Generic Wellbutrin?

I am wondering if there is a generic form of Wellbutrin? I am switching to a new insurance plan that supports a generic depression drug called bupropion which is an ingredient in wellbutrin. However, wellbutrin is not on the list. I am hoping I don't have to switch anti depressants just because I switched insurance plans.

Hi Willow, welcome to the forums!

Bupropion is Wellbutrin, technically it's Bupropion hydrochloride. I don't think it's available in a straight generic version yet but I could be wrong, I haven't taken it in quite a long time. I believe I heard somewhere that a name brand has to be on the market for ten years before it's eligible to become a generic, but I definitely could be wrong. And I think I also heard that because WB was re-marketed as Zyban for smokers, that's delaying the process even longer. But if it's not available generically, what you should be able to do is have your doctor write on your prescription "Do Not Substitute", and then your insurance should support it's purchase at the lowest possible rate. I have that issue with my Ambien and as long as my doctor writes that on my rx, I get it at the generic rate. You might want to call your insurance company to double check with them, but I'm pretty sure you'll be OK.

Again, welcome!
bptoo

"A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart."

Thanks bptoo
It listed bupropion on the generics, but I like your suggestion better. I'm not ready to go through the merry-go-round of medication switching again.

Hey... BP
FYO - I found out that they do have a generic form of bupropion. It is not slow release like wellbutrine, but that is the only difference.

Is it the SR version by any chance? I meant to mention that to you... It's hell when the memory starts to go.

"A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart."

no... it's not a generic for the SR version. But it is the same main ingredient as is in wellbutrin (the non-SR wellbutrin). I guess I can quarter my doses and take them throughout the day. I'm willing to do that if it saves on cost.

Willow - Take care when switching from the long acting to the regular Wellbutrin™ (bupropion). I have read of a few cases (approx. 5 or 6) where the equivalent daily dose (eg. 150mg SR twice daily to 100mg Reg. generic three times daily). In these cases the generic bupropion didn't seem to have the same level of therapeutic effect as the SR version.

Normally, I am all for the use of generics, and have seen the increase in quality control by the manufacturers (... guess that happens when the CDN gov. sends in inspectors to do white glove tests... .

Us up here in the Great White North (just due north of the Excited States) have had generics for about 20 years. Still, there are a small minority of generic drugs that do not seem to work as well as the brand name, nor as good as other generics.

I used to think that the difference was just a psychological thing (ie. a brain-washing from the brand name companies spending billions on advertising saying that their brand is better), but different people, with differing expectations, were all saying that a certain brand of generic diazepam did not works as well as the brand name Valium™ (and in a fews instances I had suspicions that the generics didn't work as well because the brand name Valium could be sold for more money on the street). I am reasonably sure that this was not the case in a majority of those who did complain of a lack of efficacy. BTW,that company went under a few years ago.

In Canada,there is ongoing testing of both generic and brand name drugs, where by law they drug has to be within 5% of a set standard in a number of areas for that drug (eg. dissolution rate, absorption rate, excretion half-life, etc.). The generics (in Canada) have cleaned up their act over the 20 or so years they have been on the market.

As for the differences between Wellbutrin SR™ and the regular generic, it is very difficult to compare them, as they do act differently in the body (but still have a similar effect). The SR is absorbed and thus excreted over a longer period of time. Also the variability of a patient's ability to metabolize either a smaller dose over a longer period of time (SR) or larger doses over a shorter period of time (generic).

Basically, it comes down to a couple of choices: either try the generic (with a small risk of the drug not working as well - most cases were successfully treated by bumping the dose a bit) or shell out a little more hard-earned money for the SR because you know that it works. I guess it's sorta like the adage says, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".

This is something that you should talk over with your doctor. He/She should monitor the switch closely.

I'd like to insert a caveat here. I have had no clinical experience with the use of either Wellbutrin regular acting nor the generic buropion, as neither of these drugs are available in Canada. I am just relating some anecdotes that I have read. These anecdotes were not studies and so patient/prescriber bias must be entered into the equation.

Good luck, whatever you decide. - Cam


<font color=blue>"Many people would rather die than think. In fact they do."
- Bertrand Russell</font color=blue>

This is the kind of info I was looking for and could not find. I surely appreciate the time you took with your in depth response. I notified my Dr. of the upcoming insurance change and hopefully we can work something out. I would like to stay on wellbutrin SR since it was such a difficult process of finding something that worked just right. One thing I really don't need is to have my psyche jerked around by another drug trial and error thingy.

Anyway... I'll let you know what happens.

Willow