What Is The Best Generic Version Of Wellbutrin Xl - Watson Or Anchen? (Page 62)

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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"Geminiguy, this doesn't seem to be working. It's valeant who is giving out the coupons. Insurance is refusing to pay for Wellbutrin brand, only generic. So somehow, I guess Valeant figures $50 bucks a bottle is better than nothing. I don't know which insurance companies allow only a $5 copay for Wellbutrin--it sounds like an urban myth! I don't know how anybody pays $900 per month, I couldn't do that. It feels desperate, sometimes."

It's not me making the $5 and $900 claims. You will need to get the answer from the ones who are making the claims.

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Can someone help me out with what insurance company covers name brand Wellbutrin xl ? I'm just going to get insurance so I don't have to be on these generics anymore. I've wasted $120 this month on tying generics out that could have went to insurance payments. Frustrating to say the least ??

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Sarah, I have blue cross and they cover 40% of Wellbutrin XL. I've been told that Blue Cross's pharmacy program is managed through CVS Caremark.

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I talked to my doctor about this today and
She said she could just stop the Wellbutrin and put me on lexapro instead . Anyone ever done this ?

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"I joined this discussion to find help with a better generic and not to have to defend myself for using a coupon that was offered to me. I've learned a lot from the members who post here and I am grateful for the help. My posts are my way of helping others"

I wasn't trying to imply that's it's wrong to use the coupons. If I had access to the coupons (which I don't) and really needed them, which I don't because it's nothing more than luck brain chemistry that Par works for me (sort of, at least to the extent that I'm not willing to shell out $4,500 a year for brand), I would use the coupons in a minute. If you were willing to give up the coupons, others wouldn't and you wouldn't have gained anything, either personally or to the benefit of others. The point I was trying to make is that only when everyone refuses to use the coupons (which will never happen) and all insurance companies refuse to cover Wellbutrin at all (which will never happen), will the price of brand Wellbutrin fall. Valeant would have no choice but to do this because if it didn't it wouldn't have any market and thus no profit. But as said, none of this will ever happen. Therefore, I would continue to use the coupons and have no moral compunction whatsoever against doing so.

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The branded wellbrutrin xl in my experience is tier 3 or not covered on most insurances which means the cost is next to zero reduced. If cost is 1500 a month and copay is 80% well it's crazy.. I had to talk with my dr try 2 generics fail and then Dr completed a preauthorization form sent to insurance ..Dr can call as well.. then get approved for a tier 1 or tier 2 status..which brings cost way down and then still copay was 250 so coupon helped tremendously for me. So in my experience I don't know of any insurance that covers brand at a reasonable affordable copay without a preauthorization file with insurance so when pharmacy runs the prescription against insurance that copay comes up tier 1 or2.

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Sarah- I took Alexa pro and it made me gain weight and foggy. It's way different than Wellbutrin, I'd research it and think about t before you switch.

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Love the generic. That's all I've ever taken. Works great.
Crystal

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Crystal, wish I could say the same. I was put on Wellbutrin before there was a generic, or an XL! When my insurance switched to only covering generic, I found it felt like I wasn't on any medication. I payed the highest tier copay, until they won't cover namebrand at all. Last year, the coupon was $50 per bottle, or $100 per month, via Direct Success pharmacy. This year, it is $100 per bottle, or $200 per month for me (300mg plus 150 mg). Even with the coupon, that's a 100% increase. I'm not finding a workable option, but am hoping I will adjust to the generic with time.

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Which manufacturer Crystal? I'm glad it worked for you !

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Anyone have any updates ? My generic is still not working like the brand name did. I'm going to see about changing manufacturers yet again

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Sarah talk to your doctor about Contrave. It has Wellbutrin in it and it's cheaper than the brand name . I pay $90 a month

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Carebear, I've been wondering what the dosage of Wellbutrin is in Contrave. And is it a once a day or more than once a day drug?

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I had to look up Contrave, as I had never heard of it. It's a weight-loss drug that uses a combination of 90mg bupropion and 8mg naltrexone (yes, the opioid blocker). This combination works synergistically on the food reward pathways to reduce appetite.

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I looked up contrave and it seems like it's more of a diet pill than a anti depressant . I Ike that it's $90 a month but it only has 90mg of Wellbutrin where I take 300. I may ask my doctor about it . Thanks!

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Lexapro was awful for me-- I always felt angry. It's an SSRI, and it turns out those don't work for me or aren't what I need. Par pharmaceutical's 150 xl helped me greatly though but when I switched (because of insurance changing) to other generics, I had side effects. Not all generic Wellbutrins are created equal-- but overall I think if you get a good version of it, it works better than anything. Avoid India made Wellbutrin--- these are worst, but they are being pushed on people because of how cheap they are. More folks need to come out and report Indian made Wellbutrin and refuse to use it, so that they'll stop pushing it.

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JZ, which brands of generic Wellbutrin are you concerned about when you mention India?

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JZ- what brand is the India made generic Wellbutrin?

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I think they're referring to one of them being Cipla.

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Sandoz SR / 150 mg 2x /day is the best generic in the sr category

don't know about the PAR xl

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