confusion about which bupropion to dispense

February 2011

Please see the FDA's October 2012 update regarding Budeprion XL 300 mg not being equivalent to Wellbutrin XL 300 mg

There's lots of confusion about which bupropion to dispense.

Brand-name bupropion products are available under 5 different names...Wellbutrin, Wellbutrin SR, Wellbutrin XL, Zyban, and Aplenzin.

Wellbutrin and Zyban are bupropion hydroCHLORIDE and have generic equivalents. Aplenzin is bupropion hydroBROMIDE and is brand only.

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Table of Contents

Pediatrics Just 1 or 2 doses of some medications can kill a young child
Acetaminophen Prescription combo pain meds (Lorcet, Tylox, etc) will be limited to only 325 mg of acetaminophen per tab or cap
Diabetes Meds Cycloset, a new form of bromocriptine for type 2 diabetes
Antidepressants confusion about which bupropion to dispense
Neurology & Pain Butrans (BYOO-trans), a new once-a-week C-III buprenorphine patch for chronic pain
Hemorrhoids which products to use for hemorrhoidal symptoms
Antipsychotics The new drug, Latuda (lurasidone), will compete in a crowded market of "atypical" antipsychotics (Zyprexa, Abilify, Invega, etc)
Pregnancy the differences in prenatal vitamins
Pediatrics Kapvay, the new clonidine extended-release for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children
Osteoporosis Atelvia (uh-TEL-vee-uh), increases the chance for mishaps with osteoporosis meds
Injectables the first INJECTABLE acetaminophen, Ofirmev (uh-FIRM-ev)
Medication Errors preventing mishaps with Catapres-TTS (clonidine) transdermal patches
New Drugs new drugs approved in 2010