Online Medical Classes

Different side effects of Bupropion (generic) vs. Wellbutrin XL? (Thinking of switching to generic but scared)?

I have been taking Wellbutrin XL for about a year and 7 months. I was on 150 mg for the first 12 months, then 300 mg for the last 7. (I love it; I feel like I couldn't have imagined a medicine that would make me feel so normal. Just... normal, and consistent, not "high" and no longer experiencing manic lows.) I have always used name brand because I could afford it and because my Dr. recommended it, and am hesitant about generics. The reason I'm hesitant is because I was on Ortho Tri Cyclen Lo (birth control) for a year or so, but the $60 copay was getting costly, so I switched to the generic... I had the worst depression I've had in 2 years, I ate literally 4 times what I eat on a normal basis, and was a psychotic mess. I would get depressed and hopeless for no real reason, every single day, and cried at least twice a day during that time. Without even really knowing why.. I was still on the Wellbutrin during that time but I may as well have been off of it. I thought I was just crazy, but then I went online and read other people's experiences with that specific birth control and learned that many other people had this bad reaction to the generic, and ended up switching back to name brand. Needless to say, I did. Anyway, so my co-pay for the Wellbutrin is $60 a month, and recently my Dr. has put me on other medications too so I want to cut costs and am thinking of switching to the generic (Bupropion)... But after a year & 1/2 of satisfaction with the name brand, added with my terrible experience with the generic of the birth control medicine vs name brand, I'm really scared to switch and wondering what other people's experiences have been? I don't want to read drug facts, because I've done significant research already, I really just want to hear what other people have experienced from the generic, or from the generic compared to name brand. I realize that I need to weigh the options between spending the extra $ and the value of my health, etc etc, I'm not looking for advice, I'm just looking for other people's side effects because that can give me an idea of how bad it may or may not be. Please help... I don't want to go through another experience like I did with my previous generic, so I could use some feedback. Thanks!

Public Comments

1. This is a question you should discuss with your doctor. I take paxil and when I switched to the generic I started having problems. My doctor told me that some generics do not absorb as well as the brand name. With me we just increased the dosage of the generic and now I am doing very well. Talk to your doctor!
2. The drug itself must be chemically identical to the brand. However, the FDA allows the generic to very from the brand by as much as 20% in terms of effective dose. For most drugs, 20% more or less of the medication in circulation makes very little difference, but some patients may be sensitive to such changes, and for some medications (birth control pills, Coumadin, digoxin and Dilantin in particular), it can be devastating. In general, since the drug itself is chemically identical, the side effect profile is the same - but the incidence (rate of occurrence) of side effects may be different, due to the variable absorption. If you do switch to a generic, make sure you always get the same generic from the same manufacturer - if you go from one that's 20% low to 20% high (because your pharmacy changes suppliers, for instance), you can have severe effects.
3. there is a difference to the meds -but often undetectable to most patients. discuss this in detail with your pharmacist & doctor before changing. you may find that your body tolerates the generic form of the med better.
4. Drug companies get a 17 year ride for the high prices. After that, it can be made by other drug companies...But you already know that, right? Is Bupropion the generic of Welbutrin? If it is, then likely it is made by the same company that makes Welbutrin... same dog, different collar. If you are pinging around with your meds, ping with only one at a time... it's called "control". I have a good friend now of bupropion, and it is as if the sun rose in the guy's life. Before this med, he would have days and days of just sitting and doing nothing. That now does not happen. On Prozac, the usual side effect was lack of libido and ED. That as well doesn't happen with bupropion. It costs less than $17/mo I'd suggest, again, that if you are going to switch to bupropion, that that be the only drug switch you make in any single month. If you get a reaction or an effect with which you are uncomfortable, you can easily pin point the cause. Never ever ping two meds at the same time, hon, and as well, not mix any of these with very much alcohol. They just don't work, particularly since you may well be dealing with bi-polar disorder. Please understand that with any mental disorder... bipolar, depression + meds, you are just on the cusp of going back to square one. These meds are absolutely amazing, and have helped soooo many people find a level of contentment they have never ever known. So, again don't change any two drugs at the same time... not even if your doc recommends it.