Generic Wellbutrin: A Less Effective Alternative?

I have had the same problem with the generic version of Zoloft.  I changed back to the brand name because it just wasn't working. My partner is taking paxetine. He recently changed back to the brand name and he can't believe the difference. Your post was the first time I have heard of generic drugs being tested and coming up short on quality.  My partner and I just changed back because we felt better on the brand name medicine.

I too found a generic Wellbutrin (white, not blue) didn't work as well. It costs more (and that cost adds up!) but I want to get the full effect, not start that downward slide again! Thanks for bringing up this important consideration when it comes to depression meds.

There's no question that the generic version of Wellbutrin is far inferior to the brand name. I am extremely sensitive to side effects from medications, and with genuine Wellbutrin I never feel withdrawal symptoms when nearing 24 hours since the last dose. With the generic form, I have mild to moderate withdrawal symptoms beginning about 12 hours after taking a dose. I really wanted to brush this off, but the more I'm hearing about this inferior copy of Wellbutrin, the angrier I am that I'm paying out of pocket (no Rx coverage) for a less than effective medication. It doesn't surprise me in the least that studies find that the generic form is zipping through the body too quickly, because that's just what it feels like on my end!

Taking brand name Wellbutrin 100mg, 3x - 4x day,  for over ten years, no problems and the medication was fully controlling the depression.  Required by the insurance company to take generic, Buspar, I noticed within two hours of taking the medication that I had extreme anxiety and nervous twitching.  Later in the day, and especially in the late afternoon and evening, I pounced on eveything wrong.  Which means that the depression was not being treated.  The cost penalty to take brand name is outrageous when the generic is truly not effective for many patients.  Doctors have said to me that generic Wellbutrin is one of the most frequent comments for being ineffective.

When a generic is shown to be ineffective, its like no medication is authorized.