Misrepresentation of Budeprion XL as equivalent to Wellbutrin XL

When buying prescription drugs, most of us are familiar with the idea of name brand and generic drugs. When a name brand drug has been available for a certain amount of time, other companies are permitted to begin making generic equivalents of the drug. This competition generally brings down the cost of medication to consumers. The default on a prescription pad is to allow the pharmacist to substitute a generic equivalent to the drug prescribed unless the doctor notes that only the named drug can be given. The foundation for allowing generic substitutions for name brand drugs is that the generic drugs are functionally equivalent to the name brand drugs they replace.

Unfortunately, Budeprion XL, marketed as a generic version of Wellbutrin XL®, does not live up to the standard expected of generic drugs. Although Teva Pharmaceuticals has advertised that Budeprion XL is the exact equivalent of Wellbutrin XL, in truth there are some very significant differences that make Budeprion XL less effective and more dangerous than the brand name depression medication Wellbutrin XL.

Wellbutrin XL is a sustained release version of the anti-depressant Wellbutrin that is taken only once a day. Budeprion XL is marketed as the generic version of the sustained release formula, but Budeprion XL does not use the same sustained release drug delivery system as Wellbutrin XL. Budeprion XL has been shown to release four times as much of its active ingredient within the first two hours as compared to Wellbutrin XL. Studies show that, when taking Budeprion XL, the active ingredient concentration reaches its peak in the bloodstream after only two hours. When taking Wellbutrin XL, it takes five hours for the active ingredient to reach its peak concentration.

Because the active ingredient is released more rapidly, the risk of side effects—in some cases, dangerous side effects—is increased and the effectiveness of the drug is decreased. Some patients have reported that, after switching the BudeprionXL, they did not get the same relief from the symptoms of their depression that they felt while on Wellbutrin XL or another general alternative to Wellbutrin XL. Patients have also reported a number of side effects while taking Budeprion XL that they did not experience while taking Wellbutrin XL or other generic alternatives to Wellbutrin XL, including:

  • Seizures,
  • Suicidal tendencies,
  • Severe depression,
  • Panic attacks,
  • Insomnia,
  • Anxiety, and
  • Nausea.

If the marketing for Budeprion XL had been truthful and accurate, doctors would have been more likely to specify Wellbutrin XL rather than allow the substitution of the generic drug Budeprion XL. Patients would have been more likely to ask their doctors and/or pharmacists for Wellbutrin XL rather than Budeprion XL.

But the marketing for Budeprion XL was not truthful and accurate. At best, patients paid for a drug shown to be less effective than the name brand alternative. At worst, they suffered physical and psychological damage from taking the generic drug.

If you have taken Budeprion XL and experienced side effects like those outlined above or noticed a decrease in your medications effectiveness after switching to Budeprion XL, please contact us for a free legal consultation at 800-222-2766 or by completing the form below.