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Buproprion shortage

amosleigh
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amosleigh

amosleigh

Posted
Posted

I've been trying to fill my Bupropion ER 150 mg since Friday. Target pharmacy told me there is a nationwide shortage with no date of when it will be available again.

 

Anyone else having this problem?

 

BTW, I am in California

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water

water

Posted
Posted

I found the article confusing.  Is it one manufacturer who is short, or all of them?

 

olga

 

well, shit on a stick.

 

There is a 'shortage' of bupropion. The news says because of 'demand'

My pharmacist said bull. The manufacturers are holding the med because of demand.

Then they will raise prices. Assholes. They are playing with peoples lives. 

 

He stocked up on Wellbutrin. He did not stock up on Aplenzin.

Apparently some people knew about this weeks ago.

"Why didn't you stock up on Aplenzin?"

His face agog: "Are you kidding? It's a $1000. You are lucky your insurance covers it"

"Am I the only one in town who take aplenzin?" 

"yes"

 

I asked very carefully what I should do. I told him I have a few extra. I always order my meds a week early so I have maybe two weeks worth?

Last case scenario - I take Wellbutrin. Two pills, not one.

 

The pharmacist says I am paying for Aplenzin's release method. Whatever the cost or reason this med is working wonderfully.  I do NOT want to change a damn thing.

 

So Olga - it is every manufacturer I believe, unless there are some ethical pharmaceutical companies out there.  

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vanderk

vanderk

Posted
Posted

My hunch is that there is a hot new weight loss drug in the pipeline that is a combination of bupropion and zonesamide and that a lot of the bupropion is being side-railed for it.  Just my hunch......

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water

water

Posted
Posted

My hunch is that there is a hot new weight loss drug in the pipeline that is a combination of bupropion and zonesamide and that a lot of the bupropion is being side-railed for it.  Just my hunch......

 

Coincidence?

 

There was a very RECENT recall of a weight loss drug because of ingredient tampering. Company was GSK. Makers of wellbutrin.

http://www.cleveland.com/healthfit/index.ssf/2014/03/glaxosmithkline_recalls_alli_w.html

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ztiramisu1

ztiramisu1

Posted
Posted

I'm from the Chicago metro area, Joliet specifically, & haven't been able to fill my Aplenzin prescription since 5/6/14.  Also can't be had through my mail order, Prime Mail.  Does anyone know if Aplenzin 522 or any other strength of Aplenzin is available anywhere?

 

Thanks for any information you can give me.

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water

water

Posted
Posted

I'm from the Chicago metro area, Joliet specifically, & haven't been able to fill my Aplenzin prescription since 5/6/14.  Also can't be had through my mail order, Prime Mail.  Does anyone know if Aplenzin 522 or any other strength of Aplenzin is available anywhere?

 

Thanks for any information you can give me.

Aplenzin 522 is NOT available where I am.

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water

water

Posted
Posted

I, too, am the only person in my area who orders Aplenzin, I'm surprised it hasn't been discontinued yet.

No! don't say that. I like this med. 

 

The reason no one takes it is because no insurance company will cover Aplenzin. It is very expensive.

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Wooster

Wooster

Posted
Posted

Gosh, how annoying and irritating and potentially "fuck with our lives".

I'll call in my refill request this week and see what they have to say at my pharmacy.

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CirclesOfConfusion

CirclesOfConfusion

Posted
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According to the info in the link that Water posted, my version of generic WB is on the shortage list.  (If you're still wondering about yours, check your pill bottle's pharmacy label for the NDC # to confirm against the online lists)

 

But for whatever random reason, my pharmacy just filled 90 days' worth for me on May 30 with no problem and no mention of any shortage.  Maybe they have deeper reserve stock because the pharmacy is within a centralized clinic within a huge unified HMO system?  I have no idea.  I'm really sorry that some other people here are running into supply problems.  I too would feel nervous and angry if any of my daily meds were suddenly unavailable with no explanation.  

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melissaw72

melissaw72

Posted
Posted (edited)

My hunch is that there is a hot new weight loss drug in the pipeline that is a combination of bupropion and zonesamide and that a lot of the bupropion is being side-railed for it.  Just my hunch......

 

This is the only weight loss med that I could find where naltrexone is mixed with wellbutrin:  called contrave ...

 

http://www.forbes.com/sites/melaniehaiken/2014/06/10/new-weight-loss-drug-on-the-way-fda-weighs-contrave/

Edited by melissaw72
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olga

olga

Posted
Posted (edited)

I just re-read that notice, after examining my bottle.  I take 300XL, made by Activis.

 

It says that some versions of WB are available, including the one I take.  I'm going to call my pharmacy tomorrow and make sure they have this one.  If you are on another brand, you might want to try the Activis one.  It works fine for me.

 

olga

 

Available Products

 

Bupropion hydrochloride 24 hour extended-release tablets, Actavis
300 mg tablets, 30 count (NDC 67767-0142-30)
300 mg tablets, 90 count
- See more at: http://www.ashp.org/menu/DrugShortages/CurrentShortages/Bulletin.aspx?id=1106#sthash.YqUGasHg.dpuf
Edited by olga
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water

water

Posted
Posted

I called my pdoc to call in a script for wellbutrin. 

My lovely pharmacist hoarded bupropion pills but I have no idea whose.

I feel depressed and angry.

I don't want to take wellbutrin - brand or generic. 

 

No one told me about the shortage until yesterday.

 

Would the pharmaceutical companies hold back lithium? They are playing with people's lives. This is criminal.

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ztiramisu1

ztiramisu1

Posted
Posted

It is criminal.  I'm now taking a combination of Wellbutrin 300 & generic bupropion 150.  Why does the FDA allow manufacturers to do something like this?  I called Sanofi a couple of weeks ago & they wouldn't tell me anything except it's on manufacturer backorder and they don't have a date for when it will be resolved.  I've been searching the internet for a month to see if anyone else was having this problem, I'm glad to see it finally has been brought up but not happy that other people are suffering too. 

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water

water

Posted
Posted

It is criminal.  I'm now taking a combination of Wellbutrin 300 & generic bupropion 150.  Why does the FDA allow manufacturers to do something like this?  I called Sanofi a couple of weeks ago & they wouldn't tell me anything except it's on manufacturer backorder and they don't have a date for when it will be resolved.  I've been searching the internet for a month to see if anyone else was having this problem, I'm glad to see it finally has been brought up but not happy that other people are suffering too. 

 

I don't know what to do. My pdoc just called in a 300 and 150 xl Wellbutrin. I have no idea what i am going to get.

But what if this lifts soon? If the aplenzin is available again, will I be able to dump the wellbutrin and get that? I don't think so. 

 

I'm sorry you are also having this issue. This sucks.

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ztiramisu1

ztiramisu1

Posted
Posted

I changed my 150 xl to generic to save money because my insurance considers this to be two prescriptions so this way I saved $30.  My insurance will pay for the Aplenzin if it becomes available while I'm taking the Wellbutrin/generic combo, hopefully yours will too :), give them a call & explain the situation.  Of course this combo doesn't work as well but I guess it's better than nothing.  If I hear anything I will post on this board, if you hear anything, please do the same.  Thanks!  It's interesting, our meds are similar except I take Klonopin instead of Xanax & Valium.

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water

water

Posted
Posted

My insurance will pay for the Aplenzin if it becomes available while I'm taking the Wellbutrin/generic combo, 

 

That's great!  oh gosh, one day at a time. First I have to see what they are giving me. Avoiding going to the pharmacy.

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ztiramisu1

ztiramisu1

Posted
Posted

It takes years & years & years to find a combination of meds that work & then it gets pulled out from right under you. I am not functioning well. It's already been five weeks, does it matter to Sanofi that I'm super depressed & ready to check myself into the hospital before I do something stupid? I guess they just care about their bottom line...why did this happen?

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Wooster

Wooster

Posted
Posted

Drat... I just noticed for some weird reason there are NO refills remaining on my script, and there should be at least 3. So I put in the request for the pharmacy to contact my doc.

Also, weirdly, the manufacturer isn't listed on the label, just the NDC number. When I look up the NDC number it tells me there are no results for that number. :|

But when I do the google search on the NDC it points me to the list of shortage meds.... grrrr.

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acquiring labels daily

acquiring labels daily

Posted
Posted

I just found this thread and it is making me a little nervous as i go to pick up my meds tomorrow. Last month the pharmacy didn't say anything about a shortage, just said that they were out of the generic and were giving me the brand name at no extra cost. i also missed a call from my pdoc's office yesterday-though they didn't leave a message. now i wonder if it has to do with the shortage. it will be interesting to see what i get tomorrow

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water

water

Posted
Posted

It takes years & years & years to find a combination of meds that work & then it gets pulled out from right under you. I am not functioning well. It's already been five weeks, does it matter to Sanofi that I'm super depressed & ready to check myself into the hospital before I do something stupid? I guess they just care about their bottom line...why did this happen?

 

oh god. oh god. I am stunned about this. I have NEVER changed my cocktail, for 6 years.

 

one day at a time. The wellbutrin will work, the wellbutrin will work, the wellbutrin will work. That is, IF I CAN GET ANY.

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olga

olga

Posted
Posted

I checked with my local CVS today and told her about this situation.  She went on line to "order" some WB XL300 from Actavis and she said she got the green light and could have ordered any quantity she wanted.   If you're taking another brand, maybe ask your pharmacy to check out Actavis.

 

olga

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acquiring labels daily

acquiring labels daily

Posted
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I asked my pharmacy about it today and they said that they did have problems last month and that is why they substituted name brand for generic. they say that they are no longer having any problems receiving their normal supply.. . however...they always go with whichever supplier is currently selling it the cheapest. i never count on getting my meds from the same manufacturer two months in a row

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HAL9000

HAL9000

Posted
Posted

I hate this news.   I can turn into a horder for a variety of things but the meds hording?    I know that you can send in the refill for 30days supply and 2 weeks for 90.    

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water

water

Posted
Posted

From what I understand the only difference between the different brands is the release method. They are all bupropion.

 

However, Aplenzin uses sodium bromide, not chloride. Also the 522xl is ONE pill. So it releases from one please thruout my body all day. Now I am screwed. I have no idea when this med is returning. I do not want to take wellbutrin. I have never taken the 450XL (which is really 150xl and 300xl).

 

I think I will just take the 300xl. sigh....I am very upset. my body chemistry is very sensitive. I cannot SWITCH brands back and forth like others. I can tell the difference immediately. 

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olga

olga

Posted
Posted

Little late to this board but is Brand Wellbutrin 150xl shortor on backorder?

 

Thanks,

Meezers

Meezers, the best way for you to find out is to ask your pharmacy.

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peacelizard

peacelizard

Posted
Posted

According to the info in the link that Water posted, my version of generic WB is on the shortage list.  (If you're still wondering about yours, check your pill bottle's pharmacy label for the NDC # to confirm against the online lists)

 

But for whatever random reason, my pharmacy just filled 90 days' worth for me on May 30 with no problem and no mention of any shortage.  Maybe they have deeper reserve stock because the pharmacy is within a centralized clinic within a huge unified HMO system?  I have no idea.  I'm really sorry that some other people here are running into supply problems.  I too would feel nervous and angry if any of my daily meds were suddenly unavailable with no explanation.  

 

Yeah. It's incredibly annoying. I remember when my local pharmacy did that with my Effexor 225, saying they were out of stock and needed to wait for more, but didn't know when it'd be in. So my pdoc wrote for 150 + 75 and I got that filled. Then, wouldn't you know, the pharmacy calls the NEXT day telling me the 225 is in. I was like "WTF. Can I get a refund on the first shit I bought?" lol  :huh: 

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water

water

Posted
Posted

Sent my hubby to the pharmacy. I have been too chicken to go.

He came home with:

Lexapro

Valium

Fiorinal

Xanax

Valacyclovir

 

No Wellbutrin in sight.  After a mini temper tantrum about cheapskate hubby's turning off the A/C, I got some sort of info from him.

 

Even though my pdoc called in Wellbutrin for me, the pharmacist apparently is trying to get me Aplenzin. Yay!!

He knows I have about a one week worth of Aplenzin.

So I guess he didn't fill the Wellbutrin because he knows I do NOT want to switch meds?

 

But...what if he can't get the aplenzin? My head hurts. 

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CirclesOfConfusion

CirclesOfConfusion

Posted
Posted

Could the mods please change the title from buproprion to Aplenzin and save future readers grief?

Why?  What's the problem?  Most of the WB-related meds on the current online shortage lists that Water posted ARE the straight-up buproprion generics.  Aplenzin is not the only version with shortages.  That just happens to be a med that one member here is having a particularly difficult time accessing right now.  I very much appreciate that she gave all of us a heads-up about the buproprion-based products shortage even though, after checking my own script against the links she posted, I found that I had personally gotten lucky and wasn't affected by the supply problems.

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water

water

Posted
Posted

Thank you Circles. :-}

 

I googled Bupropion Shortages.  Apparently this happens all the time - most of the results were in 2011, 2012, and older.

Anyway, the only results I see now are about the XL.  Maybe this has to do with the release method, not the bupropion?

I have no idea. There is very little information on the web. I found this in another forum,

 

http://forums.psychcentral.com/psychiatric-medications/333672-wellbutrin-bupropion-xl-150-isnt-being-stocked-anymore.html

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peacelizard

peacelizard

Posted
Posted

I should probably look up which version I have, in case it's one of the ones, but I'm currently trying to get off of it and see if this possible hypersensitivity/allergic reaction passes. If, and when, I go back on, as long as they don't fill the pill bottle with tictacs, I'm probably not going to notice. Haha.

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amosleigh

amosleigh

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Update:

Called Target for an update. They are still unable to get Bupropion 150mg XL. Pharmacist said she had checked other pharmacies in the area who also reported the shortage. I asked about any other manufacturers and she said they all were unavailable.

 

She said she had 300mg XL available but in short supply, approx 500 pills for the whole pharmacy with no replenishment in sight.

 

She said they did have the SR but that that medication was getting harder for the pharmacy to get as people switch over.

 

I made the first appointment I could with my PDOC on 6/30 to discuss the matter. I have my last pill for tomorrow and then I guess I will have to see how things go without if for the two weeks.

 

Grrr, Frustrating. Crossing fingers that I will maintain my mood and energy.

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tamagotchi

tamagotchi

Posted
Posted (edited)

I take the brand name Wellbutrin.  A few months ago I was having trouble getting the 150 XL and they said there was a shortage.  I do hoard my meds (always fill as early as insurance lets me do it).  So luckily, I had several weeks' supply of 150 saved up, and I was fine.  I think it took them about a week before they could fill it, which really was not bad at all.

 

In recent months though, I have had no trouble getting the 300 XL or 150 XL (I take both).  Perhaps there isn't a shortage of brand name Wellbutrin?  Any way you could get enough of that to tide you over?

Edited by tamagotchi
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water

water

Posted
Posted

I will correct myself. I take Par Pharma. It used to be Actavis that I took. Maybe my pharmacy will fork over some of them name brand Wellbutrins. They've done it before.

 

My pdoc writes DAW on every prescription now.

DAW stands for dispense as written.

This looked just like DOA 184.gifwhen first glimpsed.

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water

water

Posted
Posted

My pharmacist told me today that the date for Aplenzin has now been pushed back to July 1st.

 

So I have no choice, he is filling the wellbutrin. 150XL and 300XL pills.  He says if the Aplenzin comes back than I should be able to order that right away even tho I got the wellbutrin.

 

I asked him again why this is happening.

"I don't know."  Then, immediately after he said:

"This is a very volatile marketplace and always has been."

 

Why is that?  Money, I guess. what else.

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amosleigh

amosleigh

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I'm happy with Target pharmacy despite their Bupropion shortage. They were kind enough to call me and let me know that CVS had some in stock and offered to transfer my prescription. That is in the works now. I've been off the med since the 17th and I haven't noticed much difference but we'll see if I notice anything returning to it.

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water

water

Posted
Posted

Hi Water,

 

My Aplenzin prescription was filled today!  I hope yours has too.  Maybe this shortage is over. Take care.

 

Lisa

What?????

 

Really?????

 

omgosh, I hope I hope I hope my pharmacy has some. 

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water

water

Posted
Posted

It's in!! Aplenzin is in!!

 

The pharmacist says he is backing out the wellbutrin since I never used it. Whatever that means. I just want my copay back. I am getting ONE bottle for three months instead of six.

 

Thank you Lisa!!

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kristivera

kristivera

Posted
Posted

i dont have any insight into this, but i just wanted to say how how much i feel for you all, and how my heart goes out to you all.

touch wood, but here in australia, and at least in my own personal circumstance, i am blessed enough that the government covers probably 90% of my meds, meaning that i pay $6 per script.

the mst i have had to pay recently is for a "new" drug (new to me, anyway) that, because im not schizophrenic and am using it for bipolar, as an "off label" use, is $129 for a 2 month supply.

i used to live in america and i just think its absolutely atrocious that so many of you have to pay such insane prices. everyone is right in saying the pharmaceutical companies are playing with peoples lives.

much love to you all.

xox

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  • 2 weeks later...
Retromancer

Retromancer

Posted
Posted (edited)

I was just told at the Rite Aid pharmacy here in Seattle that there was no ER 150 mg to refill my ongoing prescription of generic buproprion. I was told to contact my doctor for the twice a day sustained release before I ran out of my existing stock.

 

Now shit just got real...

Edited by Retromancer
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water

water

Posted
Posted

I was just told at the Rite Aid pharmacy here in Seattle that there was no ER 150 mg to refill my ongoing prescription of generic buproprion. I was told to contact my doctor for the twice a day sustained release before I ran out of my existing stock.

 

Now shit just got real...

Ask them for the brand ER 150.  See if they have that.

 

I think this shortage is over. Maybe before your stash runs out, the generic you were taking will be in. ***fingers crossed***

 

What generic are you taking?

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LadiBug

LadiBug

Posted
Posted

There has been a pharmacy level recall on Aplenzin.  The replacement is typically Wellbutrin SR.  That is what my doctor has decided to replace mine with.  The problem, I now have to take 3 pills a day rather than 1 Aplenzin.  I suck at remembering to take my medication once, let alone 3 times!!!  They are unsure when it will be available again.  I have tried to find the reason for the recall and I was informed that it is not public information.  It makes me wonder...do I even want to take this in the future?  They cant tell me what got screwed up?  Is the company even reliable?  I have tried Wellbutrin and it didnt work for me so this should be interesting.  To switch antidepressants you have had to reduce one medication while increasing a new one.    So what, we are all just screwed becasue there was a problem?  We have to just switch medications just like that...no big deal?  I would love for them to live in this body one day and tell me it is no big deal.  I dont even care for the Aplenzin.  I preferred my last medication, but it interfered with a blood pressure med I was on.  Ugh.

 

So lets depress the community of antidepressant taking people?!?!  Lol

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