Wellbutrin 300 XL cut in half? Doc says DO IT?

[krispy]

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? 

[sohelpless]

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.

[insights]

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.

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