What is Another Name for Wellbutrin?
Wellbutrin is the brand name for bupropion, which is available in multiple formulations including immediate-release (IR), sustained-release (SR), and extended-release (XL/XR) versions. 1, 2, 3, 4
Brand Name Formulations
- Wellbutrin refers to the immediate-release (IR) formulation of bupropion hydrochloride, administered three times daily 2, 3, 4
- Wellbutrin SR is the sustained-release formulation of bupropion hydrochloride, administered twice daily 2, 3, 4
- Wellbutrin XL (or Wellbutrin XR in some regions) is the extended-release formulation of bupropion hydrochloride, administered once daily 2, 3, 4
Other Brand Names Containing Bupropion
- ZYBAN is a brand name for bupropion approved specifically for smoking cessation treatment 1, 2
- APLENZIN is a bupropion hydrobromide formulation (chemically distinct from the hydrochloride salt but same active ingredient) 2
- Contrave is a combination product containing naltrexone and bupropion, FDA-approved for chronic weight management 1
Generic Availability
- Multiple generic versions of bupropion are available for immediate-release, sustained-release, and extended-release formulations 2
- Important caveat: Some generic versions of bupropion SR were historically found not to be bioequivalent to brand-name Wellbutrin SR, leading to reports of loss of antidepressant effect when patients switched formulations 1, 5
Clinical Implications
- The FDA requires patients to be educated that all these products contain the same active ingredient (bupropion) and should not be used in combination with each other 2
- All three formulations (IR, SR, XL) are bioequivalent in terms of systemic exposure to bupropion, though they differ in dosing frequency 3, 4
- When switching between brand and generic formulations or between different release formulations (SR vs. XL), close monitoring is recommended due to historical bioequivalence issues 5