Budeprion and fda

I've been on Wellbutrin XL 300mg for quite some time now...coming up on 2 years, I think? I think I took the brand name drug at first, but for most of the time, I've taken the generic BUPROPRION--different generics from different companies, even. But this last refill, the pharmacy had switched to BUDEPRION for the generic. Bupropion and Budeprion are NOT the same!

Today is my second day on Budeprion and I feel like crap. Jittery, shaky, diarrhea, peeing constantly ("polyuria"), heart racing, nausea, nausea while hungry, hot-and-cold, and now worn out from a day of all that! My psychiatrist is on maternity leave but I've got a call in to her office to get it switched back to brand-name. Thankfully I'm in grad school, and under my student health insurance, the copay is the same for brand or generic.

Why Budeprion is considered a generic of Wellbutrin, I don't know. Wellbutrin is bupropion. This Budeprion stuff is a different chemical composition and is absorbed by/released into the body an entirely different way, from what I've been reading. When is the FDA going to get its act together???

I was taking Wellbutrin for about 2weeks (i had taken for about 7yrs previously) from Effexor because of sexual side effects. The Welbutrin worked to get rid of that problem and my Dr in the hospital warned me about generic Budeprion, but my regular PA-C said that the 150's were different and made by Glaxo. Huh???? Like an idiot i got the generics and 5 days later I feel like i have no anti-depressant in me. Im having panic like "emotional attacks" where i just cry if I hear or see something that triggers an emotion, sleeplessness (i don't need any more of that), weight loss (what's food and why is my stomach gurgling) and over all lethargy. I hate this drug, its useless beyond belief, I really wonder who got paid at the FDA to pass this one through.

I, Too, Took Wellbutrin last year and it did me good--was even helping me quit smoking (it is same drug as Zyban). Then I discontinued for awhile and this year I started back. drugstore gave me generic budeprion. I didn't think anything about it since all my other drugs are generic, too.
I AM SO GLAD I FOUND THESE POSTINGS!!!!!
I have been crying at any little thing--even dog food commercials. i have been drooling at times. My back hurts worse.I have fallen several times.I told my Dr and he said that my depression was just getting worse and upped the dosage on another couple of antidepressants I take. No help.
My bet is that some pharmacy-dude is making a killing on this new generic which he probably sells in cahoots with the FDA. I don't trust the gov't. I used to work for them before I retired on disability.
I know how they work behind the scenes. They cover stuff up so well, you could never prove anything like this.
ANYWAY, thanks to all who posted. I checked and I can get Wellbutrin for only $5 more...
My best to all and good luck!!!

I have been on Wellbutrin XL for 2 years with no ill side effects and it has worked well. 2 1/2 months ago my script changed to the 'generic' BudeprionXL. Since this change, I have been experiencing severe muscle and joint pain, my hands go numb, my skin crawls to the point that I have scratched myself to the point of bleeding. Sleeplessness has just recently started to occur and my teeth have also become very sensitive. General irritability has also set in. I have not yet started to get the headaches most get with the Budeprion and it a good thing as I'm already taking 1600 mg a day of Advil to try and arrest the muscle and joint pain. After reading these other ill effects of this drug I'm now very scared and will be calling my doctor to get her to represcribe Wellbutrin -only- 'no generic'. It is clear to me the FDA did not do the proper research or makes me think TEVA has a friend in the FDA's office.

I don't have the regular Wellbutrin to compare it to, but my boyfriend and my mom both take pills that say BUPROPION on the bottle and we have all thought it was weird that mine is called Budeprion so I decided to look up the difference today. This is really disturbing. I haven't experienced anything as severe as what's posted here, but I do have some really annoying side effects- the worst is really extreme and disturbing tremors (shaky hands, legs, voice, trouble holding utensils or putting strain on any muscle.) I also have really bad dry mouth, dizziness, nausea and fatigue. I am wondering if I would have them if I were taking name brand or a different generic. I am definitely asking for a different generic just to see what happens the next time that I get my prescription refilled, but what sucks is that I just got it refilled two days ago so I have to wait a whole month. Wish I'd researched it sooner! This is really weird and seems like it should definitely be taken care of. I'm surprised that there is a website with THIS many almost identical stories and yet nothing has been done about this drug yet. Surely just as many people and probably many more have TOLD the FDA about this stuff so it's pretty unsettling that it's still out there and the pharmacy gave it to me without even telling me it's different from wellbutrin and other generics.

I started taking Wellbutrin XL for anxiety. My doctor told me that this medication will calm down the anxiety and even just put me in a better mood. (i think i was also slightly depressed) but i was affraid to admit it to myself. I took the Wellbutrin for about year and it worked wonders. I was happier, no anxiety, and i just had energy without having to drink a pot of coffee. These last two months my insurance switched to Budeprion SR and it has been hell. I never put two and two together about the generic...since i work in a pharmacy i assumed it was equivalent. IT IS NOT. My fiancee almost left me! The FDA needs to pull this med.

I recently went to my physician because I have been sooo irritable. I cry about things that I wouldn't normally, too. I've been taking Wellbutrin XL for many years and Lamictal as a mood stabilizer. I've only noticed these changes since my insurance company changed policies and had my Wellbutrin XL filled with the generic Budeprion SR. My doctor also told me they were not the same and she had many patients experience the irritability. After reading up on it, I read that studies have been done that PROVE the generic releases a lot more of the medication in a shorter period of time...not as spread out like it should be like the brand name. My insurance company is currently charging me $60 mo. for generic and $140+ for Wellbutrin XL. The full price is $190+ monthly. Another interesting piece of info I read is the FDA only requires a generic to prove itself as equivalent by testing 20+ out of 30+ people before being allowed to be considered the same as opposed to the hundreds and hundreds of people a brand name drug has to do studies on to prove itself safe and effective to be put on the market. My aunt has experienced the same, only she went into a severe depression. Both of us have recently been experiencing headaches that last days. I am going back to the brand name...$140+ or not. My benefits coordinator told me to appeal it with my insurance company with the help of my doctor. I can't believe the FDA has not done anything about this yet. Personally, I don't think any form of Budeprion should be on the market.

the parmacy has been giving me budeprion for the past 6-8 months and i always tell them to give me wellbutrin and i'll pay the $40. this past month my husband picked up my script for me so i just decided to try it since they kept telling me it was the same. for the past month i have been slipping into a deeper and deeper depression, gained 10 lbs, didn't want to leave the house, took naps when i never take naps, and cried a lot. everyone in my life has been asking why i haven't been myself for the past month but i had no answer for them. i didn't put 2 and 2 together since i've been on the wellbutrin for 5 yrs until i researched the differneces online. i was appalled to find that it was the budeprion that was doing it to me. i started taking the wellbutrin again today and can't wait to feel normal again. i really thought there was something wring with me and am so mad at the FDA for approving this drug.