I received bupropion ER 150 mg in place of the bupropion SR 150 mg I usually receive. We just switched to a mail order pharmacy and I want to verify that the medication I was given is the correct one.
Is bupropion ER the same as bupropion SR 150?
Question posted by depressedfaerie on 1 Feb 2017
Last updated on 29 November 2018
3 Answers
GRAMYBEAR
2 Feb 2017
The difference between the two are that the ER is Extended release and the SR is Sustained release. I hope this helps! Hugs
Inactive
2 Feb 2017
I agree with Gramybear: ER and XL are "extended release", over a 24 hour period. SR is "sustained release", over a 12 hour period.
chuck1957
2 Feb 2017
Just for the record folks not that it makes any difference ALL of the timed release Bupropion is now marked extended release on all bottles then next to that it says SR OR XL THE SR IS EVERY 12 HOURS AND THE XL IS EVERY 24 HOURS.this was a crazy label change a while back but nothing has changed in the medication. my last bottle of the 12 hours said Bupropion 150mg SR
extended Release tablet.
chuck1957
2 Feb 2017
Just for the record folks not that it makes any difference ALL of the timed release Bupropion is now marked extended release on all bottles then next to that it says SR OR XL THE SR IS EVERY 12 HOURS AND THE XL IS EVERY 24 HOURS.this was a crazy label change a while back but nothing has changed in the medication. my last bottle of the 12 hours said Bupropion 150mg SR
extended Release tablet.
Inactive
2 Feb 2017
Time release technology (also known as sustained-release [SR], extended-release [ER, XR, XL], controlled-release [CR], and other synonyms) is a mechanism used in pill tablets or capsules to dissolve a drug over time in order to be released slower and steadier into the bloodstream while having the advantage of being taken at less frequent intervals than immediate-release (IR) formulations of the same drug. For example, extended-release morphine allows for people with chronic pain to only need one or two tablets per day.
~~~ XL and ER = Extended Release - 24 hour release. ~~~ SR = "SUSTAINED RELEASE" 12 hour release.~~~ This information is from Wikipedia. G
Inactive
2 Feb 2017
ER and XL = Extended Release, 24 hour release.
SR = SUSTAINED RELEASE, 12 hour release.
Inactive
2 Feb 2017
~~~~~@Chuck's comment: "this was a crazy label change a while back but nothing has changed in the medication. my last bottle of the 12 hours said Bupropion 150mg SR
extended Release tablet"~~~~~~
My pharmacist showed me the bottle that she got my bupropion SR from on my prescription. It said 150mg. SR by Mylan Pharmaceuticals. My pharmacist says this is SR which stands for SUSTAINED RELEASE, as stated in all the literature about bupropion SR. It is NOT the equivalent of XL, which stands for Extended Release. So, yes, Chuck, Bupropion SR = 12hr time-release. But, no Chuck, the "extended release" tablet is different. Extended release means Extended Release (24 hr.), while SR means Sustained Release (12 hr.) Sorry Chuck. Google it. XL=24hr. SR=12hr.
chuck1957
3 Feb 2017
ok I give up this change is for Wellbutrin, or Bupropion only nothing else all with letters are all extended release There is not a Wel, or bupropion that says ER AFTER IT ONLY. but I can't seem to word it right.damn chemobrain I'm done.
chuck1957
MeggieGirl
3 Feb 2017
Can we all just say they're both "timed release" and get along?
/ducks
Love you guys!
Inactive
3 Feb 2017
Chuck, this is a confusing topic for many people. I had a friend ask me this very question just yesterday, so I had googled the information to give her an accurate answer. I apologize for upsetting you. Hope you feel better. G
Inactive
3 Feb 2017
Sorry, people: I tried to make a comment, kept getting "flagged", tried again and again, and later those comments were posted, so I apologize for being redundant in my comments! :-X
GRAMYBEAR
3 Feb 2017
Thank you Chuck. They sure like to make our lives more difficult than necessary!! Hugs
GRAMYBEAR
3 Feb 2017
You gave me a chuckle about all getting along??? Great idea!!! LOL
Hugs
Buggs333
12 Sep 2018
Same here
Buggs333
12 Sep 2018
ER is on the SR bottles.
Dawnharris
29 Nov 2018
My bottle says ER SR so it has to mean that they're both 12 hour release. It can't be both! My problem is I was prescribed SR ER which were white now I get what just says ER & is purple. So I'm not sure if it's the same as i was taking or not!
chuck1957
1 Feb 2017
depressed; I am sorry we are getting this more confused for you. I well tell you again, Then just for your own CALL YOUR PHARMACIST AND DOUBLE CHECK THIS. This is a very common confusion even in the pharmacy and the doctor. FIRST BUPROPION ER (EXTENDED RELEASE ) 150MG IS THE SAME AS THE Bupropion ER ( EXTENDED RELEASE) OR SR ARE THE SAME SEE er is on all the timed release and these two about are taken twice daily like every 12 hours, Then here is where the confusion comes in WE HAVE Bupropion ER (extended release) XL AND THAT IS THE 24 HOUR ONE. AS YOU CAN SEE THEY ALL SAYs ER FOR extended release which they are all extended-release tablets the ER AND SR ARE THE SAME AND THE Xl extended release is for a 24-hour dose. now please call the PHARMACIST phone on your bottle and verify what I have put down. Good luck this is one of the worst medication for the Extended Release confusion.
chuck1957
2 Feb 2017
Budeprion XL Dosage Guide - Drugs.com
https://www.drugs.com/dosage/budeprion-xl.html
Browse all medications: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z ... Dosing with bupropion hydrochloride extended-release tablets (XL) should begin at ... If the 300-mg dose is not adequately tolerated, the dose can be reduced to 150 mg/ day. ... (XL) or from WELLBUTRIN SR® [bupropion hydrochloride extended- release ...
Last time copy and paste from Drug.com
Buggs333
12 Sep 2018
You are so right, that is what it says in the paper work that I get with my meds.
ahyperdoc
1 Feb 2017
No. Though not too dissimilar. The difference is in the number of doses taken per day. Bupropion ER where the ER stands for Extended Release and is taken only once per day usually in the morning has a tablet that releases the medicine very slowly over an extended period of time (approx. 24 hours) hence the ER. Bupropion SR is Sustained Release and is most often taken two times per day. It's tablets release a steady concentration of medicine throughout the day but not for 24 hours. IE. It's a sustained concentration but not extended to 24 hours like the ER formula. The take home is that one (bupropion ER) need only be taken once a day whereas the other (bupropion SR) is most often taken twice a day.
Related topics
depression, anxiety, bupropion, major depressive disorder, medication
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- Bupropion uses and safety info
- Bupropion prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Bupropion (detailed)
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