Studies Reveal that Generic Wellbutrin (bupropion) Does Not Act the Same Way as the Original Wellbutrin

Is Your Anti-Depressant Working?

A report of studies done by the ConsumerLab show that the generic drug for depression known as bupropion worked differently than the non-generic drug called Wellbutrin XL. XL is a timed release formula of this anti-depressant. Tests showed as well that taking two generic bupripion SR, which would be taken twice a day, released the drug differently than the XL time released drug which is taken once a day. It was found that time-released generic drugs sometimes use tablet technologies that differ from the original product. This might explain the differences.

Readers of The People's Pharmacy, a syndicated newspaper column, began reporting problems back in February. Accounts were posted at www.peoplespharmacy.com. The anecdotal accounts stated that people had been successfully taking Wellbutrin XL 300 but when the switched to the generic formula they became irritable, nausea, had headaches and insomnia. Accounts noted that after switching back to the non-generic brand these symptoms went away.

The co-authors of The People's Pharmacy, Joe and Teresa Graedon, reported the above account to the FDA who told the Graedons it would be looked into. As of now the FDA has not reported the results if any testing is in fact even going on. The Graedons decided to go to ConsumerLab.com for help in testing the generic product and the original product.

The testing was funded by ConsumerLab.com without drug company involvement. The full report is available at ConsumerLab.com to subscribers.

The report includes test results, information about other generic versions of bupropion on the market, and a list of other popular extended-release generic drugs such as Global (generic bupropion); Teva (generic bupropion) and Watson (generic bupropion).

Reports of generic drug problems by consumers are posted at www.peoplespharmacy.com.

ConsumerLab.com is a New York based company that does independent evaluations of health products. Dr. Ted Cooperman, President of ConsumerLab.com, was shocked when he saw the results of the tests.