Budeprion by Teva vs Bupropion by Watson
Posted over a year ago
My pharmacy switched me from budeprion sr 150mg by Teva, to bupropion sr 150 by Watson 1 month ago. I have experienced a noticeable weight gain since the change. Is there any difference between the two that could cause this? When I started on the budeprion several years ago, I actually lost weight.
Mjc - I was on the Watson version and felt very good and had a lot of enery. My pharmacy changed to the Teve brand and within days, I felt depressed again, and very tired. Had a loss of energy and dont like the feeling at all. I believe there is a big difference between the two.
Saram123 - I was on watson bupropion and the pharmacy switched me to Eon bupropion saying it was the exact same just different color.....well almost immediately i started to feel like i was on nothing....depressed, very irritable, tired, bad anxiety....i feel that even a small switch like this (between two generics) can make a huge difference...only wish i had known this was a possibility before.
Anewuser - I was taking buproprion (Watson) for more than 18 months. I swithced insurances and was given the budeprion (Teva) version for the last month. Lately I've been experiencing severe depression again. Nothing significant in my life has changed. I called around and found a pharmacy that gave buproprion.
If you feel a different psych med is not working, don't take chances with your life. These are different drugs that, in an FDA "sample group", metabolized into their active constituents at the same rate. They are both generic, call around and get the medicine you need.
Westernmedicinequackery - I used the Watson brand for a year and felt great. Then I got a refill that was a yellow tablet with a G on one side and the numbers 2444 on the other. The pharmacist told me that it was exactly the same and I trusted that information. Well lo and behold, within a few weeks I felt terrible, back at square one with depression and anxiety, the new tablet was obviously not working. I've managed to find a pharmacy who ordered the Watson brand for me, but meanwhile I have this bottle of the no-good stuff do dispose of. Now there's another dilemna. If I put it in the trash or down the toilet, it adds to the chemical pollution already in our landfills and water supply. The damn pharmaeuticals should have to take their junk back and dispose of it in a way that's safe for the environment. They seem to have no conscience. Their pills don't work, and they pollute the environment...but hey, what the heck, they're making the bucks and that's all they care about eh?
Westernmedicinequackery - I used the Watson brand for a year and felt great. Then I got a refill that was a yellow tablet with a G on one side and the numbers 2444 on the other. The pharmacist told me that it was exactly the same and I trusted that information. Well lo and behold, within a few weeks I felt terrible, back at square one with depression and anxiety, the new tablet was obviously not working. I've managed to find a pharmacy who ordered the Watson brand for me, but meanwhile I have this bottle of the no-good stuff do dispose of. Now there's another dilemna. If I put it in the trash or down the toilet, it adds to the chemical pollution already in our landfills and water supply. The damn pharmaeuticals should have to take their junk back and dispose of it in a way that's safe for the environment. They seem to have no conscience. Their pills don't work, and they pollute the environment...but hey, what the heck, they're making the bucks and that's all they care about eh?
Aayjaay - I have been on bupropion SR for over 8 years and it was working fine, except some days I would have an increase in appetite and was thinking about food all day. Turns out this was on days that I had forgetten to take my Bupropion SR. This last week I have been starving all week and think about food all week long. I kept wondering what could be causing this because I haven't missed my Bupropion SR. I looked further and 2 weeks ago I began taking Budeprion SR because the pharmacy had changed it. I am planning on calling the Dr. to change it back. I don't need to gain weight or have the constant argument in my head about what to eat next.
Gkaalund - My insurance switched me from Wellbutrin 300 XL to the Teva generic (large yellow pill) or budeprion. After a few weeks I felt my depression returning both mentally and physically. My nurse didn't believe me at first until she researched and learned of the multitude of other subjects suffering similar problems. I couldn't take it anymore and purchased the wellbutrin brand and paid over $300 for a 90 day supply. I was promoted and switched to another union with a better insurance plan. I was then prescribed the watson generic and started to feel better again on a consistent basis. However, I recently complained of increased paranoia (as side effect of buproprion). My nurse increased the generic buproprion to 450 mg on a trial basis. Wish me Luck. I no longer trust the FDA. Their comparative analysis of Teva vs. Welbutrin, found teva to upload alot faster then wellbutrin, but concluded that there should be no adverse effects. Therefore me and millions of others are truly crazy. Knowing what we know now, do you really believe the FDA is on the side of the people or big business?
Bxp06369 - I thought maybe I was just crazy and that there was no difference in the medications being that it's just different manufacturers but there is a difference. I was on the Watson Bupropion and was switched without being told to the Teva Budeprion and started feeling weird. I had anxiety attacks on the Teva, strange feelings (somewhat like dizziness but more like drunkenness at times) Migraines with the Teva but not the Watson. I stopped taking it because I was tired of feeling worse on it. I don't understand how a pharmacy can just switch the product without informing you of it. I'm glad I checked out this website and read all the replies because I talked to my pharmacist and they said they've heard that before and they'd put a note in my file to only order me the Watson buproprion. Hopefully I"ll be back on track.
Rush2112 - i too was on buproprion and they put me on budeprion...i am sick a lot..have anxiety...my feet get cold...and it doesnt seem to work..
i am stopping and calling my doctor...i thought i was crazy...i also gained 40 pounds over the last year and half of budeprion
Jlc - i was just recently switched from buproprion to budeprion and i noticed a difference right away. i looked online and it seemed like a lot of people have felt the same way, but i decided to wait and see how it effected me. the buproprion was weird at first too, i sorta felt like i was on speed. well, it's been a little over two weeks now and it's just gone down hill all together. i feel like i did before i started taking anything. unfortunately i don't have insurance until sometime in january (new job) so i have to find an affordable pharmacy that has the correct medicine. overwhelming!
Carrerans - I was taking Wellbutrin XL 300 mg for about three months until my insurance company changed their drug tiers and I had to start taking the generic. I was dispensed Buproprion XL 300 mg at my local pharmacy and and same at Costco pharmacy until I switched my prescriptions to Target because they have better customer. The only problem with Target is that they dispense Budeprion by TEVA and I noticed a difference with 2 days but I thought that it was just me. The biggest problem is that it seems the medication just doesn't work just like when I would forget to take my Wellbutrin. I know I was not forgeting to take my medication and then when the physical systems started I did some searching on the internet and I am finding so many consumer complaints regarding TEVA's Budeprion. I stopped taking Budeprion and began taking some samples of Wellbutrin from my physician until I ran out and began taking the TEVA again and the problems started once again. Now I have went back to Costco and I have been dispensed Watson's Buproprion as of today so I'll wait and see. I will be looking into getting the ball rolling on a class action lawsuit because this is unfair and wrong that TEVA continues to dispense their garbage.
K_lynno57 - My story is very similar to "carrerans, #3120". I was taking Wellbutrin XL 300 and was doing great on it. Due to the expense, I went ahead and switched to the generic which at the time was Watson Buproprion. I was fine and didn't really notice any differences. Then I moved out of state and had to change pharmacies and was given Budeprion by TEVA (from the Target pharmacy). I noticed that the name was different (Bupro- vs Bude), but didn't think much of it. After a few days, I couldn't figure out why I was so upset--crying, irritable, eating everything that I could, horrible mood swings and even suicidal thoughts. My depression had come back like I hadn't experienced in a long time and I knew I'd been taking my medication. I started to wonder about the medication did some research and (just like most of you have) found all of these consumer complaints about generic forms of Wellbutrin, specifically Budeprion by TEVA, which convinced me that this was the cause. The customer service at the Target pharmacy is great. When it was time for a refill, I simply called my Target pharmacist ahead of time to make sure she had it and asked for the name brand instead. I've been great on Wellbutrin XL 300 ever since. Naturally, the cost is more, but I prepared for that by increasing my FSA health benefits this year, so I pay no up front out of pocket expense. I hate that we all had to go through this but I'm glad to know that I'm not alone and that "I'm not crazy" in thinking that the problem was with me.
Sadconsumer - I was on Wellbutrin 300 XL. Then, I was on generic bupropion 300 XL with no changes. [Naively, I didn't think about checking the manufacturer.] One random month, my pharmacy gave me this "new" kind of medication, which turned out to be budeprion (Teva Pharmaceuticals). I thought it weird that all of the medications I had had up to that point looked similar, and this one looked so dramatically different. After about a week, I noticed that, soon after taking the pill, my hands shook and my vision was distorted. I thought that some "additive" needed getting used to. About two months after starting the pill, I realized that my hair was continuously falling out. The only correlation was the Teva pills. The next month, I asked my pharmacy to stock a different brand, and it did. Within two months, I had noticeable short bangs across my hairline and MANY short new hairs along my part. My doc and I did some research and saw postings and reports that mirror the ones here (well, the ones where Teva caused problems, not Watson). We tried to submit reports to the FDA, but the FDA soon issued statements that "depressed people just have suicidal thoughts" and nothing more would be done/researched/investigated. I specifically request any make besides Teva whenever I go to my pharmacy, and I won't go back on Teva again. I consider myself lucky: (1) I take this to mitigate symptoms of ADHD, not depression or anxiety, and (2) my adverse reactions were much more physical than mental/emotional. My heart goes out to people who had serious effects where depression and anxiety are concerned. That is horrible. Hopefully, the FDA will reconsider, with a new administration looking over it because Teva seems to be turning up more and more in my area.
Genericallydepressed - I've had no experience with Watson generics but had 7 years of success using Wellbutrin 300XL. Insurance switched me to generic budeprion XL beginning 05/16/2007. (I suspect but cannot prove it was made by Teva). By 06/03/2007, I started having hallucinations of blacking out (or actual blacking out) for short periods of time. Dizziness, extreme anxiety, fatigue, and depression followed. While driving, I jumped the curb of a very familar turn in my neighborhood and blew out my car's tire. On 07/02/2007 my doc decided to put me back on Wellbutrin 300 XL. Within days, I returned to normal. A recent article in Newsweek (Oct 13, 2008) by Mary Carmichael about generics mentioned that the FDA is investigating the generic Wellbutrin.
Not_fair - I called my pharmacy to refill my medication and the pharmacist replied back, "budeprion?" I said yes bupropion. Not thinking at all that they had switched me...So this last month I have been eating more than usual, hungry all the time and my mood is different. I completely lost my sex drive, which has never ever been a problem. It started to worry me. So I looked at my bottle that read budeprion! How can they switch you without asking?That is highly unethical and yes there is a difference, a big difference. After reading everyone else's blogs, I don't feel like I'm over-reacting. Is it seriously legal for them to do this to people? Antidepressants are not something to carelessly switched on people. Thank God I didn't have the side effects that others mentioned. However, after reading some others I feel irate for them! People have committed suicide from careless actions such as these; it should be illegal to switch people like this!!!
Not_fair - I called my pharmacy to refill my medication and the pharmacist replied back, "budeprion?" I said yes bupropion. Not thinking at all that they had switched me, just that he pronounced it differently...So this last month I have been eating more than usual, hungry all the time and my mood is different. I completely lost my sex drive, which has never ever been a problem. It started to worry me. So I looked at my bottle that read budeprion! How can they switch you without asking?That is highly unethical and yes there is a difference, a big difference. After reading everyone else's blogs, I don't feel like I'm over-reacting. Is it seriously legal for them to do this to people? Antidepressants are not something to carelessly switched on people. Thank God I didn't have the side effects that others mentioned. However, after reading some others I feel irate for them! People have committed suicide from careless actions such as these; it should be illegal to switch people like this!!!
Adamskerry - My Costco pharmacy switched me to budeprion 3 weeks ago. When I opened the bottle the pill looked VERY different. It was the yellow oval, not the white round bupropion I had been taking. I called the pharmacy and was told it was the same thing. WRONG! I have been taking this drug for 3 weeks and feel terrible. I actually only figured out yesterday what my problem was because I never considered that it might be related to this new medication. I have had headaches, dizziness, dry mouth, constipation. My anxiety has been bad, my mood terrible. I feel depressed, very tired, and generally unhappy! I also found work very challenging last week. I had trouble thinking and felt tongue tied. Communicating was difficult and I thought the days would NEVER end, and I love my job and have never felt that way before. I called Costco yesterday and they said they can't get bupropion anymore and told me to call around and find a pharmacy who carried it and they would switch my prescription for me. I had to call three different pharmacy's before I could find one that carried bupropion. I will take my first dose today and can't wait to start feeling like myself again. This has been an ordeal for me and I'm glad I finally put two and two together and figured out what my problem was. What about those who don't make the correlation and keep feeling worse and don't know why? I am so ANGRY that they can play with people's lives like that.
Cradamczyk - All generics are not created equal. I find it incredible that pharmaceutical companies and pharmacies continue to tell the public that generics are the same when it's obvious (to the patient, at least) that they are not. I have had great results with Budeprion and horrible results with Bupropion. The first time I was prescribed Wellbutrin (the brand name uses Bupropion) it was 3 x a day and I still felt horrible. It wasn't until years later that I was given Budeprion for the generic and immediately felt great. Even my insurance company charges a different co-pay for each, with my luck the Budeprion is more expensive. The pharmaceutical companies need to be held accountable for supplying this type of information to doctors and patients. How many people have had increases to their dosages that were unnecessary if they had just switched generics? It would be great to see a national public awareness campaign to bring these differences in generics to light.
Cradamczyk - ...addition to the previous post:
...The active ingredient, bupropion HCl, is no longer under patent, but the membrane-based drug-delivery technology behind GSK's once-a-day, extended-release product remains protected. Teva's Budeprion XL 300 consequently relies on an unrelated erodable tablet technology...
Full article: http://www.icis.com/Articles/2008/03/10/9105794/budeprion-xl-300-and-wellbutrin-xl-300-controversy-over-disparity-in-effects.html
I don't think that Budeprion should be taken off the market or formulated differently, it helps many people, including me. But maybe should be marketed differently so it doesn't come across as interchangeable with Bupropion.
Please don't take it off the market!!
Crzygrl - I've been taking the Teva generics for quite a while, and I was out of town with my boyfriend and ran out of mine, so I took his (which are the Watson brand) at the exact same same dose and both SR for a week until I got home. When I returned I realized I was feeling much better then I had in a long time, then I returned to my old brand and noticed an immediate difference. I wasn't sure what was wrong with me, so I looked at the pills and I couldn't believe they were both supposed to be the same drug, but the two different generics have very different side effects. I lost 3 pounds the week I took the Watson generic, and gained it back once I was on the Teva. I called Walgreen's to see if they would switch me to the Watson ones if I paid all over again, but they said they didn't use the same supplier and my insurance wouldn't allow it anyway, so I'm stuck with these for another 3 weeks! I can't wait to use another pharmacy and switch back. People shouldn't have to take drugs that don't work!
Curious11 - article mentioned by cradamczyk #3596 in recent post was interesting. it appears that budeprion is absorbed faster than buproprion. wondering if this may account for some of the difference in effectiveness. i'm curious if those of you who felt that budeprion didn't work well were taking it at night and therefore maybe the highest blood concentration was while you were sleeping. costco just switched me to budeprion xl from buproprion xl. found this site because i too was curious if they were the same. time will tell, but i'm going to take it midmorning in case the uptake time difference is causing problems.
Margot - i have used teva for only a month, switched my perscrip to mail order and got the bupropion purple pill.( surprise) the teva was working okay, but sometimes i still felt depressed. i figured it was because i had a glass of red wine occasionally. anyway, after seeing the different names/pills, i googled and ran across this. i will be interested to see what my outcome is.
Dq2 - I don't care what anyone says. There is a difference between the name brand Wellbutrin XL and either of the generics (budeprion XL or bupropion XL). The absorption rate is different as is the "mechanism" by which the body accepts the drug. My cheap, useless medical insurance agreed to pay for the Wellbutrin XL, but They pay $77 while I have to pay $182 for a 30 day supply, as opposed to $15 co-pay for the cheap stuff. This is after my doctor told them the generics don't work for me. FYI my prescription insurance is presently via "Express Scripts." Next open enrollment, I'm going back to Aetna.
Francespaws - I was taking teva 150xl and felt amazing (budeprion) My doctor told me to increase my dose so I took two for two mornings. I felt even better. Then she rxd 300ml but it came in buproprion. I have been feeling wildly emotional, anxious, and very uneven. I gues I need to go back to budeprion? Has anyone had this experience?
Bravethunder1 - PS to the long entry I just posted: Unfortunately, I STILL have yet to get my Wellbutrin refilled. It's taken me about 4 days to calm down enough to be able to write someone intelligently about this nightmare.
I'll have to get back on it today, though, because it is not going to fix itself. I intend to write Watson's also and will post any news-worthy updates as seem appropriate. Thanks
Otter - Same story. Buproprion is very effective for me, but I was switched to the TEVA generic budeprion by UHC. Had to stop taking it, as I began to feel worse than I did before taking anything. There is an obvious difference and the GSK brand is too expensive under my formulary. Anyone know of a pharmacy that carries the Watson generic? Any help is much appreciated. The TEVA stuff is crap for me.
Msmary44 - I was on Wellbutrin XL for years - since 1995. In winter my doctor would bump me up another 50 mgs. but in the spring time I'd go back to my regular dosage. Then about a year ago, I was switched to a generic, bupropion. There didn't seem to be any problem with it. Then, about 6 months ago, I noticed some weight gain and no energy, more down days than up. No matter what I did, the weight kept coming on and it was all around my middle. I've always been slim. And, although I still am slim every where else, the belly fat is getting really bad. The culprit? My pharmacy switched from bupropion to budeprion XL by Teva. I am really angry and hope there is a huge lawsuit against Teva for passing themselves off as a budeprion manufacturer. If this country passes "free" health care, everyone with depression will be taking this cheap generic and be worse off than before. Shame on you, Teva, and all your employees.
Mary, Roseville, MN
Cmb72 - Doctor has me now on watson 300mg he may bump me up to 450mg. Question i have is since i have some generic ibropion 150mg, Can I take two different brands together?
Annieny - I have been on some version of Wellbutrin, bupropion, or budeprion for almost ten years now. I, too have noticed a marked difference in effectiveness depending on which type I am taking.
Wellbutrin worked great, back when I could afford it. I got on a prescription plan where only the generic versions are covered, so I began getting bupropion 100MG SR tablets (along with all my other meds, including budeprion XL 150 by TEVA) which worked fine, from what I recall.
One month, I noticed that the label said budeprion instead, and I called to ask about it. I was assured that it was just another version of bupropion, and there was no real difference. From then on, I was consistently given budeprion. Over the past year, I've gained close to 20 pounds back, even after adding more exercise and watching what I ate. I chalked it up to getting older, or maybe the Lithium, notorious for causing me physical side effects.
A little over a week ago, I refilled my prescription at a different pharmacy, and they dispensed Watson's bupropion. My mental energy level has increased, I've gone back to my late-night sleeping habits (as evidenced by the time stamp on this reply), and most noticeably, I've dropped a jean size. In a WEEK.
Not to be too graphic, but the only weird side effect is that I've seen a yellowish, round, about .25cm object in my stool for a few days running. Judging from the bupropion information I've gathered, this is most likely the pill casing, slightly transformed by its digestive journey. I'm a little concerned that it's the pill itself, incompletely digested, but unless I notice any other concerning side effects, I'm not going to worry. However, I AM going to make sure that the pharmacy dispenses this version from now on.
I'm so glad I found this site. It's been very helpful. Thanks!
Getrightmed - I'll echo what many others have said: About 2 years ago I was switched from bupropion (Watson) to budeprion (Teva) by my pharmacy, without notice. I noticed the difference (yellow pill, chalky texture instead of smooth white pill) and asked my pharmacist if there was an error. He assured me this was simply a different brand of the same drug. I started the new drug without further inquiry and began to experience anxiety, tight headaches, and stomach pain. It was several days before I associated these symptoms with the switch in drugs. I began my treatment several years ago taking brand name Wellbutrin, and had no ill effects whatsoever when I was switched to generic bupropion so I was not resistant to this second switch until it became apparent that these drugs were not, in fact, the same. A bit of research showed that my experience was not unique, and the pharmacy was willing to get me bupropion. This requires a bit of babysitting, as the pharmacy's software and the drug wholesaler both automatically substitute budeprion every time an order for bupropion is placed. I need to remind the pharmacy each time I get a refill that they must specify the correct generic, and about half the time the wholesaler still sends budeprion, which has to be returned for exchange. Whether or not the pharmaceutical industry wants to present these as identical drugs, the fact is that they are not. Advocate for yourself and require your pharmacy to get you the right medication. I don't enjoy being "that guy" who makes the technician check with the pharmacist to ensure the system gets overridden and the proper drug gets ordered, but I can deal with having to take a hardline once every 90 days to get the medication I need. You can too.
Bbb123 - I'm starting out on wellbutrin and was given a generic. The label says it is bupropion (by Actavis). I'm assuming this it the "better" generic (white pill with 141 stamped on one side), and not the "not as good" generic by Teva.
Anybody have experience with this specific generic (and company)?
Jjlaquay - I've read every post here-- it seems that one common thread is that everyone's chemistry is different.
I started Teva Budeprion XL 300 mg on the first of August because I've had to switch insurance plans and Cymbalta will cost 70$. The XL I get is 5$.
I also take Lamictal, 300mg a day as a mood stabilizer, so keep in mind that may tweak the mix. I also get this in generic and have not noticed any change.
Within 4 days on Budeprion, I'd quit smoking. I have not gained a pound, something that tobacco quitters lament. Have not even thought about cigarettes. Having a smoke, by the third day, was having a face full of cabon monoxide fumes. YUCK.
I'm tapering off the Cymbalta still, so any depressive swings or withdrawal symptoms I might be having is cancelled out by the Budeprion.
I am surprised to hear about this issue, as it was highlighted on MSN.com just today.
It scares me. If I lose touch with reality and swing one way or another, it frightens people. Roulette. Tampering with peoples mental health is unethical, immoral, and should not be tolerated.
Will continue to monitor. I hope to return with a success story. Despite my disability, I am an optimist.
Ampred - I was on Watson's Bupropion for over a year. Went to a new doctor who wrote out the RX and checked the generics box. I filled it at Walgreen's instead of CVS like I usually do. They gave me Teva Budeprion and it was $50. I didn't realize it was different until I got home, but I had just read this board the day before, and I went back and told them I needed the Bupropion. They told me they didn't have that and it was all the same. So I had my doctor write out an exact RX for the Bupropion and send it over to CVS. The cost with insurance? $250 for a 30 day supply! I couldn't afford that, so I've been taking the Teva for two months. Haven't noticed too much of a difference yet, but maybe since I moved up to 300mg a day that will help offset some of the depressive side effects. My weight is holding steady.
I just can't believe that Watson would charge $200 more for their pills! And of course, no one, not even the doctor's office, knew what I was talking about. This is getting stupid.
Lynsue - I am confusedby which color pill is which? I was given prescrpt. for Wellbutrin XL 150 mg. The pharmacy at Walgreens gave me BUDEPRION XL generic form - it was small WHITE round pill w/ black # on it.This seemed to help me. Then went to my usual pharmacy CVS for next refill, they gave me Bupropion HCL XL Tabglo - this was an oval YELLOW pill. But, it seems in all the statements above, people are saying the BUPROPION is the WHITE round pill, and that the BUDEPRION is the YELLOW oval pill, so which is it? Because the label on the Budeprion (was white pil and worked for me)....and the Buproprion HCL (was the yellow pill, which did not work for me, and made things worse again)...........so, which color pill couralates to which generic - please advise. Thank you.
Lynsue - Also, is Budeprion made by different companies - I see many of you mention the Budeprion made by Teva as being the bad one?
Otter - I found the Watson generic at the Kroger grocery pharmacy where I live. $20.00 on my formulary for 150 SR twice a day, 3 month supply.
Kelly53 - I too have walked through the confusion with generic wellbutrin. Oddly, I was using Watson white pill with black writing and it worked great. Then on the refill, the V.A. sent me an aspirin looking white pill with "engraved" writing on it that also identified it as Watson. However, as soon as I started taking the refill...started itching all over, within 4 days, felt like I had stopped taking an AD, became irritable, depressed, lethargic...thought I was losing my mind. Just talked with Pharmicist and was instructed to tell my Psych to ask for name brand since I am apparently having an allergic reaction. Was told that even Manufacturers will "farm out" their product to be made by someone else, hence the different looking pill in the refill and the allergic reactions +. Scary to think that every month any kind of generic can be thrown at you as though we can't tell that our bodies aren't reacting normally.
Dena30 - Kelly and others,
I've always taken the Watson generic white tablet with black writing (200mg SR twice daily),with prescription written as Watson Buproprion because other generics are less effective for me. Just this month my mail order pharmacy had inventory issue with Watson.
I figured something was up. When I finally received it, I couldn't believe it was Watson, because as you stated, the pill is different - slightly larger, same number, 3385 WPI but engraved instead of black lettering. I wonder if Watson has, after so many years, switched to a different delivery system. Have you noticed any changes? I feel hungrier, am eating more,
and am experiencing a lower mood. Watson may have elected to use a less expensive delivery system for the drug. What's next??
Paris1206 - I have been taking Budeprion for almost a year and I love it. I have never felt more stable on any other drug and had almost no side effects. Three weeks ago when I refilled my medication the pharmacist at Wallgreens told me that the pills would look different but that it was the same medication. I didn't think much of it at the time. No less than three days later I was feeling extremely depressed and suicidal. I had an emotional breakdown during a meeting with one of my superiors and haven't been able to return to school since because I've been so upset. I have even considered dropping out of school all together. I have also had no appetite and lost close to 5 lbs, and I am already underweight and do not need to be losing anymore; I also noticed my stomach has been more upset than usual and I have been clenching my teeth a lot. I thought it was just the stress of the holidays coupled with the stress of school and some interpersonal problems but I was just so confused because I felt like I had been doing so well and had been so incontrol of my emotions that I couldn't figure out what had changed. It just occurred to me this morning to check my pill bottle and, to put it as some others in this posting have, lo and behold the medication was Buproprion, not my usual Budeprion. I immediately called my pharmacy and they said that they had switched distributors but that they would order the Budeprion for me. I told them that they need to warn patients if they are going to be receiving a different medication (not just that the pill is a different color but "it's the same medication") because, as I have experienced and seen within this post, people can have VERY different reactions to different medications, especially when we are dealing with psychotropic drugs. Switching someone's medication without their knowledge can have deleterious effects, as I have experienced. I'm going back on my Budeprion tomorrow and hopefully will then be able to sort out this mess that has been created. Hopefully my behavior in the past few weeks has not ruined my reputation at school or my chances of graduating on time. And even more fortunately, thankfully I did not act on any of the suicidal thoughts I was having.
Garynel - wow, this info is eye opening. My wife has been on "Wellbutrin" 300xl for years but we never thought to check on the generic varieties she would get at the pharmacy. I noticed the past few months she seems a bit moodier and isn't able to lose weight like she would like. I have also started on "wellbutrin" 150xl to counteract the sexual side effects of sertraline (Zoloft) and it did seem to help somewhat. Both of our scripts have been Teva brand but last week Target switched both our scripts to the Watson version. I will mention this to my wife and post back any noticeable changes for us. I am curious if Target switched brands due to the rising tide of complaints about the Teva brand...
Flsam - For two years mt insurance company paid for "real" Wellbutrin XL. Then my company switched me to generic. I thought nothing about it but noticed it wasn't really working as well as the name brand. If I skipped a day or two with the Wellbutrin I would get a headache and feel lethargic. I noticed no difference with the generic whether I took it or not. I had no idea but I was switched to Budeprion.
I refilled my prescription on Tuesday and was given Buproprion.
For the last 3 days my head has been tight, I'm feeling wired, hyper and anxious. I knew something wasn't right and found this site. I put my bottle from last month up to the bottle I got yesterday and noticed the old bottle was Teva Budeprion and the new is Buproprion by Actavis.
I'm calling my Dr. on Monday to see what's up. I've cleaned the house 3 times this week and haven't slept much. There is a SERIOUS difference between Teva Budeprion and Actavis Buproprion.
Alch - there is a big big bid different between Teva brand and Watson. Dont take any Buproprion made by Teva.
Cdt - Thanks to all who have written. I too have a problem with Teva and wrote to the FDA at the urging of my psychiatrist. It is a remarkably easy process, just go to the FDA website. Also, it is my understanding that because the active ingredient in Teva is not delivered to the body evenly that it could potentially increase the risk of seizures. Increased risk of seizures comes as a warning with this medication.
Xanchorxtn - Anybody know anything about bupropion made by Sandoz? My wife has been taking the generic from Kroger by Watson for over a year ... a white pill with black writing on it. Several days ago she got another script but this time the Watson pill was a crusty white with black writing stamped into the pill ......... It is now working the same so now she's looking for another generic manufacturer which is why I'm asking about Sandoz??
Seems like no one likes the Teva generic very much.
Maggiem2010 - I've been on generic Wellbutrin for about 6 years and never really paid attention to the "different" generics I've been given. Then this past September, I noticed that my hair seemed to be getting really thin and I was losing quite a bit in the shower. Then while I was drying it, I noticed a almost round pink "bald" spot on the top of my head. Didn't really make an immediate connection but started searching on-line about generic Wellbutrin and found this and a few other web-sites discussing mostly the "bad" Teva generic. In November, 2009 Walgreen's switch me to a maker called Sandoz and the tablet is purple and big. I know I've never taken this one because I'd remember the color. Usually the tablets have been yellowish or white. Well, I called Walgreen's, and ask them to tell me what I had been taking prior to that, and they said that from November, 2008 to November, 2009 they had given me Teva. I'm guessing that explains the thinning hair and "bald" spot. The hair thinning seems to have slowed down, but now, going into my 3rd full month on Sandoz bupropion, and the "bald" spot does not seem to be filling in. I like to decorate cookies and all last year, from Valentine's Day to Halloween, I was wondering why my hands kept shaking, and now I understand that that is another possible side effect of Teva.
I've contacted CVS and ask them to send me a printout of all of the generic Wellbutrin I took while using them. I used CVS from about September 2003 to March of 2008. That is when we moved and the Walgreen's was much closer then a CVS. I will be interested to see what brands I took with them. I'm assuming it wasn't Teva. I'm also seeing a dermatologist next week about the "bald" spot. I was discouraged to read one person who has been off Teva for over a year still has the "bald" spot. I don't know anything about this Purple Sandoz that I am now taking, but like I said, the hair thinning seems to have slowed down and though I have not yet tried piping cookies, my hands do feel steadier. Thanks for this blog and thanks for listening.
Jkk - I had been taking budeprion for about 2 years and loved it. My Walgreens pharmacy switched me to buproprion without telling me. After about 4 or 5 days I noticed I was feeling depressed. I looked online with my cell quick to check this med because I realized it looked different than my old one. I thought they had given me a whole different med completely. I still had a couple of my budeprion in my car I use if I forget in the morning so I took this and went to walgreens. They told me they had switched brands and assured me it was the same, and said they can not get the other anymore. I figured maybe if it was a little different I would adjust after a few weeks. I get 60 day prescriptions I am about 1/2 way through the buproprion am still getting bouts of depression, and have gained over 10 pounds and my smoking has increased. I can't wait until my refill is due so I can find a pharmacy where I can get back on budeprion.
Poparada - I too have had similiar negative experiences with changing from Watson to Teva....how ever my Watson pills aren't matching the descriptions here. I normally (for the last 7 years) take the Watson purple pill...now I've been given a Watson white pill, no coating, no imprint, no letters or numbers...and am having similiar side effects as if I had been changed to Teva...has anyone else had this experience. It sounds that many of you are very lucky that at least your doctors and nurses seem to believe you, mine think I'm crazy that a different manufacturer would have an effect
Momma2threegirls - I was prescribed Sandoz Bupropion and took it for 2 weeks at 150. Didn't notice anything. Then 2 weeks at 300mg and I am bouncing off the walls again. I have bipolar disorder and also take Geodon and oxcarbazine - but was stable prior to starting the Wellbutrin just feeling "blah" Now I don't sleep, my mind feels like ping pong balls bouncing, I am rageful and totally food focused. I've gained a few pounds but hard to know with only a month trial. Yesterday I went to pick up a refill and they gave me Budeprion. I found this site and I am FURIOUS that they switched me without telling me. I returned the drug (can't believe they let me) and made an ASAP appointment with my doc. for tomorrow morning.
Thank you all for sharing - I have read every post! I wonder if I should try the brand or pass on the drug altogether
Jhorn10121 - My experience on budeprion is what most have described: anxiety, restlessness, inability to concentrate at work, near car accident, feelings of despair, paranoia concerning others' behavior.
My renewal is bupropion and I was feeling better about switching to this after reading comments.
BUT the manufacturer is Mylan which has JUST received approval to sell in April 2010.
Does anyone have experience with this manufacturer for bupropion SR?
I regret ever starting this regime.
Cammi450 - I have been taking 150 SR for about a year. I am so confused...I don't remember if it was light yellow or white. But I was recently given a light green pill with MU12 stamped on it. I have been feeling like I feel when I forgot to take my meds, kind of dizzy, like my equalibrium is off. And, I have gained a little weight... I want to call my pharmacy and ask them to put me back on my original...whatever it was
Itchyandjittery - I was on the yellow/off white round budeprion SR for about 2 years and it helped a lot - with NO sexual side effects like all the others my doc had tried me on (lexipro, cymbalta, etc. sp?) - I took it while I was going through a divorce & other big life changes to help with some depression & anxiety. I've been off it for about a year and just got a refill, but with a new insurance plan that uses Medco mail order. What I got in the mail (though my doctor prescribed budeprion SR) was a round purple pill & the bottle stated it was buproprion. I didn't notice the different name - only the different color. I've been on it for about 4 days and have started ITCHING all over my body. The first day I was on it, I noticed I was WIRED. Jittery. Hands shaking. I felt like I was "on something." I never felt like that on the budeprion. The budeprion just took the edge off for me. This stuff - well - is clearly not supposed to be in my body. I've had to take benedryl just to sleep for the past two nights & today, after reading these posts - I'm calling my doctor. I'm wondering what's in the buproprion that's NOT in the budeprion that's giving me an obvious allergic reaction. Could it be the purple dye of the pill?
Mylansucks - Thank God for the internet. Walgreens refilled my usual prescription with the new Mylan generic for Wellbutrin. I had been taking the yellow Teva pills and had success with them. As we all know, change is bad. I noticed the green pills instead of yellow, but I did not catch the name change. All of the paperwork said generic for Wellbutrin, but these pills are not the same.
So 3 days on the green pills and I'm back to being restless, edgy, and frustrated. I knew something had to be wrong when I felt like my own dog had intentionally acted against me - uh, Houston, we have a problem.
Walgreens was great about acknowledging my concerns and have ordered the correct generic for me, but it will still take 3 more days to get it. I think it's incredibly irresponsible for the FDA and any retailer to think that all generics are the same. And regardless of effectiveness in clinical trials, nobody should change my meds without notification and/or providing an alternative.
Mylan can go to hell - their new pills suck.
Whitenoisefleur - the pharmacy that i get my meds from recently just said that budeprion is no longer being made, which is what i use and i'm doing very well on. I dont work well with change and finally an antidepressant works on me i had been on wellbutrin before that and after switching to budeprion i noticed a GREAT IMPROVEMENT. the pharmacy just gave me the light green watson kind and i do not wish to change. i think it's irresponsible for the pharmacy not to warn me beforehand. is it true that budeprion is no longer being made or is this just a silly attempt for them to make more money by getting their products from someone else? if it is still being made....
which pharmacies carry it?
Whitenoisefleur - having read mylansucks comment i see a bit of hope
"Walgreens was great about acknowledging my concerns and have ordered the correct generic for me" please oh pleaseee let this be true.
Murphala - Thanks to all for this valuable information. I have been whining to my doctor for a few months about being suicidal, seriously depressed, and unable to accomplish anything, like, oh, work! Nothing we tried helped, until I realized that something *had* changed, and that was the type of generic I'd been taking. I have a phone call in to him now and am waiting to hear his response to this issue. In the meantime, I thankfully have some of the Watson brand left and will resume taking that to see if there are some positive effects w/in the next couple of weeks. I too have had suicidal thoughts, inability to function, weight gain/incredible appetite, paranoid thoughts, etc. on budeprion, which I never had on buproprion sl NOT made by Teva! I also agree it is unconscionable that drug/insurance companies consider the bottom line more than they consider the fact that some people might just reach a point, as I nearly did, where they just can't go on anymore when meds are changed. I will definitely pay closer attention to what is being sent to me from now on.
Murphala - an addition the above post: I was taking a purple pill made by SANDOZ, not the white pill made by Watson, before being switched to budeprion by Teva. My mistake..just wanted to clarify for anyone else reading this thread.
Bhaines47 - I have been on Wellbutrin and bupropion for 9 years, by mail. I see today that they are sending me budeprion for the first time, should be here Monday. The bupropion has always been a round tablet, sometimes yellow or white, with markings. What concerns me is that the uptake is faster with budeprion. Looks like either one would be OK, if a person got used to it and if it worked, AS LONG AS THERE IS NO CHANGE. I am terribly disappointed in the civil servants who work for me. They let lobbyists influence them, and we see the result in this situation. Doesn't even matter which Party I like. But if a different pharmacy can get me the one I have always taken, I will go there.
Jill2shay - I was on the Teva brand 150SR (beige with the G and 1444) and they worked well for me. Walgreens switched brands to a light green pill and both my husband and I experienced a return of symptoms.
Patootie - I take Bupropion XL300 by Anchen in the morning and Bupropion XL 150 in the evening. By mistake my doctor wrote me a prescription for 150 SR and Express Scripts sent me Budeprion SR 150. My doctor says that it will be all right if I take the SR at night. Previous to talking to my doctor I talked to a pharmacist and he told me I could not mix the two. Has anyone taken XL in the morning and SR at night? I have gained so much weight on Bupropion, can't get enough and my hands shake. I thought it was all in my head.
Whoami72 - I am looking for a pharmacy who will fill my Budeprion rx.
All of my area pharmacies switched from Budeprion to Bupropion. I've been taking buproprion for one month and have gained 8 lbs.
I stopped taking another med about 4 years ago when I realized my 55 lb weight gain in less than a year coincided with my taking the med.
Lost 55 lbs when switched to Budeprion.
My doc gave me samples of Aplenzin but my insurance won't pay. It's not generic and they say it is same as bupropion.
8 lbs later and not feeling myself.
Anyone know a pharmacy who will fill budeprion?
2playful - I'm so glad I found this thread... I had been taking Bupropion for a few months and it was working GREAT. I had tons of energy in the mornings, and throughout the day, too. I didn't really feel depressed anymore and I sort of felt like there was "hope" for tomorrow, ya know? I think only depressed people will understand that... but on to my point -
My local pharmacy switched from Bupropion to Budeprion. Like all these other messages above me, my pharmacist assured me they were the same exact thing, only from a different manufacturer. I'm here to confirm THEY ARE NOT THE SAME. Within about a week on the new medication I was feeling depressed again and all the extra energy I had before was gone.
If you find yourself in this situation, where Bupropion is working for you, but you've switched to Budeprion and it is not working (or vice versa) you should call around to different local pharmacies and ask them which one they use as generic for wellbutrin. Be sure to tell them what kind of pill you are taking (i.e. 150 SR, or XL or whatever). I found a local place that carries the one that works for me and I'm getting my prescription filled there from now on.
Good luck to all.
Confusednsu - Lets fix this problem! Post this on your Facebook or other mass communication method and spread the word!
WARNING: When taking medication that is important to your health. A change between generics can be dangerous. Even if label/Pharmacist tells you it is the same. It is scary that they can change meds. without you/your Dr's permission. Raise awareness and help put a stop to it! Don't let anyone gamble with your health & life!
(Copy into your status so everyone will be aware. You just don't know who you might save.)
Thank you all. Reading this has changed my course. After reading just a few postings I immediately contacted my Pharmacy and they are working hard to find me the right med. I too had my generic changed from Bupropion HCL XL by Watson to Budeprion XL by Teva and was told that there was no difference. Well for me there was a difference. After 6+ weeks on the stuff by Teva it is as though I am taking no treatment at all. I am back in the nightmare. I could feel myself sinking for weeks now and was powerless to stop it. It will take just as long or longer to get back to a truly healthy mental state. When I am all balanced out again I will have lost at least 3 months of my life to depression. I was losing hope until I found this page, now I have hope again.
Sadly much damage has been done. The return of my symptoms has brought much grief to my family and myself, and is largely behind the process I am currently going through of losing my job. There is no going back. But thank goodness I now have the info. I need to move forward.
I am shocked that this is can even happen.
WE ALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN WARNED TO WATCH FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF PROBLEMS!!! Lets warn everyone we can. Even if laws don't change right away we can help people to protect themselves.
Confusednsu - In response to the posters fear of all the medications (posted Aug 25 2010)
The thing to remember is that each of us have a different body chemistry. What is good or bad for one person may not be good or bad for you. This is such a personal and emotionally charged subject that people tend to make sweeping comments like such and such a drug should be banned, or no one should ever take the this brand. This just is not true. Just be aware of your own state of health and if something doesn't seem right, don't ignore it. Educate yourself about the way the brain works. I have found the most help from Dr. Daniel G Amens books such as Healing ADD, Healing Anxiety and Depression, and healing the hardware of the soul. You may also have seen him on public television with Change your brain change your life, or change your brain change your body. I highly recommend any of is work to everyone.
Seanaci - Gee, like most people on this post, I was 1) never told I was being swtiched from Buproprion to Budeprion or 2) had never even heard of Budeprion. I recieved Budeprion about 2 weeks ago and later was told it was "the same" as Buproprion. Have not noticed changes in weight/appetite, but motivation is way down as is ability to focus. It is deplorable that people's lives are toyed with as corporations bow to the almighty dollar. Will pay more to get back on Buproprion although I can ill afford it.
Anitareedy - The same thing just happened to me. Haven't started it yet but am wondering if it's really the same as buproprion (for Wellbutrin).
Jenniferphillips21 - I was just given BUDEPRION about 3 weeks ago and didn't notice a change in me at all except for bad dreams and consipation. I did the mail order and now I have BUPROPION which is a round purple pill. I was confused so decided to google it and found this site today. I am even more confused because it's like 50/50 some like one and say it's better and then next post it says the opposite :(
Since BUDEPRION hasn't really made a change (I thought it was because it's only been 3 weeks) I am hoping the other one BUPROPION works better and actually helps me lose weight, have energy and feel happier for a change.
I just need SOMETHING to help real soon. I hate the sadness and very bad muscle tightness and pain I get all the time...I want to feel more alive and fun to be around!!!
Kyla_77 - I'm going through the same thing. Pharmacy switched the long off-white yellowish pill to some small, rounded white tablet... with A 102 on it. I don't like it and I keep telling myself maybe I just have to get used to some sort of inactive ingredient. I had really bad tremors for the first few weeks, mood swings, grouchiness and racing heart and thoughts. Now all I have are these involuntary twitches. I take bupropion hcl xl 300 with 10mg Lexapro. There's never been a problem until this change. It's not fair. I know "that's life." I'm a part-time student and I work for one of the greediest, low-paying jobs in the world, but I am willing to pay more for the yellow oval pill I was used to. Sucks.
Poppyrainbow2 - Ok ~so what is the difference between, purple and white??? I am scanning for answers, but to busy to read them (at the moment) ------>SnOwDaY for my son!..1st one ~~from Florida!!!! I have purple 300mg daily, ran out and swim gave me a few white ones to tide me over.
Mbeth - My husband died while on Bupriopion with two and half weeks after starting it .Dont' take it its not worth risk
Billyswing - I have been on buproprion for about 4 years now. When I opened my new RX to take a pill, I realized they were a different color. When I read the label to find it was budeprion, I decided to check this out b/c it was probably the wrong drug. Envisioning a return to the pharmacy to replace my meds (this has happened before to many people, including me...ALways question what you are taking); I decided to surf the Net for info. Thanks to ALL of you for your independent 'studies' so I'm aware of what to watch for. It is truly sad, however, when we have become the test rats for these phamaceutical mega-billion dollar industries.
Sarahbaby - i wish you compliment of the season with great joy in my heart for coming in contact with you and i have a special reason of contacting you which i will make known to you when i get your respond o my email address (sarahissa130@yahoo.com) there i will tell you everything about me and the reason of contacting you . SARAH GOD BLESS YOU DEAR
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