Chat Now!   Member Gallery   AZ Connections   Games   Social Groups   AZ Member Blogs   Health News  Try Something New!

Author Topic: Wellbutrin 300 XL cut in half? Doc says DO IT?  (Read 265 times)

0 Members and 2 Guests are viewing this topic.

Offline krispy

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 10
  • Country: us
  • Rec's: 1
  • Gender: Female
    • Poke This Member
Wellbutrin 300 XL cut in half? Doc says DO IT?
« on: January 06, 2013, 01:19:31 PM »
I recently talked to my pdoc about discontinuing Wellbutrin due to increased anxiety and some heart palp-y things and he agreed it was a good idea. He said that I could just cut my dose of 300 XL in half and it would be no big deal. EVERYWHERE else I've read that cutting xl tabs in half is a bad idea, that it will turn the drug into an immediate release form and be like a big slab of meds smacking you in the face. I questioned my doctor and he kind of muttered something about "matrices," said it was fine, and showed me the door.

I'm really worried about having a huge panic attack from a flood of bupropion if I cut my pills -- that was my immediate reaction to the first time I took Wellby SR a few years ago. XL did not have that effect.

Should I follow doctor's orders? Has anyone gone cold turkey on Wellbutrin 300 XL (I've been on it for about 2 years)? should I just keep taking the 300 XL until I can get in to see my pdoc again? 
Bookmark and Share
you must go on. i can't go on. i'll go on.

Offline sohelpless

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 198
  • Rec's: 4
  • Personal text
    • Poke This Member
Re: Wellbutrin 300 XL cut in half? Doc says DO IT?
« Reply #1 on: January 06, 2013, 02:26:29 PM »
I cut Wellbutrin in the past and was told by the pharmacist or doctor (can't remember which) that it was ok.  Never noticed any problems.
Bookmark and Share

Offline insights

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1566
  • Country: 00
  • Rec's: 33
  • Gender: Male
  • Mood: Curious
    Curious
    • Poke This Member
Re: Wellbutrin 300 XL cut in half? Doc says DO IT?
« Reply #2 on: January 06, 2013, 05:57:31 PM »
I questioned my doctor and he kind of muttered something about "matrices," said it was fine, and showed me the door.

No, it may not be fine. The branded Wellbutrin XL does not use matrix technology. According to GSK, Wellbutrin XL, is an ordinary immediate tablet surrounded by a membrane that allows moisture in at a controlled rate to slowly dissolve the active chemical which then exits through the membrane. It becomes an immediate release tablet if the membrane is cut.

At least one of the generics, Budeprion XL, did encapsulate the active chemical in matrices of varying solubility within its tablets and at least in theory these could be cut without destroying the extended release properties, except for the small number of matrices along the cut line. However, there were other problems with the mechanism and the FDA revoked authorization for the product. There may be other slow release bupropion generics using similar matrix technology which might be okayish to cut, but I'd be wary as the different matrices may not be evenly distributed throughout the tablet.

Quote
Has anyone gone cold turkey on Wellbutrin 300 XL (I've been on it for about 2 years)? should I just keep taking the 300 XL until I can get in to see my pdoc again?

DO NOT go cold turkey. There is a very real danger of this triggering seizures if you do. I'd definitely wait until you've spoken to your pdoc.

Ian
Bookmark and Share
NOTE: I'm not a doctor, and particularly not yours, so there may be factors I'm unaware of. Therefore all advice is of a general nature and you should consult your doctor before following any of it, especially before changing med doses.

Tags: wellbutrin 
 

Related Topics

  Subject / Started by Replies Last post
1 Replies
556 Views
Last post August 24, 2009, 06:58:36 AM
by darkeye
3 Replies
497 Views
Last post September 25, 2009, 06:19:59 PM
by laura124
7 Replies
285 Views
Last post May 31, 2011, 11:27:27 PM
by Sarii83
3 Replies
309 Views
Last post November 19, 2011, 12:57:30 PM
by JFrancois
1 Replies
436 Views
Last post August 13, 2012, 07:37:12 AM
by insights
1 Replies
72 Views
Last post January 09, 2013, 10:49:22 AM
by gcalex