NDRIs
BupropionBupropion Hydrochloride
Bupropion is an antidepressant that works on dopamine and norepinephrine rather than serotonin. It is sold as Wellbutrin SR and XL for depression and seasonal affective disorder, and as Zyban for quitting smoking. The three release forms are not interchangeable.
This page is general information about a medication and how cash prices for it are set. It is not medical advice and does not replace the label, your prescriber or your pharmacist. How we handle medical information
Immediate-release, SR and XL tablets are all generic. Aplenzin is a brand product with different milligram strengths and is not interchangeable with the others.
About Bupropion
Bupropion inhibits the reuptake of norepinephrine and dopamine. It tends to be energising rather than sedating, does not usually cause the sexual side effects or weight gain associated with SSRIs, and is often added to an SSRI when that is not enough on its own. It is also an effective aid to stopping smoking, and it is one of the two ingredients in the weight-management drug Contrave.
The formulation matters. Immediate-release tablets are taken up to three times a day; sustained-release (SR) twice a day; extended-release (XL) once a day. The same daily milligram total in different forms is not the same treatment, and pharmacies cannot substitute between them. Bupropion lowers the seizure threshold in a dose-dependent way, which is why the release form, the maximum dose and the spacing of doses are set carefully and why it is avoided in people with seizure disorders or eating disorders.
Insomnia, dry mouth, headache and agitation are the common side effects. Taking the last dose earlier in the day helps with sleep. The class boxed warning about suicidal thinking in young people applies.
Why the cash price for Bupropion differs from pharmacy to pharmacy
The three release forms have very different acquisition costs. Immediate-release and SR tablets are inexpensive generics; XL tablets cost pharmacies more, and the 450 mg XL strength more again. A pharmacy’s cash price for bupropion therefore depends heavily on which form and strength is written, before any difference in mark-up.
Generic XL tablets from different manufacturers have historically shown enough variation that the FDA withdrew approval from some versions years ago. Pharmacies that stock one manufacturer’s XL product may price it above another’s, and some patients have a preference. It is reasonable to ask which manufacturer you are getting.
Ways to pay less for Bupropion without insurance
- Ask your prescriber whether the SR form taken twice daily is acceptable for you; it is usually cheaper than XL.
- If you are on XL, ask whether two tablets of a lower strength or one tablet of a higher strength is cheaper at your pharmacy; the answer varies.
- Ask for a ninety-day prescription once your dose is stable.
- Ask which manufacturer’s generic the pharmacy stocks and whether it can order an alternative.
- Upload your prescription to Script Unlock so licensed pharmacies can quote their cash price for the exact form. You pay the pharmacy directly.
How Script Unlock gets you a cash price for Bupropion
Prices on this site come from pharmacies responding to a real prescription. We do not publish estimated, average or "typical" prices, because none of those would be your price.
- 1You upload your prescription
A photo of your Bupropion prescription is enough. Nothing is sold on the site; you are asking pharmacies to quote.
- 2Licensed pharmacies respond
Pharmacies that Script Unlock has verified see the request and each can reply with its own cash price for your exact drug, strength and quantity.
- 3You choose and pay the pharmacy
You compare the responses, pick a pharmacy, and pay that pharmacy directly when you collect. Script Unlock never takes a patient payment and never sets the price.
Questions to ask your pharmacist about Bupropion
- 1.Is this the IR, SR or XL form, and does it match my prescription?
- 2.Can these tablets be split or crushed?
- 3.What time should I take my last dose to avoid insomnia?
- 4.Does bupropion interact with any of my other medicines?
- 5.What should I do if I miss a dose?
Related medications
Sources
Script Unlock is a marketplace that lets licensed pharmacies quote a cash price on your prescription. It does not prescribe, dispense or sell medication, does not process patient payments, and does not give medical advice. Always follow the instructions of your prescriber and pharmacist and read the medication guide supplied with your medicine.