2172 Hydrocodone Acetaminophen-actavis/walgreens Complaint

I too had my RX medication refilled (again) at Walgreens, but this time (When I did not take my RX Tylenol with it, like I always do) I noticed, that I have been given a different Brand of medication (A Generic Brand/MFG by-ACTAVIS). My "Norco-Hydrocodone/Acetaminophen 5-325/TB" did not work as prescribed or even when I took 3 pills at one time (because 1 nor 2 pills didn't work/relieve my pain). I believe I have been given FAKE NORCO/Hydrocodone pills (white/#2172 on them) from Walgreens Pharmacy. Today I contacted the DEA & FDA via email and requested that they investigate my complaint as soon as possible.

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REPORT

Hi Lisa,

Sorry to hear about your experience with these new 2172 hydrocodone/acetaminophen tabs. There are actually several discussion threads here on MedsChat complaining about their lack of efficacy; something that in my view has become increasingly prevalent for Actavis products over the past few years. Personally, I'd go so far as to avoid any of their pain medications, but I do realize that everyone is subject to react differently to different meds. Perhaps they used less active ingredients? They may also have changed out various inactive ingredients for cheaper fillers that don't metabolize properly. We may never know for certain, though a lab analysis would probably help. I'd say to keep the reviews coming and also don't forget to file a report with the FDA's MedWatch program to cover all bases. I'm not sure if there is a quality hydrocodone product left on the market at this point...

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I will follow suite! Hard to believe but if enough of us do?

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MT husband is given 150 biceps to last a month but he got sick and missed his appointment he has a U.a with his Dr. But has not had any in 11 days will the ones he has taken 11days ago be expected to be in his urine or no he has pain management he been out ten days

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I feel the same about Actavis 5/325 that I got from Walgreens. Do you know the website to complain to the FDA?

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I too was given the same pill...and I go to Walgreens to fill my meds... and it's like talking baby aspirin... When you have pain so bad that you hurt to sweep your floor... It gets really sad to a woman knowing she can't keep her house the way she wants to... when they start you on 10mg. Then drop you to 7.5, then drop you to a 5mg... and that would be ok...if it WORKED ...but sadly it doesn't...I think because some people abuse their medicine... We all are going to have to suffer.

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I am on my way to Fred Meyer, they have a different manufacturer of this generic Vicodin, than Walgreens, will let you know if it works. Rite Aids brand didn't work.

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I went to a different pharmacy this time,,only because closer to my house and I got the name brand of Norco,,,and I can't tell any difference,, I am going to ask my Dr for something else, because these don't stop the pain ,,,and I don't want to take any more than I have to.. it's so bad to be in pain and can't get relief...

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Yes, I also reported to FDA. I hope this helps. It's hard enough for us with chronic pain. All generics are not created equal. I check the manufacturer before walking away from counter. I had this problem with imitrex by Dr feel good years ago. The Vicodin from Fred Meyer is working for me. I even had my Dr write a script for non generic, but, paying $85 for 30, was crazy.

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Re: Mallory (# 4)

Me too. I've been going through withdrawals. Norco 10 is a placebo and won't stop my pain. For been two months I've been hurting bad. I never take more than I'm supposed to. I prayed for the Lord to take me. I'm in too much pain and they are trying to kill me cause doctors prescribed to people who don't need them. I'm ready to sue them. They are not human.

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Re: Soup (# 8)

Soup, Who manufactures the ones you got from Fred Meyers ?

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Me too. I've taken 10/325 Norcos for the past two months. I went into withdrawals. I told the pharmacy and they replied, "we buy from different manufacturers". I can't prove it. I've been on them for 7 years. It helped my pain but I knew if my Norco was different. Withdrawal from them almost killed me.

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Re: mouse (# 10)

It is Mallinckrodt. Don't forget Vicodin contains acetaminophen, it will kill your liver. Double and triple doses are dangerous.

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The last two norco 10/325 I got from Walgreen's did not work. That was in August-September 2017 but that's when the media called chronic pain patients dope heads... Sad. We had to suffer for others. One bad apple spoils it for others which is not fair. I got on norcos just to deal with it my way.

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Re: Susie (# 13)

I really think that other manufacturers work better, try Mallinckrodt. I fell for the "guilt of taking narcotics" my migraines are the same, I can go for 6 months without any pain pills, it is the same. Do not leave the drugstore counter without looking to see who is the manufacturer of your medicine, as they change without telling you. Contact FDA, if we all get active we can get help.

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Same here my Norco were phony I. Was on Norco 10 went into withdrawals all the hype on the media guess Walgreens afraid getting sued I don't know I'm off Norco now take etod olac for arthritis it helps about 2 hours only take 2 a day cause health issues ulcers I wish I could take something else for pain not Norco to addictive guess all narcotics are I've heard percosets aren't to bad oh yeah take cdb oil 100 mil can't afford the 500mil to expensive I wish the doctors could prescribe it seems to help a little I'm sure the 500mil or higher would really help non addictive

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Re: Susie (# 13)

I understand your issue. There is a bad illicit drug problem and those who have to take PRESCRIBED pain medication are raked over the coals as being drug addicts even though their prescriptions are legal and they are taking the meds AS PRESCRIBED. ALL pain medications are being grouped into the "evil opioid" classification and that is so wrong.

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I also had this issue!! My Houston Walgreens location had Watson's up until this last refill, i don't know if they were actavis or not but i can tell you, they didn't do anything for my pain! (Ive spent 217 days in the hospital over the last year so I'm on a pain management regimen of Fentanyl patches and, for any breakthrough pain, norco). Itd be really helpful if the medication I'm given actually worked!!

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Re: Susie (# 11)

I'm so sorry that happened to you; it's as if these pharmacists/manufacturers won't ever be able to understand what we experience on a daily basis painwise, not to mention any additional discomfort withdraw causes [alot of manufacturers are diluting the ingredients in opiods, in an effort to stop all the OD's the "opiod epidemic has caused"]. Until they, or someone they love, lives with chronic pain then they have no right to look at us crazy whenever we wonder why the pills "arent the same thing as before."

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Is it only Walgreens that is filling prescriptions with the 2172 pill? Just need to know because I'll change pharmacies. These are terrible and make me sick unlike other generics.

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Re: Kelly (# 19)

Unfortunately, Walgreens has changed to the Actavis brand as Actavis bought out the Watson brand. The Watson name is now owned by Actavis and is only used on certain medications. The Actavis brand no longer manufacturers the Watson hydrocodone using the Watson name brand. I had to change pharmacies because I was told by the pharmacist at the.local Walgreens that they would only carry the Actavis brand going forward. You are correct in saying that the Actavis brand hydrocodone is awful. It is a as close to a placebo as I have ever taken. I got through the pills even though they were truly ineffective. I moved my prescription to a different pharmacy that carries the Mallincrodt brand and it is okay. I am in the process of getting the name brand approved by my insurance because two pharmacists said the name brand Vicodin is always consistent in quality. I have seen some diss the Mallincrodt brand but I have found it to be at least serviceable. Light years ahead of the Actavis brand.

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Re: cliff j (# 73)

Yes they do. So I transferred all my meds to Costco and I am happy about it. No criminal look and I get OEM stuff. Walgreens can drop.

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Re: Cliff J (# 79)

AMAZON {aff link} has the OXIBOOST... $25.95 + FREE 2 day shipping. When you order be sure to check your order confirmation as soon as you receive it via email as they process orders within minutes. I had to have them redo my order cause 1st time around they “forgot” to apply the FREE shipping ;)

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Re: Mejane (# 78)

I just looked it up and it seems promising. If I can find it I will try it. Thanks for the info.

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Re: cliff j (# 76)

No, for sure you didn’t miss a beat. You are so informed & really a big help to all of us!

I should’ve elaborated; I put that out there to say it seems pets get more care & access to meds than we do!

In researching oxytocin today I think I found a supplement that may help us to take along with our med called OXIBOOST. I ordered it & will keep you & all informed of results. It’s worth a try anyway.

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Re: cliff j (# 73)

I am glad they closed the 24 pharmacy it hurts their business.

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Re: Mejane (# 75)
This talks about pets. The research I did on oxytocin’s does not address this issue at all. Did I overlook something?

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Re: cliff j (# 73)

Here we go, WalMart! Check out this link...

https:/­/­www.walmartpetrx.com/­p-697-oxytocin-100-ml.aspx

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Re: cliff j (# 72)

Exactly! And we are those chronically ill patients Cliff. For years we exhausted every surgery, procedures, remedies; suffered with painful test after test, resulting in failed, live with it diagnose’s. Pain Management our only alternative & percocet got me out of a wheelchair at 26 yrs old; I’m pushing 60 now & have been able to live a tolerable functioning life...then BOOM like overnight our lives were changed at no fault of our own. What if a diabetic had their insulin taken away &/or medically altered—-same thing for us when u compare apples to apples.
I could vent on & on, but now what’s vital is we find some way to balance this; there has to be an oxytocin replacement out there somewhere?!?

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Re: John H (# 64)
Not only will they not listen they flat out do not care. They have been empowered by their upper management to be rude and abusive to the chronically, legally prescribed pain patients. Everyone that has a legal, and medically supported prescription is treated as if they were scamming the pharmacist. Even if you have been known to a pharmacy for many years they still treat you as if you are a drug addicted criminal.

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Re: Mejane (# 71)
As much as I would love to take credit for the oxytocin information it was pointed out to me by another poster and I researched it and found that it was so. The manufacturers do not want anyone to get an emotional uplift ( or high) when you take their pill so they engineered it out of their formulation for the most part. What they did not care about was when they engineered the oxytocin’s out they also removed a good portion of the pain relief. Since they were accused of making their pain pills so that people got a high from it for so long (that is what made them addictive)and because the political climate was right ( BOTH parties went along with it) they just re-engineered their pills thinking they would remove the addictive part of their pain pills and people would get the word and stop taking them recreationally. This is why everyone says their medications are just junk. If they controlled the pain they may be okay but they took out the oxytocin’s and removed the pain removal qualities along with the high normally associated with the pain pills. So what if the chronically ill pain patients felt better when they took their legally prescribed pain pills and did not abuse them? Too bad that the criminals that stole and/or took unprescribed pills ruined it for those that have a real medical need for it.

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