Generic names for wellbutrin?

What is the generic name for Wellbutrin?

Wellbutrin is the brand name for the antidepressant bupropion. That “generic name” used on prescriptions is bupropion [1].

Are there different generic versions of Wellbutrin?

Yes. Wellbutrin comes in different formulations, and the generic medication name typically stays bupropion but the suffix can reflect how the drug is released:
- Bupropion IR (immediate-release) for formulations commonly sold as Wellbutrin
- Bupropion SR (sustained-release) for formulations commonly sold as Wellbutrin SR
- Bupropion XL (extended-release) for formulations commonly sold as Wellbutrin XL

Generic names to look for on a prescription

If you’re trying to identify Wellbutrin at the pharmacy, look for bupropion plus the release type (IR, SR, or XL) on the label [1].

Related brand/generic confusion: is “Wellbutrin” the same as “bupropion”?

In practice, yes. A prescription for the generic medication will list bupropion rather than “Wellbutrin,” with the release formulation matching the product [1].

Sources

[1] https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/patent/Wellbutrin