What Is The Best Generic Version Of Wellbutrin Xl - Watson Or Anchen? (Page 53)

My doctor will not prescribe generic Wellbutrin XL but my insurance will no longer pay for brand name drugs. I will have to pay about $7000 per yer for what I am taking now (3 of the 150mg Wellbutrin XL brand name per day). I am reading that the problem with the generics is the time release mechanism and not the drug itself and that some are better than others. Anybody have experience with the generics made by Watson and /or Anchen?

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Can we please stop saying "the generic"? You need to say the manufacturer's name e.g. Sandoz or Mylan or Par. There are several generic versions of bupropion on the market.

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Mylan and Par did NOT work for me. It was when the product wasn't working that I had to look more closely into the issue. What I found out was the delivery is different from the Branded and it is this that I believe messed me up. Some can tolerate the difference on when drug peaks as well as how the product is absorbed. Based on what I'm hearing from the noise on the net many are NOT tolerating these two manufacturers of generic Wellbrutrin XL versions. It is truly a shame that our insurance companies can just flip a switch to not approval the assistance program Wellbrutrin offers. I will not hit the minimum deductible if at the high cost so screw the insurance company - I bought from Direct Pharmacy for $50/1 bottle of 30pills... Direct Pharmacy has always been very good at follow up and delivery times. I don't have any issues with Direct Pharmacy.. it truly is my insurance company contracted pharmacy manager company. For that business it IS all about the money. If it wasn't there would not be such a fuss about the members taking Wellbrutrin to be forced to purchase through them. I say screw them! This issue is most likely in court already so it is a matter of time before it is sorted out- at least that's my opinion. I just don't believe it can not be in court by now...but anything can occur so who knows.

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Jenee -- look more closely at your prescription coverage at your insurance company. You may want to call their customer support line and ask too. I found a form on the internet, which is for what you do if you fill a prescription without going through a "preferred" pharmacy, or just what you use if you go to a new pharmacy (where you are not in the computer) and forget your card. I got this to work for me -- I paid Direct Success the $50 with my credit card. Then when the receipt came I made a copy of it and mailed it with the form, and I wrote on the form that I was doing it this way to save the insurance company money. My prescription coverage is a 30% co-pay. So they sent me a check for $35. And automatically generated a check for $15 out of my flexible spending account.

The co-pay for Par is $15.10 -- so Direct Success is actually cheaper!

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Jenny, the insurance company is right to reject the Patient Assistance Program because it’s a fraud on all of us. When you give Direct Success your insurance details, Valeant passes inflated invoices to your insurer — I think it’s in the order of $500 or $600 a month, and that means your premium goes up next year. The “villain” here is Biovail/Valeant, who set the exorbitant price in the first place. The way to shift the cost back to Valeant is to use Direct Success without insurance.

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cf: That is an even better solution! Very smart :)

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I got My Canada Welbutrin Brand 300 Xl Monday. I was nervous about the Labeling letters sight grey color. I called after I got home and talked to Costco pharmacist- Took Her time -made in Canada By Valent. I took it Tuesday, and Wednesday, felt no ill effects. This week, same day I got my Welbutrin, my disabled Adult daughter broke a small bone metatarsal below baby toe. 4 Hours Urgent Care.(July is the month hospitals Interns become residents, med students become interns- Retired RN- know that these new folks are nervous ...Anyway I was told to go to Orthopod, we did Tuesday, another long wait 3+ hours...overbooked- we where add ons?? Then drove to pick up her medical supply to get an air walk boot.

A Good test drive of the Welbutrin? Wednesday she had a dental appt. She is doing great. I got in earlier than usual..but that has been the case when I am stressed. I think it is going to work.

Unbelievable Money saving. I had two 90 day 1 a day scripts, you do have to talk to a Canadian Dr. He was in a real medical clinic, no phone booth office. Got in quickly. Receptionist had me sign a few documents, asked for the $40.00 USD before I went to the exam room. (AMT machine in the lobby). Saw Dr Pleasant looked kindly in his 50's, asked me a few questions, like how long have I been taking the drug. He knew about Direct Success taking Medicare patients out of a discount program.

By the way I don't remember Direct Success getting Insurance info from me, I'm still sharp, I would have remembered?? I was lucky I had a stock pile of several months so I didn't panic too badly-- Except for Cost $1,400 dollars when I paid the deductible. I came here to this site and the Costco Manager of the Pharmacy gave me great information. Called Winsdor ont Costco for Price on 90 tablets $122.15 Canadian I had two Scripts each 90 days worth, I asked Dr if he would write for 180 and he did (voided my US Scripts...Drove to Costco on Walker Rd. 20 min. husband drove me anxious - worried about customs. They asked But I don't tell Put meds in My empty Bottles. Hope this is useful to someone. I will tell you how I am feeling. I had been put on several generics 10 or more years ago and I had panic attacks, so bad I called Community Mental Health Hot line in middle of the night... So I know how I feel on the generics...I have a heart condition that made me very sensitive to the way the generic released - I Agree Horrible Teva... Take Care it's not all in your Head??? Meditation, gardening, water, exercise ...staying active is useful. Welbutrin makes me Feel Happy and normal.

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Does anyone know WHY the Wellbutrin Guarantee Program - Direct Success will no longer work with you if you are on Medicare. I got a call in Jan. telling me I could no longer be in the program because I am on Medicare. I was paying the $50/month just like anyone else. Nothing went to insurance. When I told my doctor about it said that is clearly discrimination!! I have called and talked to them, but no one can explain why people on Medicare were dropped.

Any insights?

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Did you ask to be put on the cash program? I don't have Medicare, but they stopped billing my insurance so they said I could go on the cash program for 50 a month. I was paying ZERO before!

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I don't know if this site accepts web links, but this article (and especially the first graph) explains a lot about why insurers are balking at the Patient Assistance Program:

bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-01-08/how-valeant-tripled-prices-doubled-sales-of-flatlining-old-drug

The price of Wellbutrin almost quadrupled over 15 months. And it was already high to start with.

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DIrect Success has never billed Medicare. Anyone on Medicare was on the cash program from the beginning. That is why it makes no sense that they would not continue it. My doctor is correct.....it is age discrimination.

I have just started on the generic by Sandoz. I have tried Activis, Watson, Par and one other, so the Sandoz is new for me. Also, my doctor switched me from the XL to the SR and added a small dose of Adderall. I really think that is going to do the trick for me. It was the fatigue and horrible brain fog that was the problem with the generics.

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Kathy: I'm taking a small dose of Adderall too with my bupropion (Par, in my case). Adderall has been something of a miracle for me. I was already doing fairly well mood-wise on 300mg of bupropion XL, but the Adderall really put me over the line in a way I had missed all my life. I got energy back, and more importantly for me, I developed the straightforward motivation that had often eluded me (it's an ADD thing).

Regarding Medicare: My understanding is that Medicare Part D has not covered Wellbutrin for a long time. As the article revealed, Valeant only has use for any pool of insurance customers as long as they can convert a good percentage of them into full-price claims. It sounds like they can't get any blood out of the Medicare stone, so they dropped you all. Very unfair indeed.

I imagine that if you had never provided insurance details, they would have kept supplying you in the hopes that you would one day get upgraded cover that they could bilk. If it were me, I would be coming back at them with a new address, new phone number and new prescription to see if you could make it look like I was a 'new' customer.

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Eric said:
> If it were me, I would be coming back at them with a new address, new phone number and new prescription to see if you could make it look like I was a 'new' customer.

Yeah, except that they have my social security number... :-(

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They don't actually need your SSN, do they? What they need is a name, address, credit card and prescription. To become a "new" account, you just need to make sure you come up with a new address and prescription. That would break the link back to your SSN.

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This is normal in my experience. Our Walgreens gets it for me in about 3 days, that's why I always give them a heads up about a week before my scheduled refill date, just to be safe. It is like night and day, all for the better. I feel like I'm living a normal life for the first time in years! No side effects, just "normal". I can't describe how good it feels to be free from the debilitating side effects of the generics, of which I feel I've tried them all, looking for the holy grail of wellness.

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I can't say I know all the details for I don't. I know my co-pay is way high on this branded Wellbrutrin XL and it sucks. If I have money in my flex spending acct I can send in the receipts from Direct Success Pharmacy (I buy 2 -30ct bottles/month so $100/month). I didn't budget for this money for Flex Spending in the beginning of the yr for I didn't know I'd be in this situation therefore I can't send in the receipts for reimbursement. If there is another option to obtain money back from my insurance or the insurance's preferred mail order pharmacy please explain.

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Kathy- I have ADHD and was on Adderall and Wellbrutrin XL for a long time. It worked. Here is my experience: First was placed on Wellbrutrin XL for depression worked up to 300mg then much later Adderall. Addreall first dose changed my life, head was clear, I was focused, motivated. Over time I felt I was a bit more agitated so dropped Adderall and increased Wellbrutrin XL..THAT was the key-that is when I felt the calmest and people around me noticed since I was asked why I was so calm.. still though my concentration was not good.. much later Vyvanse 30mg was added. This is working. I do see it working with my 9 yr old as well. BIG huge difference with him. (I waited 3 yrs to place him on any medication while we went to counseling - 3 yrs of counseling and evaluation with child psychiatrist with pediatric physician (whom has known my son since birth & is highly respected in school system/community)...I needed to be absolutely sure all avenues were tried before medication.) With my son the difference is so blatantly obvious I received a call from the school principle, vice principle, his teacher and YMCA teacher for his behavior is calmer-before he was aggressive, impulsive-never sat still to play with legos, color etc... He is calmer, is able to concentrate on reading & tests. In fact his reading level test was 1 wk after starting Vyvanse & his score went up 4 levels... I know sounds like BS.. however there was a IEP (individual education plan) put into place so my son did his reading and tests in a quiet room w/ school reading specialist-works with kids with IEP plans and the test is a state test so there was no way the result was biased. My son knows he is in the drivers seat and his pediatric dr & pediatric psychiatrist meet with him to monitor him. He is in the driver's seat for it is his body & I'm not a parent that is going to force him to take it. I want him to understand what the medication is & why he is taking it & he has a choice. He says he feels so much happier & I bet he does for now he is in control of himself-before his impulsivity was so high he was constantly being told to stop this, or you did that --all negative.. It's been 3 months on Vyvanse 30mg & his self esteem has gone up, he joins in groups of kids, adds his ideas -before he didn't. I add all this for there are many out there that do not believe in medication for kids- well I say live my son's life Before Vyvanse & see it now then lets talk. That is the same for me when I hit 450mg Wellbrutrin and now added Vyvanse. Huge difference. That's my experience.

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I do not find the Watson Buproprion SR 150 to be equivalent to Wellbutrin - it is nowhere as effective.

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Use a Canadian phamacy. Dr can write rx brand only. 90 day supply a lot cheaper.

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Jenee, thank you for the reply. It is wonderful that you have found a combo that works so well. I am happy to report that the Sandoz bupropion sr, plus the Adderall (generic) has truly helped me. I was having some concerning side effects - tightness in my chest and throat - but that has seemed to resolve. I can't really say that I am back to where I was when on the brand name Wellbutrin XL, but I would say I am at least 3/4 of the way back. I am hesitant to make any changes yet. My gut feeling is that I need just a bit more of the Adderall. I see the doc again in 2 months and can discuss it then.

I understand what your experience has been with your son. I have 2 grandsons diagnosed ADHD. The older one was 13 before put on meds and the difference was like day and night. The younger one's situation was much milder, but the meds have been a godsend.

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PLEASE beware before you order from Canada. The brand name Wellbutrin is made by Valeant Pharmaceutical, as it is in the U.S. However, there is a difference in the formula due to a variation in the Canadian regulations. I ordered from Canada and within a week, I knew it was not the same. I called Valeant here in the U.S. and told them my story. The person I spoke to told me that the Wellbutrin from Valeant in Canada was indeed brand name, but it is NOT exactly the same due to the difference in regulations.

You may find others that did just fine ordering from Canada, but I did not and thought I would share with those on this board.

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