[Berries]

Are there any Bipolars out there who take Wellbutrin XL or have in the past? Has it helped?

[Liberada]

I take wellbutrinXL (450mg) and geodon (120mg). I believe it has helped me and I do notice a difference between taking WellbutrinXL and the generics. My last refill was Budeprion made by Teva. The refill before that was BupropionXL made by GlazoSmithKline. I could tell a difference between the two generics. My body told me there was something amiss before I realized the labeling was different.

(I actually just got off the phone with the pharmacist and she says there is no difference between the two generics she aslo said that when generics are refilled they are filled with what ever generic they happen to have at the moment)

I read some old threads (2005?) on a different forum several months back where posters were complaining about the maker Teva. At the time I didn't understand what they really meant but now I do.

My next refill will be brand name WellbutrinXL or BupropionXL only. I think generics need only to be 90% as effective as namebrand to pass FDA standards.

Thankfully (very) I have insurance through my DH.

I know.. you didn't ask for all of that... but I've been doing a lot of Wellbutrin homework... Just thought I'd share

[madisgram]

Originally Posted by Lbien6

Are there any Bipolars out there who take Wellbutrin XL or have in the past? Has it helped?

my sister took it and it helped her a lot. she got off it just recently and noticed a change....she's following up with her pdoc...to get back on it. hope this helps.

[bigt666]

Originally Posted by madisgram

my sister took it and it helped her a lot. she got off it just recently and noticed a change....she's following up with her pdoc...to get back on it. hope this helps.

I drink it and I don't like it. I feel good in the mornings but as soon as it wears off I feel depressed and it makes me cry a lot.

[bigt666]

Originally Posted by Lbien6

Are there any Bipolars out there who take Wellbutrin XL or have in the past? Has it helped?

I take it and I don't like it. I feel good for some days but on others I feel depressed and I cry a lot.

[radmaker3]

Originally Posted by Lbien6

Are there any Bipolars out there who take Wellbutrin XL or have in the past? Has it helped?

I took a generic form of Wellbutrin in the past. I'm not sure what the XL part of it is. I didn't honestly notice much of a difference. A new drug which I have found seems to work pretty well for me is Pristiq.

[Berries]

Originally Posted by madisgram

my sister took it and it helped her a lot. she got off it just recently and noticed a change....she's following up with her pdoc...to get back on it. hope this helps.

I'm curious to know, Madisgram, is your bipolar?

[cuwire2]

Originally Posted by Liberada

I take wellbutrinXL (450mg) and geodon (120mg). I believe it has helped me and I do notice a difference between taking WellbutrinXL and the generics. My last refill was Budeprion made by Teva. The refill before that was BupropionXL made by GlazoSmithKline. I could tell a difference between the two generics. My body told me there was something amiss before I realized the labeling was different.

(I actually just got off the phone with the pharmacist and she says there is no difference between the two generics she aslo said that when generics are refilled they are filled with what ever generic they happen to have at the moment)

I read some old threads (2005?) on a different forum several months back where posters were complaining about the maker Teva. At the time I didn't understand what they really meant but now I do.

My next refill will be brand name WellbutrinXL or BupropionXL only. I think generics need only to be 90% as effective as namebrand to pass FDA standards.

Thankfully (very) I have insurance through my DH.

I know.. you didn't ask for all of that... but I've been doing a lot of Wellbutrin homework... Just thought I'd share

Thank you. I also noticed a difference. At first I didn't think to much about it but I did notice a difference. This might explain some things. I need to pay more attention to what I put into my mouth. Wellbutrin has been working for me for a long time. I can tell I feel much better after my morning shower if I take it prior to my shower.

I did not know the 90% effectiveness situtation about generics. That is helpful information.

[phlashback]

I take 450 mg of Wellbutrin XL in the morning, and 200 mg Seroquel at bed time. For me this combination saved my life, as I was one that had a plan before my intervention.

The biggest side effect I had was enhanced libido. Not a bad thing. It also helped me quit smoking (smoke free for 2 years now). My family sees me as a different person.

I still get depressed, but rarely to the point of wanting to end it all.

I had an issue with one of the generics, but as I work with my pharmacist on a professional level he changed to a different generic. The generic that was not as effective was a yellow tablet (and big in comparison). They switched to a generic that looks like the brand name and that took care of that problem.

I am diagnosed as Bi-polar NOS, as my doc was not sure if it was the SSRI I was taking before my (I feel) proper diagnosis that caused my psychotic break. I have to point out in this situation, that I originally presented depression, and was less than honest about *all* of my symptoms with my doc. I was afraid of being called crazy so i left some vital information out.

[Liberada]

Originally Posted by phlashback

I take 450 mg of Wellbutrin XL in the morning, and 200 mg Seroquel at bed time. For me this combination saved my life, as I was one that had a plan before my intervention.

The biggest side effect I had was enhanced libido. Not a bad thing. It also helped me quit smoking (smoke free for 2 years now). My family sees me as a different person.

I still get depressed, but rarely to the point of wanting to end it all.

I had an issue with one of the generics, but as I work with my pharmacist on a professional level he changed to a different generic.The generic that was not as effective was a yellow tablet (and big in comparison). They switched to a generic that looks like the brand name and that took care of that problem.

I am diagnosed as Bi-polar NOS, as my doc was not sure if it was the SSRI I was taking before my (I feel) proper diagnosis that caused my psychotic break. I have to point out in this situation, that I originally presented depression, and was less than honest about *all* of my symptoms with my doc. I was afraid of being called crazy so i left some vital information out.

That's the one... I haven't tried to get the already filled prescription changed.. (didn't think they would) I'm just waiting to run out so I can start over and do it right. I have 11 days left before I refill.

[phlashback]

Originally Posted by Liberada

That's the one... I haven't tried to get the already filled prescription changed.. (didn't think they would) I'm just waiting to run out so I can start over and do it right. I have 11 days left before I refill.

It was shocking to me as I thought at the time that the generic should be the same, but as it turned out the delevery system was the problem. My pharmcist resarched and found other cases where the effectiveness of that specific generic was questionable.

Good luck, I am fortunate that my pharmacsit actually listened. But then again, when you work directly with the person responsible for purchasing your voice is a little louder.

If your pharmacist does not listen, find a different pharmacy (if you can), as in my opinion those who use a generic are intitled to something that is just as effective.

wishing you well

[Liberada]

Originally Posted by phlashback

It was shocking to me as I thought at the time that the generic should be the same, but as it turned out the delevery system was the problem. My pharmcist resarched and found other cases where the effectiveness of that specific generic was questionable.

Good luck, I am fortunate that my pharmacsit actually listened. But then again, when you work directly with the person responsible for purchasing your voice is a little louder.

If your pharmacist does not listen, find a different pharmacy (if you can), as in my opinion those who use a generic are intitled to something that is just as effective.

wishing you well

Amen.
...

I'm on a bunch of stuff for bipolar 1 (Abilify, Lamictal, Provigal, Klonopin, Trazodone, Topamax) & a couple winters ago my SAD got really bad (suicidal) that I was put on Wellbutrin as well. It worked really well. It cleared up the depression & had the added side effect someone else mentioned of putting an extra zip in the libido dept. (a lot of zip!!). I was able to get off it in the spring & haven't had to go on it again, but if I did have a bad depression come on me again I wouldn't hesitate.

But as a caution, I was talking to a friend who takes oh--not Prozac--but one that is really prescribed frequently like Prozac--and she was saying how it took away her desire for sex so I told her about the effect Wellbutrin had on me. She asked her doc to switch her & she tried it & absolutely hated it; she got all anxious & jittery & within 4 days was begging to go back on her original medication--sex be damned!!

[waffler]

I take Wellbutrin XL- 300 mg in the morn and started almost a yr ago. I had immediate energy increase when I started at 150, and by 300 mg was feeling much better. The dragging depression of 4 yrs lifted and I was actuallly a little hypomanic for months, but not too much of a problem.

It was meant to target my ongoing anxiety also and that was better for a while too, but that's still quite serious.

I don't think I'd want to quit the Wellbutrin. I also take Epival for mood stabilizing and Clonazepam for anxiety and sleep.

[Crystalblue]

Originally Posted by Liberada

I take wellbutrinXL (450mg) and geodon (120mg). I believe it has helped me and I do notice a difference between taking WellbutrinXL and the generics. My last refill was Budeprion made by Teva. The refill before that was BupropionXL made by GlazoSmithKline. I could tell a difference between the two generics. My body told me there was something amiss before I realized the labeling was different.

(I actually just got off the phone with the pharmacist and she says there is no difference between the two generics she aslo said that when generics are refilled they are filled with what ever generic they happen to have at the moment)

I read some old threads (2005?) on a different forum several months back where posters were complaining about the maker Teva. At the time I didn't understand what they really meant but now I do.

My next refill will be brand name WellbutrinXL or BupropionXL only. I think generics need only to be 90% as effective as namebrand to pass FDA standards.

Thankfully (very) I have insurance through my DH.

I know.. you didn't ask for all of that... but I've been doing a lot of Wellbutrin homework... Just thought I'd share

True but Generics have to contain the exact same active ingredients