I would do. I was fine for about four years and stress in my life brought back to some mild depression. I went to my doctor and he put me back on 150 ST Teva generic.

Previously the only side effect I had was dry mouth. However this time is far different. It's more like what side effect don't I have. I've been on it for abour four months, and the depression appears to be back, or at least the side effects make it seem like it's back. I have ringing in the ears which is very annoying, a low-grade headache and dizziness. I guess some blurred vision, but my new glasses take care of that some of the time.

Today I got on the net and found this site, and the experiences are very simillar. It's not a coincidence when people describe the same thing about the generic. My depression is fairly mild but this can be a huge issue for someone with severe deptression. Put the returning depression with the bad side effects and the combination could be paralyzing. I'll be calling my doctor to get the real thing. I can get it for only $10 more. I hope the change gets me to where I want to be.

For those of you having financial issues with going back to the brand, see if you can find pharmacies that use a different generic. Not all of the generics have the same effect -- whereas my mother got Budeprion and had the massive side-effects, my generic comes from Watson Labs and works exactly like Wellbutrin XL for me. My prescriptions are filled at Rite Aid if that helps anyone find a generic that does not reset their depression.

I got my generic which switched from being called bupropion to budeprion at Rite Aid. It is Watson Labs and I got massive headaches anxiety, jaw clenching and irritability. So Watson might not work for everyone either. Can anyone tell me the difference between bupropion and budeprion? I have had to stay off meds for two months from the extreme headaches. I tried again yesterday to make sure I wasn't crazy; I took 100mg and within about 10 minutes I started feeling tightness around my head and in a few hours I started sweating, feeling nausea and like I would pass out. After that jaw clenching and an uncomfortable feeling of wanting to get climb out of my skin. I am not imagining this difference.

My God, I called my pharmacy this afternoon & got an emergency refill of my rx with regular Wellbutrin SR (WITH insurance my co-pay was $138 - instead of $10 but I'm so very fortunate to be able to pay that) & called my son to go get it for me cuz I'm not even safe on the road right now. Have been trying to figure out what is wrong with me - before the "suicidal ideations" & crying jags & strange thoughts & emotional trainwreck got any worse.

Noticed - after leaning against the counter (crying & holding my hurting head) that my rx said "Budeprion" in parentheses after the Bupropion SR. Originally started on the brand name Wellbutrin SR 150 (just once a day - 2 tends to make me a little manic) a few years ago & it worked wonderfully at the time. I quit taking it for awhile but decided I needed just a little leveling out & when I went back, the generic had come out - but it wasn't TEVA brand. I noticed it didn't work quite as well but for the price difference it was OK. Just recently however, I had hand surgery, developed RSD, was prescribed a 6-day Medrol steroid pack - then after I calmed down from that, started taking Chantix to quit smoking - then the surgeon rx'd Neurontin (tried Lyrica 1st for 2 days & couldn't even see straight) - started the Neurontin at 100 mg 3x/day, building up slowly to 300 mg before wanting to rip somebody's face off - Dr. dropped me back to 100 mg - still agitated & crying & shaking like a ratdog inside - quit that a week ago (even tho it means very very very bad things for my hand - with the RSD - last resort kinda stuff) then went ahead & quit the Chantix 4 days ago but still shaking & crying today & thinking not good thoughts - til I found this website - Oh, & the FDA site that has just recently put out the new warnings for suicide on both Chantix AND Neurontin.

Cheezus Pete - They're gonna kill us all fore it's over with!

I too have had a similar situation. I was on Wellbutrin XL 2 150MG tablets for 2 months after changing from Effexor. I did great with it and continued to do well with my depression. After the 2 months, I switched to the Budeprion XL 300MG. I still did fine depression-wise until just lately. But for months and months I've had a rash and an awful itch that I've tried creams, allergy medication and several other things to try and get rid of. I never linked it to the Budeprion XL, until I found this website.

I asked my dermatologist if it was worth switching anti-depressents to see if it was the cause, and she said anything is worth a try. So I called my OB and they said try going back on the Wellbutrin XL, and that they had had other patients complain about the generic.

So I'm on tht Wellbutrin XL now for 4 days and I have noticed a difference in the rash--it is gone and the itching is slowly decreasing. I'll continue to watch and see how it changes, but as of now I'm convinced that the Budeprion XL is bad news.

I live in Canada. I took Wellbutrin for 5 yrs. Then without knowing, I was given a three month supply of the generic. Within a week I was in trouble, and within 6 weeks was seriously considering suicide. I suffered nausea, 24 hr diarrhea, and very, very low blood pressure for months, not to mention the depths of depression. Relationships with family and friends were damaged.

I was given all sorts of other Rxs for low BP, diarrhea, etc., and 15 months later, thanks to Prevention magazine, I'm able to put the pieces of the puzzle together. Have discussed this with my Dr. and tomorrow I will be starting back on Wellbutrin SR 100 mg again. I hope and pray I can have the happiness and peace of mind I had before the generic took it all away, and I wish there was someone, or some entity, to sound off to!!

My story sounds SO like a lot of these. I have been taking Wellbutrin SR for the last 4 years, with wonderful success. When I went to get my refill the first of this month, I noticed that they had changed the script to budeprion -- the generic. I am all right with most generics, I take almost all of them. That was the first day of 10 from hell. That first night, and the next 10, I couldn't sleep at all, I was so irritabile and angry all the time. I would clasp my jaw and shake for hours on end. Every single day I had a headache behind my eye.

I finally began to search on the internet for the possible cause and was dumbfounded to see that this could be the cause. I tried to get my insurance company to authorize the change back to Wellbutrin SR, but they are making me fight daily. My husband finally made me spend the $198.00 and purchased the drug myself. What a relief -- even the first night I slept all night long, and have been able to smile and feel good again. It's only been a couple of days since, but I will never take this generic drug again!

I've been researching this both online and with other people I know taking Wellbutrin for a week, and from what I've read and heard I think the TEVA generic for "Wellbutrin XL," known as BUDEPRION XL is very BAD news. I am floored that the FDA hasn't found anything wrong with it yet: (Good Article: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/10/25/business/NA-FIN-Canada-Generic-Drug.php)

The reason I even began looking into it is that I was taking the Canadian Wellbutrin XL (Made by Biovail, who a Canadian pharmacist explained is owned by Glaxo). It's been more or less fine after the slightly bumpy beginning. But sending away to Canada is a drag, and I wanted to look into the generic XL (its price is competitive with the Canadian stuff if you're paying out of pocket).

I'm not a doctor. But from knowing how I felt when I first began taking Wellbutrin in the first 3 weeks before it fully kicked in, it seems people taking the TEVA BUDEPRION XL 300MG are undergoing a parallel process of overdose AND withdrawal. Meaning they're getting more than their body is able to handle at certain times and less than they should be at others. Symptoms include: headaches, anxiety, deepening depression, shaking, crying jags, flashes of anger and paranoia and the return of suicidal ideation, as well as physical symptoms like lower sex drive, listlessness, weight gain and skin rashes.

MSNBC did a story about it and so has NPR news; you can google it. An independent laboratory has found significant differences in the rate at which the TEVA Budeprion releases the drug into the blood stream versus the brand name Wellbutrin XL (manufactured by GLaxoSmithKline). Dissolution tests (which measure the amount of the drug that enters a patient's bloodstream over time) have been performed. The "XL" designation means the drug should release into the blood stream slowly and steadily over a 24 hour period. But the lab test showed that after 2 HOURS while the brand name Wellbutrin XL 300 MG had only released 8% of the drug into the bloodstream, TEVA (generic) "BUDEPRION XL" 300mg released a whopping 34% with an even greater discrepancy as more time passed.

People who were accustomed to a slow steady release were hit first with a huge dose they're not yet able to metabolize properly. So patients taking TEVA BUDEPRION are getting first an overdose and, then, when the drug has dissolved too quickly, a lack of it, and that explains the withdrawal symptoms. I imagine that it must be something like unexpectedly being shot into the atmosphere with a rocket and then being left to crash land without a parachute. You can read more here: www.consumerlab.com, (I think you need to pay to see the full results) or google "laboratory results of budeprion XL" to see others quoting from that lab test.

As far as I understand it, only the TEVA generic is called Budeprion. It is described as a LARGE YELLOW HORSE PILL. I'm taking the WATSON generic for Wellbutrin XL 300mg. Its generic name is BUPROPION. It is a regular sized white pill with the letters and number: WPI 3332 on one side (the number apears directly below "WPI.")

I used to take the Watson generic BUPROPION SR 150 MG 2x a day and never had any terrible problem with it, other than I realized I didn't like the spike I felt after the second dose (the XL is much smoother and steadier) and so far after a few days I feel fine with the Watson XL 300 MG.

It's so difficult to know who to believe in all this. The FDA says they've found nothing to prove the independent lab test and the Pharma industry is NOT above using low quality ingredients and fillers from China (which I suspect is why the TEVA XL Pill isn't dissolving as it should. It might account for why it's such a big pill), or conversely creating a scare over a generic that will cut into profits too soon or too deeply. I worked in the industry (the online marketing side) and I saw first hand how pharma companies will manipulate consumer perception for profits and weaken the trust most people have in generic drugs.

I recommend anyone taking the TEVA Budeprion XL keep a careful record of how they're feeling for a few weeks (significant others and friends are always best or quickest at noticing a difference). Or even better just avoid it and get the Watson generic XL, but again do try and keep an eye out for how it's affecting you. (I'm not sure if there is a Watson generic for the 150 XL.) Canada is always an option of course.

It's truly sad bordering on criminal that the FDA (and many govt regulatory agencies), has been so weakened, by pharma/govt corruption that we can no longer have full faith in prescription drugs. We pay the price in lost productivity and lost health and some will tragically even pay for it with their lives.

Hopefully this all gets sorted out soon.

I have been feeling "out of sorts" all month, and lo and behold--looked at my meds, Bingo! Budeprion by Teva. My new RX is Buproprion by Anchen, does anybody have any thoughts on this brand?

My problem is not with just any generic, but with specific generics. I take Bupripion SR 100 MG 1x day, and have done so for about 4 years. While this is not normal usage (SR is commonly 2ce a day), any more than this and I become irritable and suffer from insomnia. XL also metabolizes far too slowly. I had found a pharmacy that used Watson SR, and was happy with this with no issues. Once in a while when I filled the script at a different pharmacy, which uses Sandoz, I found that I would become agitated and suffer from insomnia.

Recently, my insurance started insisting that any maintenance meds be filled by their "by mail" affiliate--if not, I will progressively be charged more per month, starting after 2 months. I realized that the mail order uses Sandoz, but decided to give it a try. Yesterday was my second day, and I had lots of time to think about the differences between generics when I was up all night last night. I even wondered if I'd been given a generic XL by mistake, due to the mind racing, heart pounding agitation, but pictures have confirmed that I am on the Sandoz SR 100 mg. This means I'm going to need to get a prescription for the brand name. I already have to do this for Prozac--generic fluoxetine also gives me insomnia.

While it's in some ways encouraging to know that so many other people have similar experiences with generic vs. brand, it is also incredibly frustrating that so many of us are stuck in this situation. My advice to people would be to be sure that your doctor believes you and writes your script for "Brand Name Only, Dispense Only as Written." I think most insurances will then accept that you must take the brand, and not penalize you for it (mine does). At one point I did have a doctor who didn't believe that there was any difference between generic and brand, but most well-informed doctors do realize this situation exists.

This website has provided me the first sense of relief I've felt in ten days.

My doctor wrote me a prescription for budeprion SR (it also says TEV on the bottle which I assume means TEVA)to help me quit my recent addiction to smoking and also help my symptoms of PMS.

I had battled bouts depression before, throughout high school and the beginning of college and I was on Wellbutrin at that time, but for the past four or so years I've been able to deal with upseting circumstances without medication.

Upon taking my first 150mg pill, I was feeling a little off, but just figured I was getting used to the drug. Three days later I was told to up the dosage to 300mg. I immediatley noticed a difference. I really thought I was having a nervous breakdown because a lot of things in my life are changing, but soon I realized that something else was going on.

I've only been on the 300mg dosage for five days and it's effecting my life so negativley.

I've been so lethargic, fuzzy-headed and unmotivated, except for short intervals of about 20 minutes at a time a few times a day where I feel like I can force myself to do homework or clean up a little. I have no interest in food, no hunger, and feel physically ill when I think about eating.

I feel hopeless, cold and empty, and have no optimism left in me. I sleep fitfully, and for the past three days have woken up with feelings of panic and obsessive painful thoughts. I also just have the general feeling of not being myself, my apartment looks different, I've decided that no one in my life understands me and have just kind of been reclusive for the past few days. I'm somehow able to keep my head at school and appear just fine, but at work, twice now I've just cried silently praying my boss wouldn't notice.

Luckily I started researching these pills and the fact that other people had these side effects and it's not in my head has actually provided me with a bit of happiness until I can talk to my doctor tomorrow about taking me off meds.

I really never read up on generics because I figured the FDA must monitor them closely and testing would be more thourough. How naive. It must be even harder to have been on a pill that was working just fine, start taking a generic that you expect to act the same, and begin to have these symptoms.

Thank you for this, I really thought it was just me.

I'm really glad i found this forum. i have been taking generic wellbutrin for about a month and a half. i was fine on normal wellbutrin, but now i have noticed that i am very, very angry. I can lose my temper instantly. And it 's just as bad with crying. anything can make me cry uncontrollably. i've been having dull aches in my left temple. And unexplained rib pain, and i am always hungry. the worst is that i just feel so pissed off all the time. and once i go off on a rage, i can't get control of myself. i literally just left a message with my doctor. i have to get off generic. I'm so glad to have found this because i was starting to think that i'm losing my mind. when i was on normal wellbutrin i did not feel this way.

Budeprion XL does not work--why would they sell it? I am going back to Wellbutrin XL 300 MG.

I am SO glad I found this site! I thought for sure I was losing my mind. I started off with the Wellbutrin XL 150 mg and was increased to the 300 mg at my therapist's belief that it wasn't working (this was after only 2 weeks--lol). Of course, my insurance considered Wellbutrin XL 300 mg to be a "tier 3" drug and since a generic was available, they wouldn't cover wellB.

At first I didnt notice much but, I COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHY I WAS SO RAVENOUS... and not just hungry CRAVING things, specifically--SUGAR, CARBS... "feel good" foods so to speak... which, is so not like me! Of course I like these foods but, I have had a LONG struggle with my weight (lost 60 lbs through diet and exercise) so these cravings are completely counterproductive to my GOALS!

Anyway, I thought I was going crazy... everyone else who had taken wellB had lost weight, so why was I starving to death and couldnt seem to STOP eating?!?!?! Finally, through googling I think I have discovered the cause--the generic. I am almost wishing I had never started taking medicines at all!!!

I called my doctor and I am going back on the NAME BRAND, at 150mg. I don't know what it is but, on the wellB I lost about 10 lbs but in the past 3 months on the generic, I have gained that 10 back PLUS five extra. NOT GOOD FOR SOMEONE TRYING TO LOSE WEIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!! be careful!

I too was switched to the TEVA from the Wellbutrin XL. It did not work for me either. How can the drug companies get away with this--it just doesn't work for so many of us, yet we have to pay more for the brand named drug???

I have tried both of the generics for Wellbutrin XL, big yellow pill and small white pill, and neither have come close to working as well as the name brand. However, I don't really have an extra $100 to pay for the name brand so now I am stuck trying to figure out my next move just like many others.

My 13 year old had been taking 200mg daily of budeprion SR and was showing mild improvement. The pharmacy gave us bupropion HCL SR when he needed a refill. Because there was an obvious difference in the pills (one being yellow, one being blue), I questioned them about it. They assured me there was no difference--boy were they wrong!!! The Bupropion HCL ER caused major aggression in my son. I went back to the pharmacy and made them put a note in his file that he HAD to have the budeprion SR, never the bupropion HCL ER again.

However, we recently changed his perscription to 300mg daily, and to put it lightly, it has been a terrible month. He has absolutely zero concentration and is having facial tics (I took him off a med I thought was causing it, generic Buspar) but now I wonder if it is actually the Budeprion SR causing all the trouble? Anyone else have these side effects when changing dosage amounts?

While reading all of these comments, I could not help but cry. I was switched from Wellbutrin XL to Budeprion XL five days ago and have felt like I have lost my mind since then. I can barely stop crying, and the shaky/lightheaded feeling has been non-stop. Not to mention the terrible nightmares that have me dreading going to bed. I don't have any RX coverage through my insurance plan, so this was the least expensive option for me. At this point though, I'd rather scramble to find the money for the name brand then continue on like this.

LJ, fyi, Chantix can you make you a tad unstable by itself without all of the other stuff. I took Chantix for a month last July, and yes, I did quit smoking, but I struggled with anger, anxiety and depression. I had been taking Wellbutrin 150 XL once a day and ended up taking it twice a day because I had a hard time with the 300 generic. Plus I only took 1/2 the recommended dosage of Chantix. Good luck.

I too was switched to generic budeprion XL. I did not realize that my increased depression was caused by the generic. I have had blurry vision, anxiety, shakiness, foggy brain, not clear-headed at all. Can't focus my mind or my eyesight. I'm going off of it. Please somebody do something about it.

I too took brand name Wellbutrin for one month. Then I was switched to generic Bupropion HCL XL. Depression and crying jags returned. It took a while to realize they returned soon after being switched to the generic. What else can we do to prevent this from happening besides complain?

Was so glad to see I'm not the only sufferer. I thought it was just me... crying, sad, irritable, dizzy, anxious, etc. I took the Wellbutrin XL 150's, and my panic disorder was under control and I was actually living again compared to my years of zombie status while on Paxil. My insurance changed, and they would no longer cover the XL... a year and six medications later they started covering the generic, but it's not the same and I know it. I've tried numerous medications including the SR, which we could never get the dosage levels right with.

I don't understand how they can say it's all the same medication if it all reacts differently with your body. Also, how am I supposed to believe that an ungodly big yellow pill is the same thing as a little white one? Don't understand how the insurance knows what is better for me than my own doctor.

I don't know what else to do other than allow the madness to creep back in and deal the best I can. The doctor and I have tried fighting it out with the insurance company three different times and it's just not going to be overturned, and I can't afford to lay out $100 (with the insurance) a month for the good stuff.

I sure hope the insurance companies and anyone else with influence comes to their senses before long. If anyone has any tips to help cope or fight this, I'd love to hear them. My thoughts are with you all my fellow sufferers.

I was prescribed 200mg of Buproprion SR, the Tab Watson version. AFter one day, I had really bad diarrhea, and I felt like I was falling into a deep depression and becoming distant and feeling like a stranger in my own body/life. My doctor told me this medication would give me more energy and make me a bit happier, but it did the exact oppposite. He wanted me on it twice a day. I have no health insurance and the generic, which is all I could afford, still cost me $84!!! I can't afford the $265 for a month RX and that is from Sam's. What is one to do?

I took Wellbutrin for years for moderate depression and anxiety. Over the summer my insurance company decided to change me to the generic. HUGE MISTAKE. I started to get extremely dizzy all the time--especially when I closed my eyes. Trying to sleep at night was a nightmare. I also started to become very paranoid. I couldn't bear to be alone and when I was alone I would completly freak out--especially at night. The worst though was one day I blacked out while driving.

The dr's found nothing wrong with me and said that it could be from the switch in medication since it is not exactly made the same. I am now back on the name brand wellbutrin and am completely fine. It sucks having to pay $70 a month for it, but it is better than dealing with the awful side effects of the generic. I would warn people to stay away from the generic if you can. It is def not the same as the name brand.

I started the generic of Wellbutrin XL on March 9. It is the big yellow oval pill and I have been nauseous the past 4 days and had stomach cramping and headaches. The problem that affects me the most is the insomnia. I can't go to sleep at night and when I do at about 3-4am, I still wake up occasionally, then find it impossible to get out of bed in the morning.

I know now that you really have to pay attention to the side effects from medications. I have been having problems with my hands shaking for years, and the doctor thought I had essential tremor or Parkinson's disease. I forgot to refill my Lipitor for a week and my shaking has stopped!

Sometimes we attribute our problems to something else when all along it could be our meds.

Hi all. I found this in my research and hope it is a valid source for mitigating the cost of brand Wellbutrin. Give it a look and let me know what you think.

http://www.medsforless.com/srch/Wellbutrin.html

I was placed on Welbutrin SR 150 mg twice a day. Prior to starting Welbutrin SR I was seriously depressed even considering suicide. After about a month on the medicaton I was really feeling better. I discovered that a generic XL version was available. I have never had any trouble with generics and was excited about being able to take the once a day formula rather than the twice a day SR formulation. Especially since my prescription plan offers meds by mail at a significant savings.

The pills were very different...but I started ont them anyway. After about two weeks, my symptoms returned, and after a month on the generic I was worse than before... flying into fits of rage, severe headaches and suicidal thoughts. I called my prescription insurance plan and demanded that they give me the name brand medication. Teva needs to be exposed... how are they getting away with this!

Just found out today that my insurance will not cover Wellbutrin 300mg XL as prescribed by the doctor. He had started me off on 150mg XL (which my insurance company covered because they said there is not a generic available??) to see how I reacted. Last Friday I started on 300 mg, and it is like night and day how much better I feel. Until learning from my insurance company that I either go on the generic with all of its horrible side effects or pay out $150 / month to be able to continue taking non-generic as my doctor specifically prescribed.

I have lodged a complaint with my insurance company, but they basically said there is no appeal process available. CAUTION: my insurance card does not say a third level tier drug will cost me this much; it says $50 copay for third tier OR 20%; what the insurance company is saying to me is $50 copay PLUS the cost difference between non-generic Wellbutrin vs. generic. Sounds like a conspiracy to me.

I am very very concerned that big insurance companies would rather their insureds try to kill themselves than allow us to take medications as prescribed because our doctors know the generic form of this medication is seriously dangerous! I know I am not alone in this dilemma, but has anyone out there heard anything about a possible class action suit against the big insurance companies?

I am so glad I found this site! I tried the generic verson of Wellbutrin and thought I must just be very sensitive to it. I had done super well on the brand Wellbutrin xl but felt like I was completely going to lose my mind on the generic! I ended up flushing it all down the toilet. It was horrible stuff!

My insurance company will not cover the real Wellbutrin, and I can't afford to pay for it. I have breast cancer and just learned that my twenty-one year old son is hiv+ and has no health insurance. The stress has thrown me back into a pretty severe depression, and I have no way to get the medication I need.

It makes me so mad when I remember the pharmacist snapping at me when I told him that the generic was not working like the brand Wellbutrin!! He said that it couldn't be true!

I just switched to the generic form of Wellbutrin XL 300mg tablets (to the TEVA made generic) and within a few hours, I felt a huge difference. I knew it wasn't pyschosomatic because I didn't have an inkling that I was even taking a generic version... I thought the pill size had changed because I went from taking two 150mg tablets to the 300 mg tablet, and had no clue it was generic (my husband picked up my prescription).

I went from feeling fabulous, having tons of energy and playing with my two boys... to feeling like my body turned to lead. I am having crying fits. I am just miserable. Since my husband is in the pharma industry, he did the research and found tons of articles about this exact problem. The active (API) has the same biochemical make-up but it is released differently and the tablets are coated differently; and these differences have made ALL the differences in ME! I don't have much money, but I am paying out of pocket for Wellbutrin XL just so I don't lose my mind!!!!

When I was taking Wellbutrin 300XL for mild depression, it seemed to work well.

I have been taking the generic form for over 2 years now and felt from the start it was not working the same, but thought it might just take time to get used to something different.

Seasonal depression returned the last two years as did ups and downs/mood swings. Lately symptoms have been worsening. I had initial weight loss from the Wellbutrin (nice) and have been gaining a little weight despite no diet change since taking the generic. Moodiness, easily being irritated, lack of my normal ability to control stress, and a serious lack of motivation has been rapidly increasing. I thought it might be age-related, but I wonder now.

I just got a new RX for Cymbalta since generic XL seems to not be helping, and am weaning myself off the generic XL before I begin. But with all of this info, think if I went back to Wellbutrin XL brand, I might not need Cymbalta. I agree with many others, the generic form is likely the problem.

Wow, I'm so glad I found this website, I really thought I was going crazy!!! I recently got switched to the generic brand of Wellbutrin, I started having severe headaches, felt hungry all the time, fatigued and bloated but worst of all I was feeling dizzy!!! I'm a very active person, I am an aerobics instructor, last week during the end of the class I got so dizzy I had to stop teaching!!! I've been dizzy ever since, I finally realized it was this darn generic pill!! I'm going back to Wellbutrin... Thanks for all your comments, it's good to know I'm not going nuts!!

Wow, I too tried both the Teva and Watson generic brands... With the Teva I didn't feel quite like myself so I went back to the Drs for a Wellbutrin prescription... Without the pharmacy telling me they put me on the generic brand Watson, within 2 weeks I was having massive dizzy spells, headaches, dry mouth, stomach cramps, bad PMS and not to mention major depression!!! I am now making sure I ONLY get the WELLBUTRIN brand... Thank God for this site!! I thought I was losing my mind until now... A big thanks to all of you who have written in with your experiences, it's really helped:)

I, too, experienced a return of my depression and also stomach problems after switching from Wellbutrin XL 300 to the generic version. My insurance company will only pay for the generic and refuses to believe that there is a difference between it and the name brand. The generic version is NOT the same. I made a formal (on-line) complaint to the FDA, which I highly suggest.

Thank God I'm not the only one!! I didn't know what was wrong with me. My doctor ordered me Wellbutrin and like so many others ins co. switched it to generic. HORRIBLE!! Have been so down and ready to cry at any moment. One day was so bad I was thinking my family would be better off without me. I've never felt that bad before and now reading so many other cases like mine I know it's the meds and not me. I can't believe this is allowed to happen with the ins co's I will not continue this med and will pay whatever it takes to have the brand I was supposed to be taking!!!

I, too have had problems with generic Wellbutrin. After taking Wellbutrin for years, my prescription was changed without notice by the pharmacy to the generic "equivalent".

Usually I'm thrilled to be able to save money with the cheaper generic...but while the small white generic tabs looked the same, they did not work the same. After a week or so I was extremely irritable and agitated. I was crying when I asked the pharmacist what to do because this drug didn't work- and was told my doctor would have to re-write my prescription to specify the brand name drug. In my state of mind, that seemed so frustrating and difficult!

Back to Wellbutrin, and everything's fine. A couple of months later, the doctor forgot and didn't specify Wellbutrin brand. I took the drug home without realizing the error- and then had to try the generic again! After 2 weeks I was back at the Pharmacy, asking for the real thing...again. Crying again. I think I'd be better off with nothing than with the generic.

The depression cleared up with wellbutrin XL, but it was too expensive. Over $300.00 for 60, I believe it was.

I switched to wellbutrin sr 200mg twice a day (400mg/day), which brought the price down to about $120.00/60 tabs, which also managed the depression and I was thrilled to now pay less than half the amount I paid for the XL version.

Yesterday, I got my prescription refilled but it was a different pill so I asked the druggist about it, thinking I'd gotten the wrong drug by mistake. He told me that this new pill is the generic version of bupropion.

I still haven't taken it as I have a few days worth of the brand name version. I'm glad I found this site before taking this new version of the drug. My new pill is pink with IIII on one side and on the other side there is a stylized upper case italicised E.

Is this the same pill many of the people in this forum are talking about? I am afraid to use this version of wellbutrin. I am also allergic to the dyes. Wellbutrin hcl sr is a pure white pill.

After being on WellbutrinXL for several years my depression seemed to be getting worse,or at least not getting better. Then I realized my pharmacy had put me on the generic. At first I didn't think anything of it because I'd always heard generics were just as good, but started to put two and two together and googled it and found this site and many others. My pharmacist says my insurance will only cover the generic. I've quit taking it altogether now because it's simply not working.

I have had the same awful experience that others have had on the generic for Wellbutrin XL 300. I was doing fine on Wellbrutrin XL until like everyone else was switched to the generic because of my insurance company.

I took the generic for about two months before I switched back to the brand Wellbutrin XL300. I wasn't suicidal but I was very depressed, emotional, crying, and had feelings of no hope and despair. I couldn't figure out why all of a sudden I was feeling like this. The feelings I had were worse than when I first started taking Wellbutrin several years ago.

Then one day I was reading my Prevention magazine and it had an article called "Are Generics Safe". I began reading the article and was shocked to find that the generic for Wellbutrin XL 300, Budeprion XL 300 was found to release its active ingredient at a different rate than the brand-name. Teva the maker of Budeprion XL 300 says they followed the same federal guidelines when making this drug, but when ConsumerLab.com did their own testing of Teva's generic they found something interesting. Here is a quoate from the article in Prevention on ConsumerLab.com findings:

"Budeprion XL 300 contained the right amount of the active ingredient, bupropion--but released it at a substantially different rate than the brand-name drug did. In the laboratories' test tubes, Wellbutrin XL 300 released the chemical slowly for the first few hours, while Budeprion XL 300 released the drug far more quickly. In fact, within the first 2 hours, Budeprion delivered more than four times as much drug as Wellbutrin--34% of Budeprion's active ingredient, compared with just 8% of Wellbutrin's. Within 4 hours, the generic pill had released about half of the crucial chemical, while the brand name had given up only one-quarter".

I was so reliefed after I read that article because I thought the problem was just me and that my mental state had gotten terribly worse on its own. The next day I decided to go back to taking the brand-name again even though it is costing me $75 a month instead of $20. I wish I didn't have to pay that amount but under our insurance plan I cannot make an appeal to pay the lower cost even if my doctor prescibes it.

I think it is un-American that these insurance companies and drug makers can make decisions about our health and take you and me and our doctors out of the equation. I wish people would wake up and start sending our government a message to stop this kind of unfair practice.

I am not against taking generics but when you are messing with the mental health of people and more or less making people choose a drug that is far worse for them, then I think that is a tragedy. A lot of people can't afford to pay the regular price for the brand-name. What is it going to take to get this generic Budeprion XL 300 made by Teva taken of the market. I hope in the mean time a tragedy doesn't happen.

I discovered this web site when I began to suspect I had been given the wrong medication in error by my pharmacy and decided to check. I have just started the second month of taking a generic for Wellbutrin that is white, round and displays WPI3332 and on the label refers to SR24.

Depression and many of the symptoms described are present including a rash that I have not experienced ever and difficulty sleeping. A question; can a pharmacy provide a generic without the patient or doctors knowledge because it is directed to do so by the insurance company or to profit? Would it be possible for this site to list the insurance companies who insist on the generic?

I am having the same problems as most everyone one here after being prescribed Budeprion(TEVA) to be taken in combination with Paxil. I had taken the lower dose with no problems when my Dr. decided to increase to the 150 mg. dosage.

I was dizzy and wanted to eat ALL the time. I could eat a carton of ice cream in one sitting and I have never eaten like that before. In fact, I was off of sugar, white flour, etc. and had lost 48 pounds by changing my diet due to High Cholesterol.

But, thanks to the Budeprion all of that work went down the drain--I gained back 23 pounds in just a few weeks. I quit taking it for about 2 weeks and decided to give it another try.

This time around I am not at all hungry, probably because I am dizzy, throwing up and have constant burping(I have been diagnosed with GERD so now that is worse)irritabililty and crying spells.

I cannot function like this so I am just going to take my Paxil by itself and hope for the best until my next Dr. appt. From reading these post I am going to see if my insurance company will cover Wellbutrin and ask him if I could try that. I can truly sympathize with you all!

I apologize in my previous post I stated that my Dr. up my dosage to 150 mg. that is incorrect, I am on the 300 mg. See what it has done to my thought process!

About 6 weeks ago, I started using my mail order pharmacy to order my Wellbutrin SR 150 mg. I noticed the pill was not the white pill I was used to; it was purple. A few weeks ago, I commented to myself and to a friend that I didn't think the new purple pill was working the same as the white one I was used to.

Today is the first time I heard any news about people reporting that they feel that one of the generic Wellbutrin XL does not work like the brand name drug. I think the same is true of the SR version I am taking.

The manufacturer of the purple SR that I have is Sandoz and the manufacturer of the white pill I had been taking is Watson. The Watson generic is manufactured by a division of GSK so it is identical to Wellbutrin SR. Sandoz is a German company. (I find it interesting how the politicians are so concerned about drugs from Canada when so many of our generic drugs are made in other countries, including Canada). I didn't think that there were any differences between generics and brand drugs, but I am convinced now that there is.

Have their been any FDA investigations into the generic Wellbutrins made by Sandoz?

I canceled my doctor appointment today because I have been so frustrated. I really, really believe that the TEVA generic for Wellbutrin XL does not work.

Five years ago I took celexa and wellbutrin and did very well. This time around the budepriox xl is making me feel bloated, I have gained weight and I am still very depressed.

I have rescheduled my appointment and will tell the doctor about all of the comments I have read. She actually prescribed the Wellbutrin XL but the pharmacist said my insurance required that I take the generic. I am now livid that I have lost a month in getting back on track. Thanks so much to all those individuals who have made me realize that I was not just imagining my concerns.

I have noticed my depression come back with a vengeance in the past few months. I have taken Wellbutrin on and off for the past 10 years. Of course, I was switched to Teva's Budeprion at some point.

A doctor I was seeing in 2005 had put me on Lamictal in conjunction to the generic Wellbutrin because it wasn't having the effect he would have liked. This is after three years of being on no antidepressants whatsoever. I stayed on the Budeprion/Lamictal combo for about a year and a half. As a result, my thyroid is slower and my periods are completely irregular.

Due to my increased depression, my new psychiatrist put me on 200 mg of generic Wellbutrin SR twice a day. She mentioned that there were some complaints with the generic Wellbutrin XL, or she would have just given me 400 mg of that.

So that got me thinking.... I think what happened was that the Budeprion was never effective. The Lamictal probably helped me during the time I was on it. I went off of it in November of last year for personal reasons. Almost instantly it seemed like my depression returned.

I'm going to get Buproprion SR 200 mg (to take twice a day) tonight. It's manufactured by Global, not Teva. I hope this will do the trick. I can't go on like this. I feel hopeless, withdrawn, sad all the time, I cry easily, and for the first time in years I've actually contemplated suicide. My personality has completely changed. I'm also recently taking DL-phenylalanine, prescribed by a holistic doctor, and that has helped some. Any advice anyone could give me would be much appreciated.

My understanding is:

Wellbutrin XL (Extended release-once a day) has a generic called Budeprion.

Wellbutrin SR (Sustained release-twice a day) has a generic called Bupropion.

I'm still on SR - have never made it to XL because I didn't want to rock the boat.

I have no insurance, so have mail-orderd Bupropion 150mg from Canada for about 4 years. The pills were round, and an ugly purple-ish color manufactured by NovoPharm in Canada. I have felt great since I started this medication.

Thanks to the poor US dollar, Canada is no longer cheaper, so 2 months ago, I ordered Bupropion SR 150 mg from a US mail order pharmacy and received the Watson version (round white tablets WPI 839). My depression has returned.

1) I was under the impression that only the XL has the generic issue - is the SR being questioned, too?

2) From teh comments above, it seems that people like the Watson version, but I am not doing well at all on it.

Not sure what to do next, but may go back to Canada for my next refill.

Anyone else in my situation with SR and the Watson version?

THANK YOU,
Oh my gosh, I thought I was crazy. I was on wellbutrin XL300. It was great, I felt great, it curbed my appeite.
This crap budeprion XL 300 is
terrible, I'm shakey I have nausea all the time & my appeite has increased. I'm paying $114.00 for generic I have no idea what it will cost for the real thing again.

ditto, ditto, ditto.

I knew it was not my imagination! Wellbutrin XL works great. Buproprion is sadly inadequate and probably even dangerous for some.

Guess I'll stop my search for a health insurance plan that will cover this drug. I'm paying out of pocket and it doesn't sound like there's much hope for an alternative.

How can we begin to protest the exclusion of this very important antidepressant medication?

A friend of mine told me about this site and when I started reading I couldn't believe all of the people having the same problems as me! I've been on Wellbutrin/Bupropion for years now. It's the only thing that has ever worked for me. Then (in hindsight)after being switched by the pharmacy to the Budeprion my depression returned and I began having massive tremors. My GERD also came back full force, though I am not sure if that is related.

I was switched between Lexapro and Cymbalta and neither of them were as good as the Wellbutrin. They each have their own side effects that I am not willing to live with. Now that I have read this, I'm switching back to the REAL Wellbutrin. Even if it means paying a higher priced copay. They need to remove the Budeprion from the market!!

Wow....as I sit here at 5:36 am wondering what the heck have i gotten myself into. I told my doc I was having some trouble sleeping and the job had become a little more stressful. He prescribed Wellbutrin SR 150 ml, 2 x daily, of course I always choose generic so I got Budeprion SR. Then he also recommended Rozerem to help me get to sleep faster.

Now I can't sleep-and get less than I did before the meds. I've had about 5 hours the past two nights and maybe an hour tonight. I am definitely not taking anymore- this is tearing me up. I drive for a living and my hands are on the steering wheel hard trying to stay awake.

My doc is on call this weekend- not sure if it can happen, but my Insurance will pay for the Wellbutrin at a higher tier ($80.00- for 90 day supply)so I will see if I can get another scrip and get rid of this budeprion SR.

Hi, I feel much better to know that I am not the only one who has had problems with Budeprion XL300 I have had the depression only mildly, but cry for no reason and get very irrated. It started about two years ago and I was having a lot of work done on my house so was attributed to stress. My house is finally done and I still cry for no reason. It can be very embarrassing. I tried to get my Wellbutrin 300xl filled and now have to pay 176.00 a month. It was covered when I first took it.
Thanks to all of you for letting me know that its not just me.

This is terrible! There are so many people here having the same problems and feelings, I actually started crying reading so many of your posts.

Its so nice 2 know I am not alone! I have been taking Welbutrin about 5 years, and the last 4 months I have been switched to generics, the little white one and the big yellow ones. THEY ARE NOT THE SAME!! I dont even remember what it is like to feel "Good" Again!

I can't afford name brand and If i go off the generic it is way worse but i can't say that i have anywhere close to the effect of the real Pill. If there is anyone out there who knows a solution as to how to get these off the market so we can only have the choice of Wellbutrin I am open for suggestions.

It seems with as many of us just on this website ALONE having so many problems with this that we should be able to use our freedom of speech to make some kind of difference! I don't know, I would just like the makers of these cheap drugs to have to feel the way me and so many other people are feeling for just one day and then maybe we could be understood more?

Anyhow, thanks everyone, I feel all of you and am So glad 2 know I'm not alone! =)

I have made an appointment with my Doctor. I have been on Wellbutrin/Bupropion for around 3 years. During that time I was started on Wellbutrin XL by the doctor (samples) worked great!!

But the insurance would only pay for generic because it was available. So I went with the Bupropian. I was taking 200 mg for a while and felt it wasn't working very well so the dose was increased to 300 and the XL genric came out.

I thought hurray all will be better again. I thought I was going crazy. The depression seemed to be inching back. I couldn't sleep at night, I had leg pains, I cryed allot, my periods became unreliable. And I been bloated all month long I've been irritable and fret easily. I chalked it up to the change of life. Then I realized it was affecting my sex drive and ruining my sex life.

I started cutting back on my dose. To see if that would help and I ended up with night sweats (when I was actually sleeping) along with my sleeplessness. Xanax has helped me sleep and in a bad spot I can take it to calm me down. (I also have had anxiety attacks pounding heart waking me from sleep)I then was put on Bupropian SR 100 mgs two taken in the A.M. (In January) I read one letter that mentioned overdose in the morning withdrawal at night....Thats me!

I have also noticed a cronic runny nose, dry eyes and shortness of breath at times,aching joints. Again I thought my new regimine of working out was to blame. I saw an article in the paper a week or so ago about generics are they the same? And a case that specifically noted Wellbutrin and the side effects as well as the lack of measuring up to the name brand.

So here I am looking at all these comments thinking...Ah hah!!! light bulb!...I hope my Doctor will rewrite the perscription to the real thing only!! I know I will have a problem with my insurance company but I really would like to see if there is a notable change.

I too have similar experiences. I have been trying to tell my Dr that the medicine doesn't work. The Wellbutrin worked so well for me. After this article I am all so wondering if my generic has been causing a lot of my side effects.

Unexplained Body rash,blurred vision,nausea,headaches and I have been extremely irritable.
thank you for your article.

Because of insurance issues I was also switched from Wellbutrin XL to the generic. I was dizzy, could not sleep, no energy and very irritable (downright mean). I finally figured out it was the generic and I have switched back, my doctor even put on the prescription "brand name medically necessary" and insurance will still not cover it. I will pay the price difference (over $100 a month) and I cannot believe they are trying to convince us it is the same medicine.

I was prescribed Wellbutrin SR 150 mg two a day about 8 years ago. It worked really well. In fact, I dc'ed it at some point because I felt that much better. But I began having same symptoms again (sadness, easily reduced to tears, etc.)and we tried Effexor for a short while but I had about every side effect listed, including a very disturbing feeling that I was removed from everything, just didn't really care about anything.

So I went back to the little purple 150 mg SR pill again. It worked beautifully. About a year ago, I got switched by my insurer to a generic. I am pretty sure it was the Watson generic, and I can't say whether it was a problem or not.

What I do know is that I got switched to the TEVA version in the last few months. Now I am depressed again, I am having anxiety attacks, can't sleep, am ready to cry and feel hopeless A LOT.

In the past, at least I didn't have to worry about weight gain on Wellbutrin SR. I am on Weight Watchers, and I write everything down so I can see what I need to work on to continue my weight loss. BUT recently, I have stuck to the program to almost an absurd degree, and have either lost nothing or actually gained. That has NEVER happened before.

It is very discouraging as I am sure you can appreciate. In addition, I am bloated, I feel stupid... I could go on. I read this stuff today, and suddenly it seems that there is a reason for all of it. So yes, the generic SR is no better than XL in its generic form, and there does SEEM to be a difference in who is making the generic.

This has been very scary. I am going to see my pharmacist in a little while with the pills in hand, so I can try to figure out what the issues are, and then will most likely get my doctor to write brand name only for this one. Thanks to all for sharing their experiences, without which I would have thought I was just nuts.

Yippee!!! I am NOT totally losing it. My experience runs counter to some of the others, but I am convinced that we are all on the right track. I have been on the TEVA Bupropion for a year. My pharmacy (Costco, who will sell you drugs at a low price even if you are not a member) switched to Watson 4 months ago. I have been having those weird 'electric' flashes that I had when I was being weaned off of Lexapro, and I have suddenly sprouted a flabby gut. EEeeeooow! I asked a friend who is a drug rep about it, and she told me about the research regarding generics, and that Wellbutrin in generic form is much talked about. Now, I can see that it is indeed.

Just a personal whine -- I am self-employed, and have only catastrophic insurance. I was thrilled when I got the Watson for $65 instead of the $110 TEVA. Not so anymore. Perhaps the TEVA just works for me. I wonder how well I would do on the ACTUAL Wellbutrin?? Am taking it for ADD, and REALLY should not be taking time out to type this. But my meds aren't working...

; )

My insurance company switched me to Bupropion from Wellbutrin. My doctor explained that it was the same. NOT SO! I switched back. The real shame is that so many people are getting the bums-rush to Bupropion without ever having the opportunity to try a medicine that really works! The generic is being touted as if it were equal to the original. The real shame is that people are not afforded the opportunity to try Wellbutrin! The opportunity to improve their well being and quality of life is being usurped by profit motivated health care providers and misinformed doctors. This is criminal.

I have been on Wellbutrin XL w/ great success for 2.5 years. My insurance, Blue Shield, switched me to generic three months ago and at first, it was $45 out of pocket, then $80 and now $115!!! I am a healthy, active woman who works out regularly but I have been steadily gaining weight -- not only that, I have been experiencing extreme fatigue despite regular sleep patterns, healthy diet and at least 4 days of excercise (1 hour hikes) per week. I am glad I found this site -- I thought I was losing my mind! I am going back to Wellbutrin XL.

I have been trying to understand the differences/similarities between:
1. Wellbutrin SR
2. Budeprion SR
3. Buproprion SR

This medication has been prescribed for depression, not smoking cessation.

I have read many of the comments submitted regarding these medications, but I still cannot get it straight.

My prescription is for Wellbutrin SR, and it has been substituted with what I was told is the generic, Budeprion SR. Now I am being told that the FDA does not recognize Budeprion SR as a generic for Wellbutrin SR so I have to concider Buproprion SR. When I look up Budeprion SR on my insurance web site it describes it as a generic, but a generic for what?

Like many of you, changing medications is not the easiest and I would like to avoid that as much as possible.

I am so-o-o confused.
Please, can anyone help?

Hi I wrote in about three weeks ago and was switched back to the brand of Wellbutrin XL300. It has been almost two weeks, and I still feel tired and a little depressed. How long does it take to for brand Wellbutrin to start working after taking generic? I am beginning to think it's just me.
Thank you

Same i switched from welbutrin xl to the shitty generic form and lost all hope and thought that i was going to be depressed forever and somehow my body just grew a tolerance for the drug but now that so many other ppl agree that budeprion blows i feel much better, currently ive ben off of all anti-depressants for 5 months but dont feel like myself and after reading this am considering talking to my doctor about getting back becuz the orig. wellbutrin worked great, every day was the greatest day of my life, TONNNNSSS of side effectts from generic especially memory loss and feeling shitty

I can't believe how many of us are having the same experience. I was taking Wellbutrin XL150 and when my dose was increased to 300, it went to generic. I'm going through what I'm hearing others say--extreme weight gain, tired, headaches, joint pain, etc. Tried taking myself off by cutting generic pills in half, and symptoms are still bad, so I've taken myself off. Not a good plan! I've got a call in to my Dr. now that I've read that I'm not going crazy & there is a difference between Wellbutrin & generic. I want to start again & make sure I do not get generic.

Just switched from Wellbutrin XL 300mg to Budeprion 300mg which is supposed to be equivalent, but I am here to tell you--IT IS NOT.

I am feeling horrid. Tired, lethargic, I had a slight bit of energy this a.m about 4 hours after taking the med, and it quickly left me. Now I am so fatigued I am writing this laying down on my laptop in bed. I had the option of generic or the real deal, but the price difference got me. It was the difference between $20 for the generic and $60 for the real stuff. I am now here with a bottle of placebo which isn't doing me any favors. The Wellbutrin XL was a lifesaver, now I am in the toilet again with the generic. I am contacting the FDA.

I have been taking the generic for two weeks, same symptoms as all of the above, insurance won't pay for the real thing, out of pocket will be $205 for 30. found several websites in Canada selling the real thing for $155 for 90, my doc wrote me a new prescription to fax to Canada........

I had been taking Wellbutrin XL for years. By the end of last Fall I couldn't understand why I felt so depressed. I thought it was my imagination. I realized I began to take the generic in September. Generic doesn't work. I switched to Cymbalta--much better.

I have been on bupropion hcl er 100mg for less than two weeks, and the side effects are bad. Now we have 2am in the morning, and I still can't sleep; joint pains, snappy, no energy, loss off libido. And blurred vision and weight gain. I was told I was being put on wellbutrin 100mg twice a day. It is the pharmacies who give you what they feel like. The insurance will pay for it except your co-pay is higher. I will call my doctor tomorrow--I'm sick about the way they play with the puplic. Is there no one we can turn to? Thanks for hearing my anger.

I can't believe it! I was also told that my symptoms were NOT related to switching to the generic. Once I switched, I noticed a difference, although couldn't put it all together at first. I have gained weight on the generic, feel light-headed and like I'm in a deep fog (seems to be worse when driving--EXTREMELY SCARY).

I told my neurologist about these symptoms, and he did not seem to think that it was from generic. I am in the same boat as others, don't have enough money to pay for the brand. I don't know what to do. I have medical bills from other places that are eating away at all of my funds. By the way, has anyone had any GI/pancreatic issues since starting this?

I hope that the government steps in soon and realizes that something needs to be done, but that seems like a pipe dream at this point. This cannot continue.

Thank god for this website. I just started Buproprion SR 150MB (Budeprion) from Teva only two days ago. It felt weird -- like I've been going through withdrawals, but I am still taking my previous medication (Lexapro), so I shouldn't be feeling anything like that.

I noticed my hair seemed to be falling out a lot more than normal -- that was weird. Also -- I have been hungry 24 hours a day -- no matter if I just ate or not. I am eating carbs nonstop -- crackers and such, since they're easy to keep upstairs by my bed. But it doesn't matter. I'm always hungry.

I've just called my doctor's office to have them get me a normal name brand Wellbutrin instead of this generic crap.

I haven't slept well since I took it, the first day I took it I felt amped up and agitated (although that is supposedly a side effect of Wellbutrin anyway), but I figured I would call the doctor and ask if he thinks that will go away over time. The agitation has gone away after day one, but now I just feel lost like I'm not being medicated properly for my anxiety... thank god for this site, I can only hope that I have the same success everyone else does with NAME BRAND wellbutrin!

A little over a year ago my pharmacy switched me to Budeprion. I also had a bad reaction to the TEVA brand. I took it for two weeks and had to quit. Gave me the shakes, I felt clouded in my thoughts, my vision was off, and I felt awful. I mentioned it to my doctor, and he said sometimes they have trouble getting the formulations right. Not any trouble I wanted to deal with, so I went back to the high dollar name brand. Sometimes clarity is priceless.

I have checked with the pharmacy, and they no longer have the TEVA brand. So I might try the new one by ANCHEN. I will send in an update on the effects.

I experienced similar side effects from the "generic" version of Wellbutrin XL. As my Dr described, there is no "generic, but a comparable drug", buroprion. My INS would not cover the brand name initially. I had been taking several weeks of the brand name (that I pd full price for) waiting for the ins co to approve. When they did not, I accepted the 150mg Buproprion. Two weeks later I was in the emergency room, I believe on the verge of a nervous break down. The er staff dismissed it & I ended up walking out of there. I saw my dr the next morning & was finally able, due to the "reaction" to get the brand name. I've been on that for 6 mts & have had great results. My dosage was just increased to 300mg & the pharmacy tried to give me the generic!! No way. I really believe that Buproprion should never be considered a generic for Wellbutrin.

Thank God I'm not alone. The pharmacist at my Walgreens thinks I'm imagining things, but I told him I'd go without anything rather than try Budeprion again. Blurred vision was a significant factor (bad enough that my GP ordered an MRI of my head), plus my depression worsened for the first time in 7 years.

Have your doctor write "Fill as written - no generic" on the prescription. You'll still pay the higher copay, but it beats the psych ward any day!

Both the XL and SR generics do not work for me. It didn't take long on either one to realize that they just do not work the same. I don't like the depression, shakiness, irratibility, sick in the stomach, and falling a sleep at a blink in eye. If you are low income, you can send away to the manufacturer for free medicine. They send you a 3 month supply. What's bad for me now is that I got a better paying job and I probably do not qualify anymore. I hope this can help some of you out there.

I do not have px insurance and take the Wellbutrin xl 300. I purchase my medication online from canada--it is half the cost of local pharmacies! When I was on a minimal dosage of 150sr, I bought the bupropion, which was ok; but I didn't see dramatic improvement until the doctor raised me to WB300mg a day. After reading these posts, I will not search further for generic!

Budeprion SUCKS!! I have been taking Wellbutrin XL 150 for 2 years. They switched me to the generic (Budeprion). No wonder I feel like crap! It took me 2 weeks until I figured out what was wrong. Dont take Budeprion! They have to do something about this!

Like many of you here I have taken the generic form of Wellbutrin XL called Budeprion put out by Teva. I had been on Wellbutrin 5 years ago for about a year to help me deal with depression -- the medication was eventually stopped altogether a year later. Three weeks ago, I went to a doctor’s office and was given a script for Wellbutrin to curb my anxiety and possible depression until I could get to a psychologist to evaluate the issue further. When I got to the pharmacy, I had the script filled with the generic Budeprion -- and a nightmare began.

The first few days, I didn't notice anything wrong... and then my behavior started to change. I was more irritable, would cry at the drop of a hat, and felt run down. I initially thought this was the traditional up and down you first experience when you start an anti-depressant, and I mistakenly dismissed the symptoms. By the third week, I was a completely different person. I was irritable, crying every day, having obsessive thoughts, shaking, nausea, thoughts of hurting myself, joint pain, and was downright mean. I felt like I was screaming in my own head all the time. The last day I took the medication, I was experiencing all the symptoms above as well as shaking, unable to concentrate, memory loss, stumbling over words, having difficulty with my speech and extremely dizzy. I found this website that day and switched to Wellbutrin XL in the morning.

The day I switched was a complete change… the side effects began to subside. By the end of the day, I realized how bad I had been on the generic. I am not completely free of side effects but feel significantly better.

After this experience I wanted to warn as many people as possible to STAY AWAY from this drug. I truly have a feeling that if I stayed on the generic I would have eventually injured myself, someone else from all the impairments it caused, or cost me my life altogether.

I went on Wellbutrin XL for depression and the results were remarkable. Celexa and Paxil didn't help, but Wellbutrin XL did. I had more energy, was exercizing, I was sleeping, my appetite decreased to that of a normal person, and I was slowly losing weight and looking like a normal person. My pharmacy, after a year, and a loss of 25 pounds, switched me to budeprion.

I rapidly gained weight, was extremely tired all the time, couldn't sleep, and my depression returned. I was convinced the generic was not working, and after asked my doctor to write DAW on the script. Within a month, I was back to normal. I'm willing to pay the extra $10.00 a month for the brand name, but my mail-away pharmacy has "accidentally" sent my budeprion twice. The person I spoke to said there was no DAW or "brand name necessary" on the script, but when I asked for a copy of it, I quickly received Wellbutrin XL by overnight delivery.

Last week, for the first time in many years, I was able to buy clothing in a "regular" shop instead of a large-size shop.

I am on Lithium 300 mg twice a day, as well as Bupropion hcl 100 mg 3 times a time.

After reading all these articles I am guessing my side effects are from the Bupropion. I've only been on these meds for 4 days, and since day 2 I have been feeling so depressed and as if life doesn't matter. I know it does, but the frame of mind it has me in makes me feel this way. I am so sad, and for reasons unknown now. Life seems worse then it did when I was on this medicine. As for it to help me quit smoking, it hasn't even affected me in that area, I'm now more depressed and I think I smoke more being on the med than off. I don't know if I should just stop taking it or finish my next 4 days of it and see what happens? Does it get better over time?

I just went thru this BS. I can't get the brand for another two weeks, though, but thank god I can switch back to it. I've been on this generic for a week and a half now, and I want to kill someone.

Can nothing be done? Can there be no lawsuit brought about?

My pharmacist said that once other companies begin making this as abundantly as Teva, then all the "bugs" will be worked out and the generic will be fine.

No.

I'll never use another generic after this. I have children to think about, I don't have time for this BS.

The trend I'm seeing is my pharmacy(ies) get whatever their wholesalers send them month to month. While I do OK on most generics for other problems, the substitutes for Wellbutrin are another beast entirely.

The Teva version, for me, is the worst. I just tried another month of it, and I'm a wreck. I've been on the SR version of Wellbutrin for a while. The variation between the generics means I'm not 'even keel' as I am if I get to have the real deal.

Of the generics, I think the Watson version of the SR works best for me.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who has this problem (a lot of people say that here, I know).

I've got bouncy leg troubles, I can't concentrate, I've got a hella short fuse, I'm sad and teary, I sleep like crap, and I'm generally a foul soul. And what's up with the weight re-allocation the past few months (while I've been on 4 different versions)? I know fat gravitates to zee gut with age, but this is crazy. I'm not eating any more than usual, truly. I see other people have blurry vision problems, too. I think, in many ways, I might be worse on the pills (Teva especially) than without. We'll see while I wait for my new pharmacy to request the Watson version.

This is criminal, imo.

There is too much of a chance these pills might affect us adversely. It's not fair that I might have a mental breakdown every other month because I'm only offered whatever the wholesaler sends the pharmacy =(

I'm with you guys. After only a short stint on meds for depression two years ago, I called my doctor and went in to talk with her about revisiting WELLBUTRIN - it was the only drug I didn't have fogginess or blunt affect with (I'd tried CELEXA, BUSPAR, and PROZAC as well).

The 2-week brand name half-dose sample of WELLBUTRIN surprised me. I was already feeling better--more productive and focused. I stayed up late to chomp an entire book; I got more housework done. Slept less, but it was mostly because I felt motivated to do the things I'd talked about doing for weeks.

Basically, I'd been striving to focus outside myself and WELLBUTRIN seemed to help me keep my brain/shit together so I could concentrate on work, develop interests that suffered from a long streak of un-productivity and love my family. In those 2 weeks, I saw an improvement.

(I have an eight-month-old son now, and started working full-time three months ago. Even though I'm not into meds, I have too much at stake to risk the kind of nervous breakdowns and poverty of thought I had two years ago.)

So, since the half-dose of WELLBUTRIN seemed to help strike a balance, I got greedy and asked to try the full dose when the sample ran out.

Picked up the meds and they weren't the tablets. The label said Budeprion XL, but I'm used to trusting generics for antibiotics and such.

Been taking the big yellow pills since Friday. Thumbs down. It seems like everything shot south so quickly.

I'm way irritable. Got to see an amazing show last night and I was in that down, sinking haze that seems all too familiar--no matter what good things are going on around you, you can't see them. Couldn't even talk to my husband on our rare date. Been crying more often.

It was such a tease that the sample worked so well. I'll try to get the name brand again--I'll stay with the half-dose this time--but I'm afraid it will be expensive or full-price with Blue Cross Blue Shield.

I hope to God the folks at WELLBUTRIN aren't part of a Big Pharm conspiracy to get patients scrambling for the brand name using crappy generics that may have the same makeup but not the same release rate.

I even thought that for a second looking at these comments, thought they might be planted. Can ya tell I'm uneasy with this whole med thing?

This might be helpful. From Wikipedia, at the bottom of the Buproprion entry:

On October 11, 2007, two providers of consumer information on nutritional products and supplements, ConsumerLab.com and The People’s Pharmacy, released the results of comparative tests of different brands of bupropion.[111] The People's Pharmacy received multiple reports of increased side effects and decreased efficacy of generic bupropion, which prompted it to ask ConsumerLab.com to test the products in question. The tests showed that "one of a few generic versions of Wellbutrin XL 300 mg, sold as Budeprion XL 300 mg, didn't perform the same as the brand-name pill in the lab."[112] The FDA investigated these complaints and concluded that the Budeprion XL is equivalent to Wellbutrin XL in regards to bioavailability of bupropion and its main active metabolite hydroxybupropion. The FDA also noted that the coincidental natural mood variation is the most likely explanation for the apparent worsening of depression after the switch from Wellbutrin XL to Budeprion XL.[113]

Aggh. And then, the NPR spot about an indie study vs. an FDA check:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15218354

WOW! I have bipolar and I initially started on the generic WATSON... and later the pharmacy switched the generic to TEVA... My bipolar had been under control for the last couple of years until 3 months ago. I slowly became a whole different person... In fact a monster to everyone in my path.

I started thinking I was taking too much because I went from 150 to 300mg about 6 months ago... because the 150 was not working. Although after reading some of everyone's experiences, I think it could have been the generic not working at all. Well I starting doing some research on 6/23--because I had a doctor's appointment the next day. And I found this site. I broke down in tears--after thinking that my bipolar cocktail stopped wotking--which concerned me very much!!! I did not want to go through the trial and error... trying to fix the bipolar ride I thought I was about to go on.

Now the GOOD NEWS! I went to the doctor's office ready for the brand/generic issue--and my concerns if that could be the reason for the my current downward spiral. Lo & behold the doctor knew about the issue and was willing to try the brand name before we did any other medicine changes. I was proactive and I contacted my insurance company to see what I needed to do before I went to the doctor... Some of the brand names need prior authorization. For my insurance I needed to have the doctor write BRAND NAME ONLY!

I have to take (2) 150mg to make it 300mg... so we have to learn work the system like they are working us. So for some of you ask your doctor to help you with some of the insurance loop holes. I took my first dose yesterday. And I am hopeful that this works. I will post the update...

Thank you for this website.

I seem to have the opposite reaction to most people. I have never taken the brand name Wellbutrin - I started out on Teva's Budeprion 300 (the yellow horse pills). They were magic! I felt great! Just two months ago, my pharmacist switched me over to Bupropion by Anchen. I am tired, apathetic, and my vision has changed dramatically. It never occurred to me that it was the Bupropion. I am calling my insurance company right now.

Thanks, and GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

I was so lucky to find this forum by chance. I have been taking Bupropion SR (mgf Sandoz) since abt 2006 and at first it really helped. But abt July 07 I seemed to start losing motivation. In Nov. 07 I was put on blood pressure meds. For the last couple of months I really thought the blood pressure meds were the cause of my lack of motivation, drive and emotion. In the process of googling my blood pressure meds to see if my theory was correct, I somehow came across this thread. I couldn't believe that what I was reading in some cases was exactly how I was feeling. It suddenly seemed clear - these problems weren't coming from my bp medicine, it was the Bupropion. Last week I called Medco and told them I wanted my prescription changed to Wellbutrin so they marked my prescription DAW and renewed my prescription with Wellbutrin SR. We'll see how it goes... but I am very optimistic that this will get my butt moving again. I can't believe how lucky I am that google sent me to you all!

I want to cry... I thought I really lost control. In the last year I have had a lot of things happen that I just contributed to stress. I have been on wellbutrin 300 XL for 1 1/2 years and got switched as all did to the generic. Now that everything has settled and I'm going to the doctor tomorrow and dreading getting on the scales, because just in the last 8 mos. I've jumped up 5 sizes--about 50 pounds, I bet... I started getting upset because I knew I had no excuse because it had to be my fault that I put all the weight on because the wellbutrin 300 XL didn't cause weight gain... I didn't think until now to look up the generic. I thought it was the same... Oh my!!! Now I feel I have hope again... I printed out the blog and I am giving it to my doctor... To think I could have stopped this months ago... But I guess I can't dwell on the past but look to the future... I am so excited... Thanks to everyone who posted comments...

I just ran across this website today and I feel so much better! I had been on Wellbutrin XL 300 mg for 4 years and it worked wonderfully for my anxiety and depression. Last fall, I refilled my prescription and was stunned to receive the generic version (by Teva), but thought I'd give it a try. It was not apparent, at first, that the generic wasn't working. However, after 3 months I had to go back to the Dr for a RX refill and while we were talking, it dawned on me that I had gradually begun to feel horrible and depressed again. I asked the Dr about the generic, and if she was aware of anyone complaining about it not working as well as the brand.

She wasn't, but wrote my RX to be filled as written--no generic. It costs me $50/mo more, but is worth it. I tried the generic again this month, and started crying, feeling paranoid, completely apathetic etc. within 2 weeks. Now I know I am not crazy and will no longer take the generic, no matter how much $$$ it saves me. It doesn't do me any good to save a little $$ when the result is that I can't bring myself to even go to work (or do anything but surf the net while there). This situation should not be tolerated! We shouldn't have to choose between our health and money. What can be done?

For me, the Watson brand generic of Wellbutrin XL 300 mg works the same as the brand name; if you had/are having trouble with Teva's generic, look for a drug store where they carry the Watson brand and try it.

How can it be legal to arbitrarily change a prescription to generic without notification!?! My story is the same... symptoms of depression have begun invading my life once again - even deeper because I thought the Wellbutrin was no longer working any better than all the other Rx's and that there was no longer hope...

I’m sorry to hear so many of us have had problems with the TEVA manufactured budeprion. I too had been on name brand Wellbutrin XL 300 mg daily for about a year before I was switched to the generic. The dosing was the same and I was certain it was the XL formulation. Like so many others my depression returned, I would get agitated easily and I gained weight. I have read the reports that Wellbutrin XL and TEVA budeprion XL are not the same.

Now today when I had my prescription refilled I was switched to yet another generic. I am now taking bupropion XL 300 mg manufactured by Anchen. Does anyone out there have experience with this generic? I am really concerned I will face yet another significant adjustment period. Does the Anchen version work similar to the name brand, or is it more similar to the TEVA version? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

I too have just been given BuPROPion HCL XL 300mg by Anchen. I am between jobs and my COBRA insurance has not kicked in yet. The generic of Wellbutrin cost me $140.00. I dread trying to pay for the 'real' Wellbutrin. But I have to say that I am almost afraid to take the first Anchen tablet tomorrow. Please share any experience that you have had with the Anchen BuPROPion XL 300 mg.

I am diagnosed with major depression. I had been on Wellbutrin XL for about 2 years and doing awesome when I was switched to the generic. I'm not sure which one, but the one with the big yellow pills.

I first noticed horrible indigestion/heartburn everyday, which at 25 I had never really experienced before. Almost immeadiately I noticed a change in my mood and depression got worse. It was the only thing I had changed in my life, so I asked my doctor to rewrite my script for name brand and I haven't had a problem since. I only took the generic for about 15 days.

The pharmacy was actually pretty snotty with me not understanding why I couldn't just take the generic. However $183/month is a huge expense, but I don't want to try anything else as I experience virtually no side effects on Wellbutrin XL. Something needs to be done about this. It looks as though more people are experiencing things worse than I did.

My story is much the same as so many posted on this forum. I was on Wellbutrin 150mg XL for a couple of months, feeling great for the first time in years. Then, on my 3rd refill, my pharmacy substituted (generic) BUDEPRION XL(TEVA brand) without telling me. I discovered this at home when opening the bottle. I too like so many figured, it will work the same, I'll take it. After two weeks, I had regressed significantly with extreme anxiety by late morning and crashing into deep depression by late afternoon. I was returning to my old self, but only, it seemed worse than before. I found this online forum when searching the internet for information, and once I read all the stories, I realized the generic was probably to blame. I read on throughout this forum and looked up some articles that said the generic XL version did not release into the bloodstream at a constant, even rate like the name brand. (Example reference: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21142869/ - this was on the 300mg XL version, but I could imagine the same problem with the 150 mg XL version )

One other occurrence happened to me. I am a migraine sufferer with an average of 4 per month. June is historically a low migraine month for me (I've been tracking it for years now in an Excel spreadsheet), and for the first 2 weeks in June I was migraine free. Once I started the generic, I had 6 migraines in two weeks. I went back to the doctor, told him my experience, told him what I had read, and he put me back on the name brand Wellbutrin 150 XL until I get my next refill (thank God he had some samples in his office). I noticed a difference on the first day. By 1 week later, I was completely leveled out again, feeling good, no migraines, and wondering how the generic could be sold to anyone. I have already given a piece of my mind to the pharmacist for switching me without telling me. It does not work the same! He blamed my insurance company and the computer software that automatically recommends the generic. My doctor promised me that if I showed improvement on the name brand, he would make sure the prescription is written for name brand only. He even thought the differences in the fillers (non-active ingredients) in the generic might have triggered the migraine episodes. So, if you're on the generic, and it's not working, do whatever you can to get the name brand. It will cost more, but it will give you a new lease on life.

By the way, I was in the middle of switching drug insurance plans when all this happened, and the insurance rep came to our company to tell us all about our new “wonderful” plan. When talking about generics, she insisted they are exactly the same as the name brand, just at a cheaper price. At least half the audience (around 30 out of 60 people) voiced strong opinions to the contrary, some saying they were allergic to certain generic versions of medications, but not to the name brand version. The non-active ingredients seemed to be the culprit for them. The insurance companies have too much control over what our health care choices are!

I hope more people speak up for the sake of others! May God bless you all for sharing your story and information.

I had been on the generic version of Wellbutrin XL (Buproprion) for about 2 years and it worked beautifully! However, when I was switched to Buproban, I noticed a difference IMMEDIATELY. I was assured by the pharmacist that it was the same thing, but it didn't work the same so I got the Buproprion back and was back to normal. Recently, my husband was also prescribed Wellbutrin and got Buproprion and all was well with him too until I picked up the refill. This time it was Budeprion. The depressed feelings came back for both of us almost immediately. In fact, my husband started having fits of rage over the smallest thing. I asked him if he had been taking his medication and he said no because it stopped working. I just picked up a new prescription of Buproprion. I hope they pull this medication soon!

Similar story here...mail in pharmacy doc changed my 90 day supply of brand name Wellbutirn XL to generic Teva brand. Within 3 days I went crazy, thought I was imagining things...had a few real Wellbutrin left, started taking them, feel great. Trying to get back on real Wellbutrin.

I experienced a lot of the same symptoms as all of you - and put up with it for 3 months until I simply couldn't live that way any longer. This website helped me understand that it wasn't me - like so many of you said - I WAS NOT CRAZY!! I really had to fight with my insurance company to get the brand Wellbutrin.

A few months ago the FDA decided that the generics are just as good as the brand name Wellbutrin!! They stated that they had only received 86 complaints. The best thing we can do is write letters of complaint to the FDA - you can do it online or by regular mail. We need to keep emailing and/or writing until something is done so we don't have to pay such outrageous prices for these brand name drugs - when they are the only ones that work for us.

It's really sad when it comes down to people having to decide between our meds and gas for our cars or food for our families!

I am so thankful I found this forum. I’m to have surgery next year and my surgeon told me no surgery until I haven’t smoked cigarettes for 9 months. I have smoked for 40 years so I knew I couldn’t stop without help. My GP gave me samples of Wellbutrin XL 150 to see how I did with it. After two weeks my anxiety subsided and I hadn’t had a cigarette, but I was edgy. GP gave me more samples and bumped me up to 300 mg a day. I took two 150’s a day for two weeks and I had never felt better in my life, and I wasn’t smoking. Fabulous. Going for walks, going downtown and finally able to really socialize without the politically incorrect behavior of excusing myself to find a place to light up. I was calm and I wasn’t smoking. The samples ran out and my GP gave me a script for Bupropion XL 300 mg. These are WPI 3332’s and manufactured by Watson http://www.watson.com/ I started these July 10 and steadily I became more and more withdrawn, unfocused and anxious and I wanted to eat or drink or smoke and felt like I needed to consume something that would clear my head and bring things back into focus, I started to eat candy and pace and fidget. I figured this would pass but it didn’t. I’d get angry and lose my temper at the slightest thing and recently I jeopardized two close relationships because of my behavior. This morning I woke up just as bad as the day before and I thought - what’s happening to me. I googled Generic Wellbutrin and it brought me here. Thank you all so much for being here. This morning I took the Bupropion XL back to the pharmacy and waited while they replaced it with Wellbutrin XL 300 and I took one immediately. Cost me $183 for 30 tabs but what was I supposed to do? Kill somebody? Myself? And …I’m not crying as I write this, which is huge.

OMG, I had no idea. I have used to be on Wellbutrin excel 300mg. I did well, I lost 40 pounds in 3 months, had excessive energy, quit smoking and all around it stabilized my moods. Since I bought the generic and well as the others I thought I was going crazy.

Loss of appeitite, nausea,severe headaches and dizzness. Increased mood swings and crying. One night my friend had to stay on the phone with me for 2 hours because I lost it. Bloating, increased stomache pain.

I feel awful, and now I see why. I am going to switch my script back to the original. Something has to be different, or I would not have found all of these other people complaining of the same thing. I had bad reactions from my Wellbutrin excel, as I do my generic. God Help us all.

I switched to Budeprion XL300 several months ago as I had signed up for an RX card so it was much cheaper. I noticed that it did not seem to help with the depression as well and I was having irritability, anxiety attacks, etc. As I note with the others above, I thought I was crazy or getting worse. I am planning on speaking to my physician about switching to Lexapro.

My story is so similar to everyone else's. I had been on Welbutrin XL 300mg for a number of years and doing extremely well. My doctor had warned me about switching to a generic. But, last month I decided to try a generic to save $'s ($65 a month versus $185 is a big motivator!), and the pharmacy gave me the one produced by Watson Labs.

Looking back, I realize I started going downhill after about 2 weeks. After an all day crying jag, I went back to the pharmacy and got a new refill back to Welbutrin. There has to be some way to keep these generics from being marketed as "identical substitutes!"

Because of insurance had to try the 150mg generic wellbutrin. I had tried the 300mg and it did not work for me. Neither does the 150mg. The fatigue and weight gain as other has have reported are my symptoms.

Thank god I found this site! I've been dealing with most of the symptoms mentioned here for 7 months. Uncontrollable itching, usually in the evening, weight gain, irritability, etc. Have spent hundreds of $'s going to MD, allergist, dermatologist trying to find the source of my problems. After MRI's, expensive blood work, skin tests, frustration, allergy shots, come to find out the generic wellbutrin xl 300mg from Teva was the culprit. Have stopped taking it and it took about 3 weeks for the symptoms to die down. Now have to fight with insurance co. since name brand is $270 and they cover $30 of that. Stay away from anything from Teva, they should be investigated thoroughly, along with the approval process!!!. Thank you for this site and letting me know I'm not crazy. It's been a rough road.

Have been on Lexapro 20mg and Wellbutrin 150XL for years now...just a terrific combo. Pharmacy just sent Teva generic instead of Wellbutrin this time, I happened to notice the different labeling on the pills.

Took the first one this morning. Here it is nighttime and I'm nauseous and a little dizzy. Could be slightly different chemistry, or possibly differently timed extended release mechanism. But one thing is clear, the generic is not the same as the brand name. I feel lucky to have noticed the change immediately and then found these posts which corroborate what I'm experiencing. I'll be switching back immediately.

As almost everyone else has stated, I have been taking Wellbutrin for about 2+ years with very good results. I originally had taken Lexapro and had libido problems with that drug so we switched to Wellbutrin.

A month ago I was switched to the generic by my insurance company. My cost went from $75 for 90 days to about $25 for 90 days.
Great, or so I thought at the time.

I called my doctor to get his opinion on the switch and was assured that it would be no problem. Well, after about 2-3 weeks of taking the generic I began to get all of the old feelings back. It is now 4AM and I woke up as I have been doing the past few weeks and suddenly realized that maybe it wasn't just me and maybe the medication switch had something to do with it. I got on this website after a google search and realized that I am far from alone with this problem.

I intend to call my doctor in a few hours to get back on the Wellbutrin asap.

I have taken Watson brand Bupropion for more years than I can remember with positive results. Like others my pharmacy switched me to Eon which almost immediately lead to extremely sore mouth, so switched again to a different pharmacy and was given Teva - same result only worse. My mouth and lips feel like I have been eating sunflower seeds for 3 days - on fire.

I would just like to find a pharmacy where I can get Watson again - please, just leave our meds alone - there is a reason we find one that works for us and we stick with it.

I was put on Sandoz Bupropion ER 150 mg by my doctor to help me quit smoking. At first it worked great, i felt like i could concentrate better, i had lost the urge to smoke and the urge to snack which was great.

Then about 5 days into it i started having horrible insomnia. I tried taking sleeping pills and they didn't help at all. I called my Dr. and told him about the insomnia and he told me that it took a while for my body to adjust. So i continued taking the medication as directed.

I don't know if what i experienced was a side effect of the medication or of the insomnia caused by it. I was extremely anxious, i have GAD already. I would pace at work when i had nothing to do, i barely spoke to people i was horribly paranoid, i developed a nervous habit of constantly licking my gums and the insides of my mouth and i was shakey and felt altogether strung out.

After dealing with that for about a week, i developed a rash on the insides of my forearms and was diagnosed with reticular lichen planus, an auto-immune skin disease that they believe is caused by some medications or stress. Either way it is effecting my skin and all of my mucus membranes. If it turns out to be chronic it can be very painful, unsightly, and cause disfiguration.

I called my Dr. and I told him about the Lichen PLanus, he told me that i could stop taking the medication but he didn't think that the medication had anything to do with the onset of this disease. Ironically i wasn't having problems until about a week into taking this medication. I'm still not smoking, and i'm definitely not taking medication like this anytime soon.

It's sad though because its possible that the brand name would not have developed such side effects in me, but because my insurance company wanted to save money i'm now dealing with an auto-immune disease that can last for over a year.

I am a nurse and was very pleased to find this forum and discover I was not alone in experiencing problems with generic version of Wellbutrin. After speaking with two pharmacists about it and having them tell me the drugs were supposed to be the same I resorted to online investigation. I also notice the article is April 2007 and wondering if the FDA interest in analyzing these generic pills is still in effect as I am willing to send in a sample. I have been on either Wellbutrin SR or xl for several years and quite comfortable after what seemed like a long dose adjustment time.

When I called for a reorder the Dr. on call decided to change my prescription to generic and now a week later I am beside myself and feeling terrible. I will be calling my Dr. tomorrow. Thanks again for making this information available to all.
LJW

I too am relieved to discover this forum. I have been on Wellbrutrin XL 150 mg for approx. 3 years and have felt wonderful. 6 weeks ago the pharmacy dispensed Budeprion XL 150 mg, and my condition has been declining ever since.

I have experienced fatigue, muscle weakness in arms and legs, trembles, loss of appetite, many sleepless nights, spike in blood pressure and alot of crying. Most disturbing is the return of severe depression and feeling as if I am "outside of myself"; functioning, but just barely.

It finally dawned on me 4 days ago that it must be the Budeprion. I researched and found this site, and BINGO, so many similar complaints. I have been back on Wellbutrin XL for 4 days, I'm feeling a little better,certainly not 100% yet. At least there is hope and I know that I'm not losing my mind.

I simply want to add my name to the list of people here who discovered the hard way that generics and brand-name pharmaceuticals are not always bioequivalent.

On changing to the generic, I experienced trembling, queasiness, much-heightened anxiety, periods of feeling hot, and a dry mouth that refused to go away. Only after a few weeks did I put the possible cause together with the effect. I've returned to the name-brand medication and hope doing so relieves these unpleasant symptoms. Thank you.

If the only discrepancy that's been found with the generic formulation is in the time-release of the drug, wouldn't it help to simply get the 150 mg dose and spread the doses out throughout the day rather than taking them all at once? (Say, taking one in the morning and one at noon?)

I know that kind of defeats the purpose of an XL, but I was initially thrilled at the prospect of saving $40 a month and since the worst effect I've had is a little nausea and insomnia, I'm willing to experiment with this budeprion stuff to see if I can make it work for me.

What do you all think about spreading out the dosages of the generic formulation (Budeprion XL)?

I am relieved to know that I'm not alone in my bad experiences with budeprion versus the brand wellbutrin. I was on wellbutrin xl for 3 and a half years until they switched me to the generic 3 months ago..

ever since I have been having intense dizziness that would come out of nowhere, extreme mood swings/irritability/anxiety and headaches. The other night I believe I had a seizure and have never experienced whatever happened to me in my entire life.

I had drank that night but I also have had alcohol with wellbutrin over the past 4 years so it must be the budeprion. I was in a great mood today until I took the budeprion and now I am irritable and extremely sad/feel like crying. I am going to talk to the pharmacist tomorrow morning!

I have been taking Wellbutrin since it came out in 1988 and it was the best antidepressant I have taken resolved my depression and had no side effects. Most antidepressants made me physically ill.

On my last refill I was given the generic made by TEVA and was wondering why I was now depressed once again after all these years. I went online and found this website and immediately called my doctor and the insurance company to fight for what I call the real Wellbutrin not this junk they are forcing us to take because the insurance says we have too.

My doctor said he knew about the problems with the generic and I was relived to know it was not my imagination. He is going to argue with the insurance company to give me the brand name otherwise I willl have to pay $224 according to my insurance company instead of the usual $30 copay. I am glad to see I am not the only one having problems with the generic brand.

Four days ago I switched from Wellbutrin XL which has worked perfectly for anxiety for years to the generic Budeprion XL. It's not working. Most of the symptoms of my particular anxiety are back. My depression is managed by Lexapro so I have not experienced the crying and sadness some report. I am grateful for this site.

I too have had similar problems with the generic form of Wellbutrin. I have always been a proponent of generic and didn't pay attention to the fact that I was switched over to the generic wellbutrin.

I attributed my anxiety to my daughter's wedding. But it continued after the wedding and I had decided to set up a Dr appt to find out what was wrong. In addition, I have gained about 20 pounds. All I want to do is eat! Then, I read an article in Prevention about generics and in particular about Wellbutrin's generic Xl and how it dumped almost all of the medication into your system within the first hour.

After doing some internet searching, I found this website and in reading the other posts, I found my symptoms described by so many of you. I called my Dr the next day and asked to be switched back to Wellbutrin, not the generic. Fortunately, my insurance will allow that. Hopefully, I will begin to get my life back.

I went back on Wellbutrin in January o8. Wellbutrin has worked well for my ADD/depression in the past. Initially I attempted to fight it when my insurance would not cover brand name drug. I had a feeling the last time I had generic it was not the same. Of course pharmacists and Doctors would not listen. So I went on and did not think about it until yesterday at my Doctors appointment.

I finally mentioned my concern about my memory. He said Oh thats the wellbutrin. You will get it back when you go off. I have gone to three Dr's in last month (very unusual for me) for eye sight problems, heart and fatigue. Not one of them considered side effects as a cause of my symptoms.

Psychiatrist says, weigh out the pros and cons and let me know next month. Thank you for this forum. It has saved my sanity. I am not waiting a month, I will slowly eliminate it out of my system. Lord willing my eyesight and ability to spell will return.

I have never posted to any blog before, but this subject caused me to do so. I am so glad that others have confirmed what has been happening to me. I am a firm believer that generics DO NOT work for everyone. I had bad experiences with the generic for Ortho TriCyclen (spotting, headache, etc.)and with the generic for Wellbutrin. Not only did I feel worse, but I gained weight.

I’m talking 6-8 pounds in a couple of weeks without changing anything else. I actually just realized after reading one of the other comments why I had a terrible migraine a couple of weeks ago, as well. I am at the point of needing to go back through my doctor and beg to have a “brand only” prescription called in for me, which is the only way the insurance company will possibly pay for it.

I wish that doctors and ESPECIALLY insurance companies would believe it’s not all in people’s heads. Believe me I would rather pay for a cheap generic, but not at the cost of feeling worse…what’s the point?

Oh, it makes me feel a lot better to know I am not alone. Tricare stopped paying for Welbutrin XL after I had been on it and feeling great for several years, and I was switched to generic Budeprion XL 2 months ago. I never believed people who told me that generic doesn't work as well as brand name, so the change did not concern me at all.

Within a few weeks I felt the familiar symptoms of depression coming back, I thought it was stress from yet another military move, so I ignored it. The the funk and fogginess, lack of interest in life got worse and I went back to my doc. I'm now fighting Tricare to reinstate my Welbutrin XL so I can feel like a human being again.

Like so many others the generic Budeprion SR 150mg had side effects that I did not experience with WellButrin. The most notable were increased anxiety, dizziness, and headaches.

I could literally feel the blood coursing through my brain. I thought I could hear it too. It would send my anxiety sky high where it would stay all day making it impossible to sleep. I stayed on it for just 2 weeks prior to insisting on a prescription for WellButrin from my Doctor. The FDA seriously needs to take another look. This generic is not safe.

My insurance switched me to the generic Wellbutrin XL 300 and within 2 months I had no reason to live. I saw my Dr. explained to him my feelings about death seeming to be a good idea. We talked and the only change in meds that I had, had was generic XL. I started paying for the difference between my co-pay of generic and brand name, within two weeks I was back to normal. In less than a year I have gone from $44 to $134 for a 30 day supply. I'm being financially forced into a dangerous situation. Thanks, E L

What a dangerous scam! I was put on the generic (did not take the name brand before) and after a couple of days I was crying all the time and was the most depressed ive been in my life. My friends were away so i was alone and scared that i wasn't going to survive.

I called my doctor and he told me to stop taking it right away. I felt better after i skipped my next dose. Found this article after the fact and my jaw dropped upon hearing so many experiences similar to mine. This generic crap should be taken off the market, it makes me upset just thinking about the hell that this pill puts the user through.

I also didn't even mention that fact that this pill EATS YOUR STOMACH instantly after taking it if you don't have it with food. I probably cant afford the name brand and as much as i would like to try it i have to look for yet another solution.

I was switched from sertraline 50 mg (due to lack of emotion and loss of libido) to Wellbutrin; or, at least that is what I thought I was being put on!! I was given the generic budeprion and have been having horrible side effects. I took the real Wellbutrin in 2001 and had no side-effects at all. Now I am dealing with abdominal cramps (so bad one night, I almost asked to go to the hospital), nausea and panic attacks. I keep asking myself, will this ever end?

I have only been on the new med for 3 weeks now, but am still inclined to contact the pharmacy tomorrow to see if I can get the "real" Zoloft (GSK), instead of this generic product (TEVA). If I am not able to obtain the the original Wellbutrin, I will most likely return to Zoloft. Loss of libido far outweights feeling like crap 24 hours each and every day.

I feel completely victimized when insurance companies dictate to people what meds they must take...I am praying this is a mistake on the pharmacist part and I will be able to purchase the original Wellbutrin. ~~ AI

This is a follow up to my previous post. Since my last posting I had my doctor call the insurance company and explain the problems the generic drug was causing and they approved the drug with just a regular co-pay.

It pays to have your doctor call the insurance company and you might get the approval you need.

Since going back on the brand name drug my depression and all the symptoms that were returning have subsided and everything is back to normal for me.

I can echo the same sentiments as others on this site. I've had the same gradual decline in my mood since switching to generic. I'm calling my doctor today to get a script for the brand. This is not the first time that a generic is substandard to the brand.

I'd been taking Wellbutrin XL 150 mg once a day since 2004.

Effective ten days ago, I've been taking Buproprion bearing the TEVA brand. I was switched over automatically by Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Western New York.

For the past week or so I've been feeling increasingly jumpy and agitated. I can't focus and tension at the back of my skull makes me feel like I'm going to implode. At first I thought that I was over-caffeinated, but I've been reducing my caffeine (almost to zero) for about four days. It's not the caffeine.

I want my Wellbutrin back -- I'll gladly pay the price of a prescription that works!

I found this site because I just got my new refill of generic wellbutrin XL. I have been on the brand for five years and it was great! My mood leveled off I had energy and felt normal. Last year my ins. switched to the Teva generic and I was surprised by the big yellow pill but thought as most do generic was still ok.

I have had a lot of things start happening that I just chalked up to more life stress, and getting older. When I got my refill today it was now back to a small white pill by Achen and looked more like the original. I finally noticed the difference in the spelling on the Teva bottle and thought to see if there was anything about it.

WOW! almost all of the things I have been dealing with have been noted by everyone else. Weight gain, loss of energy, trouble sleeping, night sweats, joint pain, constant headaches, no libido, upper GI problems, short fuse, mood swings. Has anyone had any problems with the Achen brand? At least I know now that I am not crazy!
Thanks!

I am absolutely outraged that I have been put on this dangerous drug. I started out on Celexa several years ago, and it left me in a fog and with NO libido...not good for a 30 something man. I was then switched to Wellbutrin XL. It worked wonderfully, my moods leveled out, my libido came back (thank goodness!), and life was pretty ok.

Then I got switched to Bupropion SR. I was assured that it was the same as Wellbutrin, but the new directions were to take the drug twice a day (since it was standard release). That lasted a few days. I'm very active and typically forgot to take my second dose every day.

In that time, I've gone through 3 jobs, and am beginning to realize that it may not be all my fault. I've not had the ability to concentrate on anything in depth for quite some time. At times, I feel completely incapacitated.

Recently, I was prescribed Bupropion XL, but was instead given Budeprion XL, I assume because it is so cheap...again the pharmacist states that it's the same as Wellbutrin. I haven't felt this bad in years. I cry, I constantly have that feeling in the pit of my stomach like I'm falling, I have the shakes all the time, and from what my friends and family tell me, I'm quite moody and somewhat unstable.

I placed a call to my Dr's office today (my Dr is conveniently on vacation for two more weeks). Hopefully, I will get an answer today that I can switch to the name brand again. I want my life back.

I began to feel overwhelmed again after 18 months of improvement on Wellbutrin. when I realized, I know I should read the labels, that Costco pharmacy had given me the generic without informing me. (It came in the same nice white bottle). I'm switching back. But considering the number of complaints a FDA investigation is warranted.

As I read everyone's comments, my blood pressure keeps rising! I have also experienced significant issues with generic versions of Wellbutrin XL.

In 1994 (14 years ago), I was officially diagnosed with uni-polar depression. I was on Prozac for about 6 years before the Prozac started losing its impact. In 2000, I was switched to Zoloft...which worked great with the exception of a few undesirable side effects. So, my doctor prescribed Wellbutrin XL to mitigate the negative effects of the Zoloft. The Zoloft-Wellbutrin XL combo has worked great for me for 7 years.

Since being diagnosed in 1994, I had not experienced a single episode of depression. Of course, I had the same blues that every person without an affective disorder experiences...but as anyone who battles chemical depression knows...there is a distinct difference between the normal "blues" of life and depression.

That said, in early 2007, my insurance required that I start taking generic Wellbutrin. My pharmacy prescribed the TEVA Pharmaceuticals version. In hindsight, I did experience some issues with concentration and fatigue, but nothing that jumped out at me so as to make me think that the switch in medication was the culprit. Frankly, I just assumed that it was all circumstantial (i.e. stresses of work, etc).

Then, in March of 2008, I moved my family from Baltimore to the DC Area to be closer to my new job. My new pharmacy gave me the Watson Pharmaceuticals generic of Wellbutrin XL. I asked the pharmacist if it was the same..and he said yes. Within 4-6 weeks, I was experiencing serious depression (suicidal thoughts, always on the verge of tears, extreme anxiety and panic attacks, poor sleep, extreme difficulty concentrating, etc.). As I mentioned, I have not had a serious bout with depression since 1994...so the cause of my sudden onslaught of depression was abundantly clear.

I talked to my doctor and she affirmed that many of her patients had voiced similar complaints. She prescribed brand name Wellbutrin XL, but warned me that I the insurance company would likely charge me a lot of $$$. Boy, she wasn't kidding!!! When my wife went to pick up my prescription, the bill was almost $400 for a 3 month supply! She called me from the pharmacy and asked me what I wanted to do. I asked the pharmacist if he could just give me a one week supply so I could research other options before laying out that kind of $$$. Within 24 hours back on Wellbutrin XL, I was back to normal!

Since it was becoming clear that there was no way around paying the high price for the brand name, I decided to ask the Pharmacist to special order the TEVA version for me...since the side effects were not as serious as the Watson version. Within 3 weeks back on the TEVA version, I was having serious issues concentrating, night sweats, extreme fatigue, etc. No, the suicidal thought were not there, but having only been in my new job for 9 months, I could not afford to have the kind of concentration problems I was experiencing.

By the Grace of God, my wife stumbled across a large bottle of Wellbutrin XL as she was sorting out our medicine closet. I have no idea why that was there - I don't recall ever putting aside a bottle. Unfortunately, it had expired in 2005, but I decided to go ahead and take it. Once again, within 48 hours, I was back to my normal self.

I have about a 2 week supply left before I will be faced with paying the crazy price for brand name Wellbutrin XL. One thing is clear - I gotta do what I gotta do. I cannot go back on these generics. I was online today looking for possible ways to subsidize the cost of the name brand when I stumbled across this site.

I am sorry to hear that so many people are experiencing the same issues. It's unfortunate that the FDA and our insurance companies don't seem to care about the hundreds (probably thousands) of complaints. I don't care what their "testing" shows - these generics are not equivalent to the brand name!!! Maybe they work for some people, but it is clear they do not work for everyone...and in fact make things worse for many!!!

I will do my part to make my voice heard! Perhaps if we all keep harping on the issue, someone will listen.

Blessings to all of you!!! - Tom

This is really scaring me. Just received the generic in the mail today and googled it since the name was different from a generic my husband had a few years ago. I'm praying that my prescription plan will allow me to revert back to wellbutrin if this doesn't work.

thank god I found this site because I recently was switched to the generic (Teva) brand of Wellbutrin XL 150mg and have been having similar symptoms...tired...no energy, can't focus, headaches. I am off to contact my doctor to try to get him to order me the "real" Wellbutrin. Wish me luck! Jeannie

Been on generic Wellbutric XL for past few months and I can 100% attest that it is NOT working and I have been in a downward depression cycle for more than 3 weeks -- after being on Wellbutrin XL brand 300 mg for past 3-4 years, this is the first time my depression has been so deep and consistent -- do not agree that depression's normal cycle is the cause -- that is baloney.

I am seeing my doctor today and requesting brand Wellbutrin XL 300 mg only - price isn't issue when depression is so costly due to work, etc. THERE IS A DEFINITE DIFFERENCE -- also only 24-36 people tested for this generic version - check the research. I am not alone and the more I read, the more alarmed I am for those who aren't aware of why their depression is returning. When one is depressed, if it gets worse, no action is ever taken or investigated because the depression takes over.

My doctor prescribed Wellbutrin SR 150MG for my occasional mood swings and slight depression. I ended up getting Bupropion SR 150MG from the pharmacy and thought nothing of it; I've had generic prescriptions before. This being the first time trying an anti-depressant medicine, I took it with little thought to any possible side effects.

Almost two weeks into taking the medicine, I was getting bad headaches, weight gain (5 lbs in 1 week!)dizziness and depression; crying at almost anything, miserable, and a feeling of hopelessness. I didn't think it was the meds and that I might be just going through a bad time, but now that I found this site, it's helped clear up the 'why' of what I was going through.

I had never been that low or down prior to taking Bupropion. I'm discontinuing taking Bupropion and speaking with my physician about changing to Wellbutrin.

I cannot believe that this post has been running for a year now, but I, as the others am greatly relieved. I found my 'cocktail' of Lexapro and Wellbutrin XL after much meds adjustment and have been doing wonderfully even surviving a separation and divorce.

Unfortunately, I, like the rest was switched to the TEVA generic form Budeprion XL about 3 weeks ago. I have been slowly going downhill for a week. Sunday was the last straw. I walked around in a daze with a knot in my stomach on the verge of tears and finally it hit me - what have I changed? I remembered the generic. Finding these posts blew me away.

Today I got the brand name Wellbutrin XL back. THANK GOD!!! I had to pay way more so called my insurance company. They have an appeals form I plan to mail to my doctor with backup information. The doctor's office, pharmacy and insurance company all said they'd never heard of anyone having this problem. Apparently, none of them have Googled it - I plan to share. I am on the road to health again!

One really important thing to understand about Wellbutrin XL is that this pill uses a rather complex method of delivering the active ingredient. This pill does not just dissolve normally like 99% of other pills on the planet, this pill utilizes an ion pump mechanism which is necessary for the LONG time release aspect this pill features. A person actually expells the hollow shell of the pill in feces, because the active ingredient is "pumped" out of the pill.

Generic Wellbutrin XL (Budeprion XL), as far as I am aware, cannot use the same ion pump mechanism as the name brand because it is patented by Glaxo. The patent on the active ingredient of Wellbutrin XL ran out however, so the challenge for a generic pill maker in making a generic Wellbutrin XL is in designing a new time release mechanism that releases the medication at exactly the same rate as the ion pump mechanism.

The FDA is only concerned with the customer receiving the same active ingredient as the name brand pill. They are not concerned with the generic pill matching the same rate of absorption as the original name brand pill.

I take xanax, and I have noticed the name brand xanax pill is packed very tightly for longer time release. The generic versions of xanax I have tried are all packed to a lesser extent than the name brand, leading to more rapid absorption.. so you get more effect. In the case of xanax, people tend to prefer the generic because you 'get higher quicker'. This increases sales for the generics. This effect is not desired by Wellbutrin users, because the therapeutic effect of stable dosing becomes compromised.

So, what I believe is happening is the Budeprion XL delayed absorption mechanism is releasing the active ingredient too quickly.

The symptoms people have experienced in this forum seem to match the effects of overdosing on Wellbutrin, becoming ramped up.. then the pill runs out too quickly, causing a emotional crash.

Remember, Wellbutrin is very similar to amphetamines in effect. The wellbutrin mechanism of action can cause compulsivity, sweating, anger, anxiety, intestinal irregularity, light sensitivity, headaches etc. These are all indicators of an individual becoming overstimulated.

It is VERY unlikely there are active chemicals in the generic Budeprion XL that differ from the name brand.

An easy test of my theory can be conducted by getting your Dr. to perscribe you the 3 times a day version of bupropion. You will feel a roller coaster of highs and lows. As I did in the past.

Another way to look at this is: it took glaxo smith kline over 15 years to engineer a once per day dose pill. They started with a 3 per day dosing in a loosely packed pill, then the 2 per day SR version which is a very tightly packed pill. GSK would have marketed the once per day version back in the 80's if they had the delayed absorption technology they have now. After all, who wants to take 2 or 3 pills per day..

I have not taken Budeprion XL, however I have been taking various generic and name brand wellbutrin for the last 6 years. I am currently taking generic wellbutrin SR 100mg x 2 per day. I can tell you with authority that I recieve significantly more stimulation (wellbutrin effect) from those 200mg's of SR than when I took Wellbutrin 300mg XL once per day.

The solution is: to go back to name brand Wellbutrin XL, and hopefully in a few years the generic manufacturers will be able to produce a pill with the same absorption characteristics as the brilliantly designed ion pump mechanism.

What Bush's FDA and healthcare practices are doing to American citizens is SHAMEFUL. I was written a scrip today for Wellbutrin XL 150 mg and took it to WAL-MART (I recently lost my health insurance on my birthday.) because my doctor told me the prescription would only be around $20. After waiting over an hour for the prescription to be filled, I was informed it would cost me $150 to get one month's worth.

Is it so much to ask for us to be happy? To even be able to FUNCTION? This is a disgrace. I am at the point now where I will just have to do without because of all the horrible things I've heard about the generic, and that is also a disgrace. Lower-income (In my case, a young woman at the start of a new career.)

Americans should NOT be treated like animals! We especially should not be treated like second-class citizens who have to slip deeper and deeper into excruciating depression just because of nuances in the prescription drug industry!! Something should be done about this!!

my husband has been on wellbutrin sr 150 for 10 years with no problems but when the generic came out he started taking it and with in 2 weeks he began to feel bad. He had no problem with this drug when he took the name brand. I believe there is a major problem with this drug. We now have to pay 175.00 every 2 months so he can stay on the name brand because are insurance will not cover it 09/11/08

I recently tried to get the name-brand Wellbutrin XL 150 mg filled and found out it was $152.48 for a ONE MONTH'S SUPPLY at wal-mart. That is ridiculous. My mom was heartbroken that I wasn't able to get the medicine I need, so she did some research. She contacted Glaxo Smith Kline and apparently there is a program called Bridges to Access that is for people who don't have health insurance who make less than $26,000 a year. It is a program that helps you get affordable name-brand Wellbutrin for up to a year. I am so glad I've heard about this. I think more people should know about this.

I've taken Wellbutrin Xl 300 mg. for many years and had excellent results. However, when the generic version came out I began taking it to reduce my prescription costs. From reading all of the posts, I'm glad to here I'm not the only person who's experienced negative side effects from generic WB XL. My hair has been coming out more than usual, I rarely sleep, am very paranoid and grouchy. Also have no energy (am unemployed and I need that extra energy!), pick at my face (I've had acne for yrs. but have never picked at it like I'm doing now!) Feel like I may never be normal again. I'm going to call my dr. tomorrow after I call my ins. co. and ask about brand name WB XL.

BUDEPRION XL 150 IS TERRIBLE!! Please do something about this. I took it for a couple weeks and felt awful. WHY DO I HAVE TO PAY $75 a month for Wellbutrin XL 150 just because the generic SUCKS!!!

Boy am I glad to hear I'm not crazy!!! I've been on Wellbutirn XL for 1 year and recently changed to the generic. I have had severe dizzy spells, shakiness and just overall feeling horrible. I will go back to paying the higher price for the non-generic!

At one time I had been put on Wellbutrin. It was great. Just a few months ago I was put on the generic brand. It was not until I began talking to my boss at work that I realized that it could be the meds that were making me feel bad (headaches, extreme mood swings, weight gain, muscle aches, very tired, and emotional.)

She said she had also been feeling bad. We both were prescribed this medicine. After finding this site, and realizing that it is the meds, we have called our doctors to be switched back to the name brand. Hope we both will be feeling better soon. Thanks for sharing your own experiences.

I just wonder how many people have committed suicide or murder while being on this medication.It's too bad the FDA doesn't pay closer attention to what is happening with these generic drugs.

I was recently switched against my clearly-stated wishes to generic TEVA bupropion, 150 mg, and have had almost identical experiences to those listed here. I felt fantastic on Wellbutrin, and now on this generic I'm extremely anxious, almost out of control angry, obsessive, and just feeling miserable.

Only thing different for me compared to others here is that I have LOST at least 10 pounds (not trying - I'm not overweight!!) in the past month. This cannot be healthy.

I've put in another request through my local pharmacy for the brand name Wellbutrin (since my mail order pharmacy forced me to get the generic), and I'm waiting to see if it goes through and just how much it will cost. By the way, the pharmacist did not seem surprised by my request - maybe they're becoming aware of this problem??

Don't use a mail order service for this med - they might give you the brand name for one month, and then they'll automatically give you the worthless generic!!!

My insurance company upped the price on Wellbutrin XL. Against my doctor's instructions, I saved money by switching to the generic Bupropion. I developed slight heat intolerance, sweating, and tremors. I have been waking up early, too. I'm going back to the original!

I stopped the Teva generic a few months after it was released because it doesn't work. Thinking the problem with the medicine should of been fixed, I started up again. I think it's worse cause my whole frontal lobe stays numb. I get very confused and dizzy. Once again I have to stop and will try to just 'be happy'.

My CVS pharmacist says that CVS recently switched suppliers of Wellbutrin XL 300 to "Anchen". He didn't know if this was related to the complaints about effectiveness of drug from previous supplier (which I believe was Teva). Do you have any information on Anchen and whether its generic version is any good?

Wow! I took wellbutrin in the past and had wonderful results. 8 weeks and all of my depression symptoms were gone. I was eating normally, sleeping normally, very little anxiety. All good things. My health insurance switched me to bupropion instead.

Recently I've had very uncomfortable symptoms. My mouth is always dry, I have NO appetite and when I force myself to eat I feel nauseous immediately. I have hot flashes on and off throughout the day. I sweat all night long, waking up drenched. I sweat excessively in my armpits and my hands(always warm and clammy). I frequently feel lightheaded and sometimes can hear like "static" or slight "ringing" in my ears.

I thought I may have the flu or something but have recently come to realize that it may be this new bupropion. I'm waiting for my doctor to get back to me but this drug is NOT working for me.

Good News Everyone! See below...
Generic Wellbutrin Comes Under FDA Microscope
The FDA is considering a postmarketing study of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries’ generic version of the antidepressant Wellbutrin XL in patients who have reported problems with it, agency spokeswoman Crystal Rice said. In April, consumer advocates said they were skeptical of the FDA’s clearance of the drug, noting that the agency had received 85 postmarketing reports of patients experiencing side effects, such as loss of antidepressant effect, after switching from GlaxoSmithKline’s (GSK) brand version of the drug to the generic version between Jan. 1 and June 30, 2007.
Drug Industry Daily

So, I thought I was totally imagining things. I started taking this pill- was nervous already because all of the sudden there was a different pill in my bottle (which the pharmacist did not tell me)- but I started it anyway. Since then, for 2 months, I have stomach problems EVERY single night....and at the same time EVERY single night. PLUS, I haven't been feeling nearly as good as I was before.

I am glad to see that the FDA is going to be looking into this. In the meantime, I WILL be looking for the Watson brand or will go to the Brand Name. Sheesh! Shame on TEVA for this!

I have the same problems as the others. The generic Wellbutrin makes me so foggy and groggy I can't use it.
I'm thinking it's cheaper using diet pills from a diet Dr. Has there been any progress in getting an FDA study going.? I only need the Wellbutrin during the dark months

Today, I found out this horrible news about generic Wellbutrin's possible ineffectiveness. Perhaps it's to blame for the resurgence of my horrendous depression these last few months. My brain is foggy, my anxiety is suffocating, my thoughts of suicide are rampant. Frankly, I hope to go to sleep and never wake up. The thought of trying another anti-depressant and going through all the side effects again is even more depressing. If generic Wellbutrin is indeed some sick joke of a placebo well it's robbed me of months. Figures that the FDA is not taking these complaints seriously. After all, depressed people are "crazy," right? WRONG.

Wow! I'm so glad I read these postings. I was switched by the pharmacy to Budeprion 2 weeks ago and just tonight decided to research it on the internet since I was feeling worse. I'm experiencing all the same things I've been reading here, like GERD, headaches (which I never get) ringing in my ears and worst of all the anxiety and depression are back. I'm glad I caught this before the weight gain started creeping up on me. Interesting that that's a side effect since I was under the impression that the original Wellbutrin was a slight appetite suppressant.

I have been taking Buderprion for 6 months now and I am having some awful side affects from it. I treat my husband with disrespect as well as my dear friends. I am mean and I say things I would never say to people. I do things that are not normal for me. I cry at the drop of a dime.

I don't want to get out of bed,I'm lazy at home,I have headaches, I don't want to see anyone, I treat my boss badly as well as my co-workers. What a mess! When I think rationally I realize that I have done really wrong. I know I have to apologize to my friends for my behavior but I don't know how to explain why this has happened and not have them think I am using this crap for an excuse.

I am going to my doctor on Monday morning and getting off of this stuff that has screwed me up.
I did not know what was causing these emotions to happen to me until I read about other people having the same things going on. I came across these testimonials when I looked Buproprion I was shocked. I am so glad I found you.
Thank You so much

I just started taking budeprion XL. I took 150 mg the first week and then went to 300mg. I'm having shortness of breath and often feel like I can't get a breath. I've had trouble in the past with anxiety attacks and this is one of the symptoms for me. I've contacted my doctor to see if this is related to the new medicine. He hasn't responded yet, but I wish I'd read these postings earlier. I'll definitely be mentioning it to him when he responds. It's got to be related to this generic drug. Thanks for posting all the comments.

I can relate to all of these comments. It is difficult to know if my increased depression is related to this generic drug or if it is due to a recent diagnosis of sensory neuropathy.

I had the same experience with Budeprion XL. I have been on Wellbutrin XL for years and it has worked so well. I went through a lot of Anti-Anxiety and Anti-Depression medication with negative results before getting on Wellbutrin XL. A couple of months ago my doctor decided to put me on the generic Budeprion XL and it gave me horrible mood swings.

I was angry and depressed all the time! If I had stayed on that stuff, it would have caused my marriage to go under! I got back on Wellbutrin XL and I was back to normal. However, there are "no issues" with the generic per the FDA! Now, they just doubled the cost for copay for anyone staying on Wellbutrin XL.

I just paid around $73 copay for it yesterday. I guess they want a bunch of psychos on Budeprion XL walking around. My wife said she wanted to drop me off at the the CEO for the pharmaceutical companies responsible for the happy pill Budeprion XL and let me stay a few days with them to change their minds.

I have been on Lexapro for 3 years now and its helped. Its not the miracle drug but i can function. The only problem is i gained about 15 pounds with it, so my Dr decided to switch and when i heard the Wellbutrin could control your appetite i was all for it.

I was put on the generic and when i called the pharmacy I was told it was the same thing. I have been on it for 2 days and its horrible. I have nausea and dizziness and i began vomiting. I am going back to Lexapro by tapering off the generic. I will never go back to it. I guess i will have to stick with the weigh gain.

I am so glad I found this site. I have been on welbutrin xl for years. In July got my script filled it was generic, started crying all the time, my dr. has tried 3 different meds now and nothing works. I just found this site yesterday so I will definitely discuss this with him. Thank you for all your information. Like the others I thought my depression was just getting worse.

I too had the same effects. The generic was free, but the brand was 150.00 and that is with insurance (300 bucks alone). So I thought why not. Then after being on the generic for about 2 months, I've feel as if I relapsed into my depression again. Unable to focus, crying all the time, and feeling in a slump with no energy. So today I decided enough! I filled it with the brand name and I am hoping this will work!

I was on Wellbutrin XL 150 mg for five months earlier this year, stopped, and now need to be back on it. I'm very glad I found this site or I would never have known about the generic difference! I was somewhat excited that I wouldn't have to pay $60/mo for this prescription, but after reading everyone else's experiences, I'm not going to take a chance.

Thanks everyone for posting! It has been extremely helpful!

Started taking Wellbutrin SR in 1998 with excellent results. Three years ago Lexapro was added to my RX to help with anxiety attacks. Felt great until I switched to generic Wellbutrin XL. Didn't have any bad side effects, just sort of felt numb all the time, yet functional. I thought the nausea was from the Lexapro!

Still, I've wondered why I haven't felt as good as I did when I started taking the Lexapro in addition to the Wellbutrin.

The generic I was given were the big yellow pills. A few days ago my latest shipment of pills contained small white ones from Anchen. At first I thought they gave me the wrong thing, because my appetite disappeared and my mood went from feeling SUPER good to crashing and feeling SUPER lousy! Maybe it will take a few days for my system to adapt to it, but after reading the posts here, I just don't remember feeling as good as I did on the Wellbutrin SR. Taking the yellow pills was like taking nothing. Taking the white pills is like Mr. Toad's wild ride. Definitely feel better with the white pills, but will have to start taking them on a full stomach, maybe that will slow the absorption.

I'm a pharmacist, actually I work for a health plan at the moment, and I've been on wellbutrin xl for about 3 years in combination with citalopram. Wellbutrin helps treat my fatigue symptoms the most. Without experiencing this first hand, I may not have given these posts much credit.

When the teva generic first became available in Dec 2006, I noticed right away it wasn't working. My fatigue returned immediately and I wanted to sleep for 14-18 hours a day. Even though I thought it was a random event or just all in my head, I asked my MD to sign my Rx DAW so I could continue getting the brand.

Now that I have new insurance I have been getting the generic for a few months. I just couldn't bear the thought paying $100 for brand vs $10 for generic each month. However, the last 3 weeks I have been getting progressively moodier, more tired and emotional, and socially withdrawn. My irrational thoughts are getting to a point where I now realized my depression has returned. This is surprising since I was stable on my previous therapy with the brand drug for over 2 yrs. There are no outside sources to contribute to my depression recurrence, so I must conclude the switch to generic Teva budeprion XL that has led to this. I've just filed a medwatch report with the FDA.

I understand it's frustrating dealing with insurance companies and their policies; they prefer generics and formulary meds but where I work I've learned there are always exceptions to this rule. I recommend trying to contact a customer service agent or a clinical staff member, such as a PharmD or MD, at your insurance company. The first step is to figure out what evidence, such as medical records, they require in order to grant a formulary exception. Then make sure you get this information submitted by your MD to the insurance company. It may sound like a hassle and a lot of work, but if successful you will able to save your money and your mind!

My insurance switched mine last month. I've been on them for 3 weeks and have not felt the same. I have had 2 very low spells, sleep more and have headaches. Glad I'm not the only one!

My insurance co. will no longer cover my Welbutrin-Xl meds. I started taking the generic version and I immediately knew something was going wrong. I was experiencing anxiety, anger, depression all over again but more aggressively. I, also, have issues with my kidneys and there were problems starting that caused me to have to go on antibiotics. This had to be done at an infusion unit at my hospital due to my problems taking antibiotics.

I called my doctor and told his receptionist my problem and requested a new script for only Welbutrin-XL NO Generic. The first script cost me $70.00 and my most recent one cost me $123.00. I can't keep this up and I have to stay on my meds. for my health of mind and for my family's sake. Please help us who are caught in this terrible situation. I really don't know where to start. Thank you for letting us tell our real life situation.

I have been on Wellbutrin XL for 3 years and it has worked wonderfully for me. However, the past month I have been absolutely miserable... I have cried many times (rare for me) and I keep thinking "I am hating life - why am I so blue... I am going to have to ask my doctor to increase my medication dosage - this just isn't working" I have many times thought "Oh, I just want something to numb me! I don't want to feel so emotional anymore!" Yesterday my husband finally got really annoyed with me and asked if I have been taking my medication. I said "Yes... I never miss it!"

Then it dawned on me... I just started my second month of the generic brand (Budeprion XL by Teva). Let me state that I am normally a firm believer in generic brands - I buy them all the time. So, I called my sister (a nurse) and asked her if she has ever heard of generic brands not working as well. She said yes so I googled "generic wellbutrin not working" and I found this site. What a relief! So, I feel like I now have my answer and luckily I have an appointment with my doc this wed. I will definitely be discussing these findings and asking for the REAL DEAL - Wellbutrin XL - no generics!

I have been on generic Wellbutrin for years with great success. In July, I switched pharmacies and the generic Wellbutrin SR I was given was made by Watson. For the first time in my life I started having migraines. (I am 42.) In late July, the migraines were EVERY SINGLE DAY for 8-9 weeks. I had MRI's, CT scans, blood work, went to neurologists, etc, but no one could figure out what the cause was. Out of desperation, I went off the Wellbutrin cold-turkey. 5 days later the migraines went away and haven't had one since ( 3 weeks now.) I don't know what the difference is, but I NEVER want to go through that again!

I am a male, and was 39 years old in 2007 when I started taking generic bupropion.
I believe I am one of the people who are at the greatest risk by taking the generic form of Wellbutrin XL 300. I was particularly vulnerable to a change in the efficacy of my anti-depressant because I was unable to recognize that it had failed. There is a good reason for this:
I had never been depressed before.

I was taking Wellbutrin XL 300 for minor disaffected-type depression and major ADD. The combination of my symptoms made me apathetic, unmotivated, and unable to be effective in my personal and professional life. Wellbutrin gave me satisfactory relief for both conditions. Since my previous depression was only minor, I had never experienced deep depression. I had no frame of reference with which to recognize the danger of acute clinical depression. I was way out of control by the time I realized I was in trouble.

After taking Wellbutrin for about two years, I voluntarily switched to generic bupropion to save money. Wellbutrin was about $90 per month, while the generic was only $10. I filled my prescriptions at Eckerd. I could not distinguish the bupropion from the Wellbutrin I had been taking. My symptoms were still in control. I had been taking the generic drug for about six months when Eckerd was bought by Rite Aid. They changed the management and inventory at my local store in 2007.

I continued to fill my prescriptions there unsuspecting of any change in my medication. Rite Aid probably carried bupropion from a different generic manufacturer than Eckerd did. I am unsure of the makers of my drugs, because I had no reason to question generic drugs. I believed what I had always heard about generics; that they were just as effective as the name brand. Some time later, I became profoundly depressed.

I had a generalized feeling of hopelessness. I was irritable, and was gradually losing emotional control. I was at the verge of tears frequently. I hid it well, but I’m sure my young children suffered from the loss of my humor, patience, and energy. Although not literally suicidal, I am still shaken about where my darkest thoughts had gone, and the distorted things that seemed rational to me. In a rare moment of clarity, I realized that something was wrong. My “minor” depression wasn’t minor any longer. It was really bad now, and it obviously wasn't being treated by the Wellbutrin.

It took me a few days to surmise that my depression began around the same time that my pharmacy had changed owners. Armed with the belief that the generic drugs were causing the problem, I fought myself back to basic functionality and begged my doctor to prescribe Wellbutrin "as written."

When I went to pick up my prescription, I was informed that it was on hold for prior authorization. My insurance company wanted my doctor to justify changing me back to the brand name. It took several desperate, tearful calls and at least a week to obtain real Wellbutrin. During this time my feelings of hopelessness were overwhelming. Once I was back on Wellbutrin XL, my symptoms disappeared entirely within two weeks. I had totally regained my strength, and I was happy again.

It is very disturbing that a drug like Wellbutrin XL, that for me successfully treated such a dangerous disease, was willingly substituted with a generic drug that didn’t work at all. My insurance company gave me a compelling reason to switch to bupropion, and the FDA’s promotion of generic drugs reassured me that it was safe. I made the decision, I suffered, and I recovered. I have to wonder how many people didn’t.

YEA-I don't feel nearly as crazy anymore. I've been taking Wellbutrin on and off for almost 6 years (consistently for the last 3 years) and it saved my life. I started on 300 mg of SR and ended up taking the generic form when I went back on it 3 years ago (big, yellow, smelly pills) and noticed no difference-worked like a charm. When I started teaching, taking a pill in the middle of the day was a hassle and I forgot all the time. I switched to the XL and noticed that 300mg of XL didn't work as well as 300mg of SR had. I was tired and felt sluggish all the time so my doctor upped my dosage to 450mg which I've been on for a year and a half. It wasn't as good at controlling my depression and ADHD as the SR did but it was manageable. I also gained 25 pounds without changing my diet or exercise routine. Recently, I had to switch to the Budeprion XL from Teva due to my insurance and I've gone downhill ever since.

I thought it might have something to do with the stress of my job but the stress level hasn't changed and now I'm having anxiety attacks, headaches, loss of mental focus, and my depression is as bad as it was when I was unmedicated. I'm going to try and go back to the SR since I know the generic form of that works and maybe I can lower my dosage too.

I'm hoping this works because Wellbutrin SR (as well as the generic SR) has been the only AD that makes me feel level and controls my inattentiveness, which, as a middle school teacher is an issue. It was also the only med that didn't affect my libido. Has anyone switched back to the SR with success?

My pharmacy switched me to generic Wellbutrin XL manufactured by Anchen several weeks ago. At first I was having some weird mood swings, but am currently experiencing no adverse side effects.

One thing I do differently is to make sure I eat something when I take my pill. I used to drink coffee first thing in the morning, but now save that for after breakfast. Eating small meals throughout the day to keep something in my stomach is a huge help.

Drinking plenty of fluids throughout the day is another important step.

This has made all the difference for me.

I have only just found out about these "side effects" in the last few weeks. I was switched to the generic about 7 months ago and thought nothing of it at the time. I was happy to finally not have to pay as much. Gradually over the next several months my mental state deteriorated. Major anxiety, lack of confidence, weight gain ( due to inability to control my diet), heavy drinking, and worsening of personal relationships were my main symptoms. I started a stressful new job at exactly the same time as the switch and had been blaming that all along. Prior to starting the generic I was happy, confident, and had lost 95 pounds of weight and was still losing and exercising daily. All that has been all but undone now.

I have stopped taking it and will be getting my doctor to prescribe the name brand! All I can say is Wow! These guys ought to be sued for letting something out that can devastate you like this did me.

Like the others on this site I was also switched fom WellbutrnXL to generic BudeprionXL. Even those these are the same chemically there has to be a tremendous difference in their "payload" delivery. The generic made me feel like I had drank too much caffeine. It was horrible. I can not adequately describe the unease and anxiety I felt. I had to stop the generic after a few days. By the way, the Mfg. was Anchen and the Mktg. was TEVA.

The FDA has taken the side of the insurance companies and continue to maintain there is no difference. This will become another FDA neglect scandal. These people should have to actually take the medication before clearing it. Keep your eyes open because I believe this will soon become a class-action suit against the FDA and Anchen/Teva.

Just wanted to add my experience. Name brand Wellbutrin is the only way to go. I started on that and was fine but switched to the TEVA generic and was irate, broke out all over my face and chest and had stomach problems. I took a day off and started the name brand and feel great again.

I started taking Wellbutrin-XL some time ago with great results. When my pharmacy switched to the generic Buprodion XL I had no qualms due to the fact that they said the generic was the same as the original. My mood over the past few months has progressively gotten worse. I have no energy. I want to sleep all of the time. I have crying spells for no reason. I have had headaches.

In the past couple of weeks I have started having suicidal thoughts. I thought I was going crazy until I stumbled across this website when I googled "Wellbutrin not working any longer". I am calling my doctor today to get back on Wellbutrin XL (NO GENERIC) and prepare myself to battle my insurance provider when I go to get the prescription filled. The thought of saving money every month was appealing to me but not when I feel like this.

Wow, I had the exact same experience....was thrilled there was a generic because the co-pay was so much less, but after two months, I switched back to Wellbutrin (paying even more since it now has a generic) because on the generic my symptoms were returning to pre-Wellbutrin state. I even wrote Wellbutrin's manufacturer and they sent me a documentation form to have my doctor fill out. I do hope at some point the insurance companies will consider Wellbutrin necessary and give us the break on co-pay.

After going off Wellbutrin for a while, I decided to go back on it in order to be prepared for the long cold days ahead, which have always affected me pretty negatively. My pharmacist asked if I wanted the generic form, and I said yes. I was only on it three days when I wanted to eat everything in sight. Ordinarily my appetite is under control just fine but not on generic Wellbutrin! I felt as if I were a starving monster obsessed with food...I hated the way it made me feel so out of control...

So I went off generic Wellbutrin and my appetite went right back to normal. Weird stuff--I despise it with a passion. Glad I only spent $15 on it! (b/c of co-pay)

Thank goodness for this website! I, too, thought it was all in my head when I began to feel worse after switching pharmacies and receiving the big yellow pills from Teva. I started having headaches, loss of energy, losing my temper, and also wanted to eat everything in sight. I was still able to function, but felt as though I were on "auto pilot". I took this generic for 19 days before I found this site.

I called several pharmacies to see if any of them carried the generic from Watson. I had to have my insurance company BC/BS override my prescription since I was in the middle of a refill. My new RX that Kmart filled is Bupropion XL from Anchen, not the generic from Watson that I had requested. I will give this a try for a week or two and see how it works.

Wow... same story for me. I was on Wellbutrin for 3 years or so and everything was fine. Insurance switched me to Budeprion 4-5 months ago and ever since then I've felt like the Goodyear Blimp. I was 145 before I switched (and have been for the last decade or so) and have gained 10 pounds in the last 3 months. The worst part is the bloated feeling I get daily and the bad stomach cramps I often get as a chaser. I recently had my annual checkup and asked my doctor about this... when she found out about the prescription switch she got noticeably and seriously upset. I had no idea this could happen... I have to spend $40 a month for the right stuff, but I'm hoping it will be worth it.

Has anyone experienced allergic reactions to the generic form of Wellbutrin 300mg XL, manufactured by Anchen? I had been on Wellbutrin brand name since 1999 and CVS in NYC would only fill my Rx with generic because my FL doctor didn't write "medically necessary" on the script (NY state law). I took the generic for 2 weeks and suddenly woke up with a case of hives in mid-Sept that has been chronic since then. I've had to take loads of prescription antihistamines, prednisone, etc. and this has turned into a full-blown autoimmune problem.

Next stop is a rheumatologist. I test negative in all my allergy tests, so it can't be food or environment. I started back on the brand name after the hives started, but I wonder if my body went into overdrive from the generic. I'd appreciate any comments if you know of or have experienced allergic skin reactions.

I too have had severe downhill experiences since switching to bupropion 150/2x day.

Everyone that has posted on this message board should go to the fda website (www.fda.gov) and write a complaint.

i am currently trying to get back on the Wellbutrin XL, but haven't heard back from my doc yet.

Best of luck to all! and PLEASE, go to FDA website and COMPLAIN! it's the only way to make our voices heard!!!

I noticed when Longs switched me to the generic for Wellbutrin XL - BUPROPION XL made by Watson Labs I felt like I had stopped taking my anti-depressant.
Thanks - I will now shop around for a pharmacy that will supply the name brand!

I have been taken the generic Wellbutrin for two weeks and feel awful. I have to pay out of pocket for this med but I am going to get the real deal. I also have headaches,constipation, can't sleep and sweats. I took Wellbutrin a few years ago and it worked well for me but I also had insurance. The costs of these meds is absolutely criminal, but I would rather give something else up than my sanity!!!

I am too having Welbutrin Generic issues after switching to generic I found it does not work. What can I do? I cannot afford the brand name and insurance wont pay unless generic???/What as a consumer are my options?

Once again Google is my friend! I was started on Wellbutrin XL about a year ago to battle a rather mild depression. Things cleared up nicely as long as I was taking the real deal (free samples provided by my doctor, I am uninsured). I now know why the drug seemed to stop working! Since I started getting my prescription filled with the generic bupropion I have had one anxiety episode which required a month-long stay at a wellness recovery center, and like many other posters have had my depression worsen beyond what it was originally.

I also shake so badly sometimes I have trouble drinking water from a glass or I can't hit my mouth with a forkfull of food! I haven't weighed myself lately but it's easy to tell I've put on pounds by the way my pants don't fit anymore. Four or five hours is all the sleep I've had on any given night for months. Because of what now seem to be clearly side effects of the generic drug, I've been taking buspar for the anxiety and trazadone as a sleep-aid when quite possibly I would not have needed either if I could have stayed with the non-generic Wellbutrin.

But alas I am a poor man and could not at this time afford the Glaxo version...time to huddle down with my doctor and see what else might work, because I am definitely getting worse instead of better!

I have been feeling like so many of these people. The anger, flying off the handle..sadness..no sleeping...I also took welbrutrin sr 150. I did fine. then I picked my new script up one month and it was different..my bottle says buPROPion HYDROCHLORIDE extended-release tablets USP (SR) 150 mg. When I ask how come was different, was told is the same. But now I wonder..I have been having so many black days. The brand name up in corner says ''actavis''

Is it not maybe me but the pills?