Your Patient Can't Find Their Bupropion — What Can You Do?

You prescribed Bupropion. Your patient needs it. But their pharmacy is out of stock — again. As a provider, you're often the first call patients make when they can't fill a prescription, and during a shortage, those calls add up fast.

Bupropion — available as Wellbutrin, Wellbutrin SR, Wellbutrin XL, Zyban, Aplenzin, and Forfivo XL — has experienced supply disruptions since 2023, particularly for extended-release (XL) formulations. While the supply picture has improved in 2026, localized shortages persist, and patients continue to struggle.

This guide provides practical, actionable steps you can take to help your patients find Bupropion in stock and maintain continuity of care.

Current Availability: What You Need to Know

As of early 2026:

• Bupropion XL 300 mg remains the most commonly affected formulation. Multiple generic manufacturers (Teva, Par, Lupin, Cipla, Amneal, Slate Run) are producing it, but pharmacy-level stock varies significantly.
• Bupropion SR has generally been more available and represents a viable alternative for most patients.
• Bupropion IR is available but requires multiple daily doses, which may affect adherence.
• Aplenzin (bupropion hydrobromide) may have different supply chains and availability patterns.

For a detailed shortage timeline and current status: Bupropion Shortage: What Providers and Prescribers Need to Know in 2026.

Why Patients Can't Find Bupropion

Understanding the root causes helps you advise patients more effectively:

1. Wholesaler allocation limits: During shortages, drug wholesalers cap how much each pharmacy can order. A pharmacy that normally stocks 500 units may only receive 200.
2. Chain pharmacy centralized ordering: Large chains (CVS, Walgreens) order through corporate systems that may not prioritize individual locations experiencing higher demand.
3. Patient clustering: Patients tend to use the same few pharmacies in their area. If many patients on Bupropion use the same CVS, that location runs out faster.
4. Formulation-specific shortages: A pharmacy may have Bupropion SR in stock but be completely out of XL — and patients often don't know they can switch.

What Providers Can Do: 5 Steps

Step 1: Direct Patients to Medfinder

The single most impactful thing you can do is tell your patients about Medfinder. Medfinder allows patients to search for Bupropion availability at pharmacies near them in real time. Instead of calling 10 pharmacies, they can check stock online in seconds.

Consider adding Medfinder to:

• Your patient handout materials
• Your EHR discharge instructions template
• Your office website's patient resources page

Step 2: Prescribe With Formulation Flexibility

When writing a Bupropion prescription, consider noting acceptable alternatives. For example:

• "Bupropion XL 300 mg once daily. If unavailable, may substitute Bupropion SR 150 mg twice daily."
• Include a note in the patient's chart authorizing formulation switches to reduce callback volume.

Dose equivalency reference:

• Bupropion XL 150 mg once daily = Bupropion SR 150 mg once daily
• Bupropion XL 300 mg once daily = Bupropion SR 150 mg twice daily
• Aplenzin 174 mg = Bupropion HCl 150 mg
• Aplenzin 348 mg = Bupropion HCl 300 mg

Step 3: Recommend Independent and Mail-Order Pharmacies

Patients default to large chain pharmacies, which are often the first to run out during shortages. Proactively suggest:

• Independent pharmacies — multi-wholesaler sourcing provides more flexibility
• Mail-order pharmacies — Amazon Pharmacy, Cost Plus Drugs (costplusdrugs.com), Express Scripts, and OptumRx often maintain larger inventories
• Grocery store pharmacies — Costco, Kroger, H-E-B pharmacies may have different supply pipelines

Step 4: Educate Patients on Proactive Refilling

Many patients wait until they've taken their last pill before attempting to refill. Coach them to:

• Refill 7-10 days before running out (most insurance allows this)
• Set a phone reminder for refill day
• Have a backup pharmacy identified in advance
• Call ahead to confirm stock before driving to the pharmacy

Step 5: Have Alternative Treatment Plans Ready

For patients who cannot access any Bupropion formulation despite best efforts, have a transition plan ready. Key alternatives:

• Vortioxetine (Trintellix) — lower sexual side effect profile, cognitive benefits
• Mirtazapine (Remeron) — good for insomnia/appetite issues, but may cause weight gain
• Vilazodone (Viibryd) — SSRI with lower sexual side effect burden
• Auvelity (Dextromethorphan/Bupropion) — contains Bupropion; rapid-acting; brand-name only

Full guide on alternatives: Alternatives to Bupropion If You Can't Fill Your Prescription.

Alternatives at a Glance

Here's a quick-reference comparison to help guide clinical conversations:

• Vortioxetine (Trintellix): Atypical multimodal. Low sexual SE. May help cognition. Cost: $400-$500/month brand (coupons available). Generic: not yet available.
• Mirtazapine (Remeron): NaSSA. Sedating, appetite-stimulating. Low sexual SE. Generic: $4-$15/month.
• Vilazodone (Viibryd): SSRI + 5-HT1A. Lower sexual SE vs traditional SSRIs. Generic available: $30-$80/month.
• Auvelity: DM/Bupropion combo. Rapid onset. Brand only: $1,000+/month. Savings program available.

Workflow Tips for Your Practice

Reduce Phone Tag

Shortage-related calls consume staff time. Consider:

• Adding a Bupropion availability note to your patient portal or phone system: "If your pharmacy is out of Bupropion, visit medfinder.com to check stock near you."
• Creating a standardized triage protocol for shortage calls
• Designating one staff member to handle shortage-related prescription changes

Document Formulation Flexibility

In your EHR, document the patient's acceptable formulations (XL, SR, IR, Aplenzin) so that when callbacks come in, your team can authorize switches without requiring a provider visit.

Monitor Shortage Updates

Bookmark these resources:

• ASHP Drug Shortages Resource Center (ashp.org/drug-shortages)
• FDA Drug Shortages Database
• Medfinder for Providers

Final Thoughts

Drug shortages are a systemic problem that no individual provider can solve. But by taking proactive steps — directing patients to tools like Medfinder, prescribing flexibly, recommending alternative pharmacies, and having backup treatment plans ready — you can dramatically reduce the impact on your patients and your practice.

Bupropion remains an essential medication for millions of Americans. With the right strategies, most patients can maintain access even during periods of tight supply.

For the patient-focused version of this guide: How to Find Bupropion in Stock Near You (Tools + Tips).

For cost-saving resources to share with patients: How to Help Patients Save Money on Bupropion: A Provider's Guide.