Budeprion and wellbutrin

My husband was prescribed Wellbutrin for a few months, for depression, and after about a week, I could see a real improvement. He seemed like the guy I married.

A few months later, about 2 months ago, his insurance pharmacy substituted budeprion, and I can tell you, I see the difference in how he responds to the new medication, and it's not good.

He is visibly depressed again, as though he never started medication, and he goes on these talking streaks which are very much unlike him.

People also noticed he was losing weight.

I have asked him to return to his doctor to get his Wellbutrin/buproprion back, and after finding this site, which only confirms my suspicions about the drug they substituted, I think I will be able to convince him now to do so.

Thanks to everyone who keeps sharing their feedback about these medications!

I have had a similar experience as many others who have written. I took Wellbutrin (with no side effects) for years, until my insurance company made me change to Budeprion in June 2007. Almost immediately I started feeling dizzy and had terrible nausea. My MD kept saying it was not the Budeprion, but that was the only new medication I was taking. Over the next year, I had a colonoscopy, endoscopy, CAT scans, MRI's, blood tests and breath tests to find out what was wrong. Everything came back negative, and my MD diagnosed me with Irritable bowel syndrome. On my own I decided to cut back the Budprion from 300 mg to 150mg, and I did feel a little better for awhile, but then the nausea came back worse than before, and I definitely noticed that it started about 4 hours after taking Budeprion. I decided to skip it entirely for a day or two, and each time I did, I had no dizziness or nausea. My MD can say whatever she wants, but I know the medication is what made me sick. I don't know if my insurance company will let me go back to Wellbutrin, but I do know I will never take Budeprion again.

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 wish I read this page before getting Budeprion. When I heard about my sister's weight loss and her rise in energy with Welbutrin XL I had to try it out for myself. I have been on Zoloft for the past four years for OCD and depression, but my depression was getting worse. I asked for XR but I ended up with Budeprion SR. The first few days were really great and I was less depressed and I could get out of bed. That't the time when you don't want to hear about the side effects. It's there. I had the nausea, stomach cramps, constipation. I just thought if I could get over the side effects it would work, but it only gets worse. My stomach is in knots and now I've developed sinus problems. This is quits! Every time I find a new drug for depression, and every time I get knocked out by the side effects.

I have taken wellbutrin, had no side effects, the pharmacy gave me Budeprion, I have heart palpations, and my blood pressure went up over the top. I will not take it again. I am glad I found this website. Has anyone else had their blood pressure rise

After a four month break from Wellbutrin, I asked my doctor to put me back on due to depression and difficulty with some new chaos in my life. Before I picked up my new prescription, I took what was left of my last wellburtin prescription. My new prescription was budeprion XL...just figured it was a generic but the same med.I have been a wreck for the 10 days or so since I have been taking the budeprion. Crying often through out the day, worrying and obsessing more then ever about the issues that are depressing me. Feeling frantic and confused. I just called my pharmacy and was told that if there is a generic available it is given automatically unless the doctor specifies only a name brand. I will be on the phone with my doctor first thing tomorrow. This is far worse than without any drug. Thank goodness I thought to google "wellbutrin vs budeprion" and came across this site.

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 have been on this Budeprion XL for only 2 whole days and I have noticed very bad muscle soreness in my shoulders and swollen lymph nodes. I had never heard anything bad about the drug, but decided these side effects were worth looking up. I'm surprised this hasn't been addressed in the news or something. I have taken Wellbutrin in the past and I don't remember having the same side effects ever.

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!!!

Wow!!! Should have done my homework when they switched me to this nasty Budeprion!!! I have been on Wellbutrin XL for over two years, after being on quite a few other drugs for depression, with great results and absolutely no side effects. Then about two months ago my insurance company would only pay for the generic, so unless I wanted to pay a lot more for the Wellbutrin, I decided to switch. This was also after many phone calls and being assured by the pharmacist and the nurses at my doctors office that it was the exact same drug. I have had lots of trouble with generic drugs in the past, and this is why I was so leary to switch since I was doing so well. For the last week I have felt like absolute crap! I have had a constant headache, nausea, stomach pains, indigestion and lots of crying!!! Never in a million years did I think it was the drug, since it is suppose to be the exact same make-up and I never thought it would take two months to feel these terrible side effects when I never had any before. Sure wish I had come across this website two months ago. I have fibromyalgia as well, and thought a lot of the additional joint pain and numbness in my hands was from that, although I have had my fibro under control for a couple of years now. Thinking back now over the past few months and all the crazy symptoms I have been having, it all makes sense!!! At least I know I am not CRAZY and hopefully I can stop this nasty drug and feel better soon. How can this Budeprion be on the market and how can pharmacists tell people that it is the same. Now I have to fight my insurance company, and hope they will pay for the Wellbutrin.

Started taking it last Thursday, and with a previous bout with depression, and a pending ending marriage, I decided that I would go ahead and cut this off at the pass and get on some medication early. Paxil made erections difficult, so I got off of it back in 1998, and then within 5 days of taking budeprion, I am noticing the same side effects. Including what my doctor called, "the inability to finish."
Getting off of it now, wellbutrin worked in the past.

Wellbutrin saved my life! I was a complete wreck with mood swings and depression and after about 4-6 weeks on Wellbutrin, I was a NORMAL person again! That was 8 years ago. Sometime last year I switched to Budeprion because the Wellbutrin price got out of control. I wanted to write in since I have been on these medications for such a long time and honestly I have to say I have had little to no side effects. Like I said, these drugs saved my life. I expect I will be on them forever unless something changes because I have never been better in my life. I feel for all of you that have had bad side effects, maybe try a different medication? All meds are not right for everyone. My sister takes prosac and she has a lot of problems with it and I keep telling her to switch to Wellbutrin or Generic but then again, who knows? Maybe it won't be right for her.

Anyway, again I did want to post because most posts are negative and I have had absolutely no problems at all - I feel the best I've ever felt, even after taking it long term. :) Good luck to all!

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 have never tried the brand-name Wellbutrin so I have no point of reference.
Within days after my doctor started me on Budeprion I felt like I had the flu but my temperature was normal. The intensity of the symptoms varies from day to day, but I have called in sick a couple of times (something I rarely do).
I called the doctor and told him what I was feeling. He was skeptical but told me to go ahead and discontinue the Budeprion. I'll bet I start feeling 'normal' again.

My doctor prescribed me with a genetic of wellbutrin called Budeprion. Almost immediately, I noticed a dramatic change with my personality and body. I was very emotional and had extreme mood swings. At first i thought it was just a few bad days, but after a week of crying all the time, and getting upset at almost anything, something was not right. When my boyfriend would ask me what was wrong i couldn't give him an answer, because i had no idea myself. I also had headaches all the time, which is very surprising since i was never one to get them. When i ever moved quickly, my head would be in immense pain and nearly every time i would be on the brink of passing out. Every once and a while the same reaction would occur in bright places due to my ( which of course they weren't before) sensitive eyes. Along with this my stomach pain went through the roof. More so, right after i would eat. I felt weak all the time and it was hard for me to do anything active. Which really upset me since im a runner.

With me this all happened within two weeks, ever since i started taking Budeprion.

I'm a new user of Wellbutrin. Unfortunately they've given me Budeprion (Teva) instead of the real thing.

I RARELY take medications, so when I do, I do A LOT of research to make sure it's worth it.

It's just not working at all. It's actually giving me severe mood swings. Enough that they are affecting my home life VERY negatively. Like.. I no longer have a home life. She's finally fed up.

Here is an article I've found about some pro research done.
******

It makes perfect sense, really.

I had been on Wellbutrin SR for three years then stopped during pregnancy. I decided to go back on it right after I had my baby. I have been taking it for 4 months now...or so I thought. When I first filled the prescription I saw that it was budeprion, which I heard was a generic form of Wellbutrin, so I shrugged it off. Since taking it, I have been feeling lethargic, have muscle weakness in my legs, am bitter, cannot sleep and have been craving sweets even when I'm not PMS'ing. I have been telling myself that it is due to being a new mom. Today, I got this terrible headache - it was brief, but painful. I never get headaches and am tired of not feeling like myself so I figured I'd get online to see about this budeprion as this is the only med. I take. Well wadda' know...budeprion is CLEARLY not the same as Wellbutrin and quite frankly, I'm PISSED that I have been taking it for this long! Looks like the makers of this crap have made a few bucks... Thank you to everyone who posted their experiences and I hope you were able to get back to taking Wellbutrin.

Well, well, well. I'm glad I stumbled upon this drug in the side effects area. I, too, was sneakily substituted it for Wellbutrin XL! I've been on it for 2 mos now. I couldn't figure out why my moods had gotten worse and I was wanting to cry at stupid stuff on tv. I was thinking bad things were going to happen to my kids. I was having "almost" panic attacks when I was around a lot of people. That doesn't help when you go to church every Sunday. I have to sit in the crying room with the little kids. I just feel "out of sorts". I'm extra tired. I crave sweets and MUST have them. I'm like a drug addict, but with sweets. I thought my side effects were from the other meds I'm on, which I have not changed in many, many months. Now I know It's Budeprion. I am in the process of weaning off anyway because of the sweets addiction thing....I'm trying to lose weight that I gained on other meds over the last 2 yrs and THIS isn't helping. Thank you to all who posted. Good luck!

I did not even notice until a few months ago that my generic was not budeprion, not buproprion. Looked it up, found it was also the generic of wellbutrin and di not give it another thought. But I was also becoming increasingly worried, worried about my kids, that something bad was going to happento them. Worried that I would get cancer and die. Then I started to feel extra lazy, stopped exercising, and began to feel like I had something caught in my throat, the feeling moved from the throat to the abdomen and back and forth. I felt heart palpitations occasionally. today, when I flet the feeliong in my throat, I got nervous, and all of a sudden flet like I could not breathe, then flet like I was going to pass out. My sister was there, felt my pulse and it was racing and pounding. My toes felt cold and sweaty and my face felt numb. That feeling in my throat made me feel like I could not breathe, I actually had to tell myself to breathe. My sister is an EMT and she thought I was in shock. It slowly passed. I took a xanax to try and help, and I eventually felt better, though I still fell my heart palpitating. I am going to my doctor Monday to be sure I am physically OK, and discuss this drug. Has anyone else ever had this type of experience?

I have been on Wellbutrin XL for several years now and it has been the most effective for me of all the antidepressants I have tried. My husband went to pick up my refill and they inadvertently substituted the Budeprion XL. Although he questioned the pharmacist, they assured him there was no difference. I finally gave in and decided to give it a try 4 days ago and each day I get more and more depressed, irritable, unmotivated, and lethargic. I had been consuming a lot more caffeine just to keep going. I keep telling my husband that I just do not feel right and the Budeprion XL does not work as well. Until I read all these experiences, I began to think I was imaging it or I was just cycling. Now, I am fairly certain that it is a result of the ineffectiveness of the Budeprion XL. This is the end of the road for Budeprion XL and me.

I am so glad I stumbled upon this forum, I though I was losing my mind! I have successfully been on Wellbutrin for a couple of years now, and the last time I got it refilled the pharmacy gave me the Budeprion. Within a couple of days I noticed that I had difficulty swallowing, was more irritable than usual, wanted to cry all the time and I do not cry, get dizzy, feel very spaced out and cannot concentrate, and have had severe stomach aches and headaches. At first I did not attribute it to the generic form and thought I had the flu or something, but after these symptoms have not gone away for over a month, I am convinced these are side effects from the generic form.

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.

My insurance changed and i was substited budeprion for the other generic for Wellbutrin which was buproprion. The first thing I noticed is that I was extremely irratable and downright mean to people. I never used to be like that while on Wellbutrin. I cried easily and this new pill just did not help me like the old original. But the most annoying side effect I have noticed is that it has given me an awful odor. It took me awhile to put two and two together but I noticed the budeprion has an awful smell in the bottle as soon as I took the lid off. Then I noticed my urine had a horrible strong smell which I associated with the same smell as the pill. Now I also am afraid it is being excreted thru perspiration as well. I am certainly not going to continue to take this budeprion if it is making me smell bad! Has anyone else noticed this side effect?

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 have been on Wellbutrin XL for quite a few year now (about 3) and really liked the benefits, and the fact that it doesn't make me sleepy like the other antidepressants do. For most of the 3 years, I have been taking the generic Budeprion without any trouble. With my first year of being on the Wellbutrin XL, the medicine was the brand name. My insurance company changed it to generic after that, and I had no problems with the generic. Then with this last refill of Budeprion, it has been terrible. I've had major panic attack symptoms. I called my doctor to see if he would write a script for the brand name and he agreed. I have had the worst time trying to get back on the name brand Wellbutrin XL. Has anyone else had this trouble?

I have only been taking Budeprion for 4 days now, and the last 3 days have been excruciating! Horrible neck and shoulder pain that comes and goes. I wake up fine in the morning, but right around lunch time or a little after my upper back, shoulders and neck start to tighten and I get a terrible headache - usually only on one side of my head. I also have a fuzzy feeling in my head, and have a hard time focusing.
The pain lasts until I go to bed, but then I wake up feeling relatively ok again in the morning.
This is the first antidepressant that I have taken, and I know these kinds of drugs can take a couple of weeks before you start to notice anything, but I am really scared to keep taking the Budeprion because it makes me feel so awful. The worst part about the situation is that doctor actually prescribed me Wellbutrin, not this generic, and I just found out today that my insurance company covers both. I REALLY wish I would have done more research on this drug before I got the prescription filled. Now I have to wait a month before I can get it switched.

A couple of days after switching from Wellbutrin XL (which was effective for me, with no side effects) to Budeprion XL, I began to experience feelings of panic, a choking-like tightness in my throat/neck area, and extreme tension throughout my shoulders and neck. (I have never had a panic attack before.) My doctor said that my symptoms sounded like anxiety. Neither of us made the connection to the recent switch from Wellbutrin to Budeprion. These Budeprion XL side effects began each day in the late afternoon and continued for at least two hours, sometimes longer. Nothing relieved them. I tried relaxation breathing, yoga, meditation, and even Ativan! After several days of this torture, in desperation for some relief from the panic/tightness/tension, I drank a glass of wine when the symptoms set in. The symptoms grew even more severe. It finally occurred to me that the Budeprion might be the source of this frightening problem, and I insisted on being switched back to the Wellbutrin. Ta-da. No more freaking afternoon attacks. A few months later, while experiencing some lower back pain, I took a Budeprion by accident (I found a single tablet in my desk drawer and I mistook it for a codeine-based pain tablet that has a similar appearance...I know--a dumb thing to do!) Hours later, the original side effects returned: extreme panic with neck/shoulder tightness and tension. I have not taken Budeprion since that day (about three months ago), and I have never again experienced those side effects (or any similar symptoms). The name brand Wellbutrin XL is working effectively for me, with no side effects. Because of these experiences, I am convinced that Budeprion XL's contents (or composition) are very different from those of Wellbutrin XL. They may or may not have the same chemical formula, but they certainly do not react the same way in my body.

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.

When I piked up my latest wellbutrin prescription I was surprised that I was given the generic subsititute, budeprion. 3 weeks later I was having symptoms of depression. I didn't associate the symptoms with the medication since I was told that the generic is the same medicine. When I called my dr. the first thing he asked was if I was given the generic. He said the generic is chemically different than the brand name wellbutrin--that's why the name budeprion is different from bupropion (Wellbutrin). It IS NOT the same. He gave me samples of Wellbutrin and after a few days I was back to normal. Now I guess I'm going to have to fight my insurance co. to get the Wellbutrin.