XL or SR

[Duckie]

Is there any different between the XL and the SR? I know that they release the substance in a different way but which one is better when it comes to results?

[neuroangel]

I've never been on SR, but XL works great for me--for the depression and migraine prevention...it's an SNRI, I believe. Doesn't do a whole lot for my concentration.

Cyndi

[pufnstuf]

i started taking wellbutrin sr 150mg twice a day, and my doctor gave me samples of the XL, he said just once a day but it was basically the same as taking the SR twice a day. I didnt notice any diffrence (except for convinience) he said I could go back to the SR if I run out of the samples w/ no problem.

[odiin]

You're right they release differently, and that is the key for finding the best results in people. There are three types of bupropion an instant release, sr and xl. This is a very good medicine and with a little tweaking and experimenting with doses and types you may find it works wonderfully. The only way to know how to go is to try it out, it's different for everyone.

How the medicine gets in you...You should wait eight days of taking a dose of the SR or XL form to reach a steady state. The metabolism of the instant release is very hard to pin down, so it is rarely used. Try the medicine for at least a month to bar side effects, but the medicine will usually work for you within two weeks.

How the medicine is metabolized and then leaves... It gets metabolized into three metabolites and they in turn get metabolized again and all of that is what acts on your brain. So bupropion itself has a half-life of 12-30 hours, and each of its metabolites have half-lives of 15-25, 23-43 and 24-50 hours. Another metabolite floats around after all that, however that last one is still an unknown factor. It will leave your body completely in four to eight days. It may "poop out" on you, meaning it may just stop working for you. The medicine is very tough on your liver.

How it works on your brain...Bupropion lets your brain soak in norepinephrine and dopamine longer. Those are two of the three neurotransmitters that, along with serotonin, will cover up to 80% of the problems with depression. Of course the trick is figuring out which of the three are screwed up, and to what extent.

Side effects and response...Bupropion is generally to be avoided by anyone with a seizure disorder. Wellbutrin SR is considered to be better tolerated by people with seizure disorders, but with the new XL formula, some side effects are decreased due to slower absorption of the medicine making it the safest.

In general the slower release forms are better for most people, so XL will be better than SR and SR is better than immediate release. But not always. While the buffering of the release does make the side effects a lot less harsh in almost all cases, for many people the immediate release forms are more effective. Or SR works better than XL.

[Gregster]

Because Wellbutrin has such a long half life - 36 hours or longer for some of the active metabolites - it won't matter too much how you take it, so whatever release works best for you. Probably the slower the better, that way there are fewer peaks in the medication level, but i, for example, you find that you sleep better taking an immeadiate release in the morning vs XL or SR then that's what you should take.

[HughEvans]

I've had both forms in the past. XL was superior in many respects to SR. Since I had to take SR twice a day I often missed doses, and the effects were much more harsh. XL gave me a pretty wicked bout of insomnia for the first couple of weeks,

[mrsvoorhees26]

i have been on XL since janurary. my psych doc wanted to try it for my AD/HD symptoms, but it didnt work so well for the concentration. however i do feel alot better since i have been taking it. i also take adderall immeadiate release, 25mg in divided doses, 15 in am and 10 in afternoon, at least for now. i am on a dosing schedule, add 5mg every five days if needed, not to exceed 40mg...anyway, way off subject....i have noticed that the wellbutrin is doing wonders for managing my anger problem, i dont flip out like i used to. well, i guess it isnt totally the medicine, but it gets me to a level of clarity so that i can deal better and be more rational. i am a whole new person now upon being diagnosed AD/HD in december. oh yeah forgot to mention that i take clonazepam 2-3 times a day to control my anxiety. what is really weird is that they do not recomend wellbutrin or adderall for those who have anxiety issues, and i dont take the clonazepam until bed time most days. i have noticed that my anxiety has gone way down, like i hardly have panic attacks anymore, since i started the wellbutrin, and even more so since beginning the adderall. anyone else had that effect. sorry that i could not contribute to much to the difference between XL and SR...but i like the XL. might switch to SR since it is cheeper and i already have to take two doses of the adderall a day....any advice on possibly making the switch would also be appreciated!
-heather
p.s. sorry for being so long winded, the adderall has worn off for the day, so im back to the "old" me