Generic Wellbutrin Comes Under FDA Microscope

The FDA is considering a postmarketing study of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries’ generic version of the antidepressant Wellbutrin XL in patients who have reported problems with it, agency spokeswoman Crystal Rice said. In April, consumer advocates said they were skeptical of the FDA’s clearance of the drug, noting that the agency had received 85 postmarketing reports of patients experiencing side effects, such as loss of antidepressant effect, after switching from GlaxoSmithKline’s (GSK) brand version of the drug to the generic version between Jan. 1 and June 30, 2007.