Wellbutrin Lawsuit and Side
Effect Information

Wellbutrin Overview

Wellbutrin (bupropion hydrochloride) belongs to a class of drugs called dopamine transport blockers and is usually given for the treatment of depression. Bupropion was invented in 1969 by Nariman Mehta of GlaxoSmithKline. The US patent for it was granted in 1974.

It was approved by the FDA as an antidepressant in December 1975 and marketed as Wellbutrin. It was approved for use as a stop smoking drug by the FDA in 1997, and marketed as Zyban.

In 1996, the FDA approved a sustained release version of bupropion dubbed Wellbutrin SR, for twice a day use instead of 3 times.

Wellbutrin is chemically different from Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft, so it can often help people with depression whose condition hasn't responded to other drugs. While being treated for depression many people found a reduced craving for cigarettes. This is how the drug got repackaged as Zyban. A Wellbutrin lawsuit would focus on Wellbutrin side effects.

In 2003 the FDA approved another sustained-release drug called Wellbutrin XL, to be taken once a day. Wellbutrin SR and XL are available in the US in generic form.

In 2004 the FDA and the manufacturer issued a warning saying people treated with antidepressants may "experience worsening of their depression and/or the emergence of suicidal ideation and behavior." (Wellbutrin isn't the only antidepressant under scrutiny for making depression worse and causing other side effects.)

In 2006, Wellbutrin XL was given the nod by the FDA as a treatment for seasonal affective disorder.

The FDA also insisted on a black box warning for the Wellbutrin label that mentioned the increased risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in children and adolescents. These are some of the grounds for a Wellbutrin lawsuit.

The major ingredient in Wellbutrin has been off-patent for a number of years, however GlaxoSmithKline's most recent addition to its drug line-up included a Wellbutrin SR (extended release) that is not off-patent. Brand name Wellbutrin costs roughly $102.05 for a month's supply. Generic Wellbutrin on the other hand costs approximately $66.14.

By 2007 Wellbutrin/Zyban was the fourth most often prescribed antidepressant in the US with a staggering 20.184 million prescriptions being written.

Wellbutrin Side Effects & Other Concerns

Wellbutrin (bupropion) tends to lower seizure thresholds and its potential to trigger seizures was widely publicized. On the up side it didn't cause people to gain weight or lose interest in sex (like many other antidepressants). It turned out that the seizure rate was tied to the dose received. The original dose was 400-600 mg.

Due to the high number of seizures, this drug was taken off the market in 1986 until the problem was tracked down. Once the dose was correlated to seizure activity, the dose was changed to 450 mg a day and put back on the market in 1989. Seizures as side effects could figure prominently in a Wellbutrin lawsuit.

The more common side effects of Wellbutrin/Zyban may include agitation, weight loss, dry mouth, headaches, constipation, nausea/vomiting, dizziness, tremors, increased sweating, loss of appetite, insomnia, rapid heart rate, blurred vision, hostility, confusion, changes in hearing and irregular heartbeat.

Other reported Wellbutrin side effects are high blood pressure, menstrual problems, increased appetite, palpitations, indigestion, anxiety, arthritis, fluctuations in libido, erectile dysfunction, low blood pressure and fainting.

More serious side effects include seizures, suicidal thoughts/behavior, panic attacks, aggressiveness, extreme restlessness, almost manic mood swings, hallucinations and anaphylactic shock.

Rare Wellbutrin side effects include hair loss, acne, canker sores, ulcers, bronchitis, high/low blood sugar, memory loss, bronchitis, bladder infections and flushing.

Lawsuits of note against drug maker GlaxoSmithKline have been and are for:

* Paxil/paroxetine - anti-depressant, also used for children

* Avandia - diabetic drug that caused liver failure

* Class action lawsuit - Medicaid fraud in 40 states for inflating the price of cancer drugs and other drugs

* Biota Drug Company - for not achieving market share for flu vaccine Relenza

* Serevent - asthma inhaler

* Relafen - anti-inflammatory for arthritis

* Proctor & Gamble - lawsuit over Boniva (osteoporosis drug) ads

* Antitrust Class Action - lying to patent office to delay generic Wellbutrin from hitting the market

Wellbutrin Lawsuits

Prescription Access Litigation (PAL) filed a Wellbutrin lawsuit in 2002 alleging Glaxo filed frivolous patent lawsuits against generic drug manufacturers to delay them from putting generic versions of Wellbutrin SR on the market.

This delay meant people suffering from depression had to fork out more bucks for the SR version instead of being able to buy a generic product. PAL alleged this was patently unfair and fraudulent.

Lawyers across the US are asking people who feel they have been harmed by Wellbutrin to contact their offices about the possibility of filing a Wellbutrin lawsuit.




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