2172 Hydrocodone Acetaminophen-actavis/walgreens Complaint (Page 2)

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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Re: Susie (# 15)

Absolutely mine too. The pharmacy freaked out when the media turned chronic pain patients into dope heads. Pharmacies don't care about us. They just cut us off to avoid litigation and some docs prescribe to people who don't need them. That's where the epidemic came from, not us.

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Is anything going to be done to pharmacies that sold us bad quality Norco? Just saying. I went through hell cause of it.

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Re: Susie (# 22)

As far as I can tell the manufacturers and pharmacies that peddle these awful formulations are going to be protected by the politicians who are grouping all opioid pain medication users into the drug addict/fiend group. It does not matter that you have taken your PRESCRIBED medications for YEARS as prescribed. Do NOT try to cast the blame on one group or another. They are all EQUALLY responsible for the mess the legal and responsible users of pain meds are in. Too many companies are getting sued frivolously. NOT because a group thinks they can win at trial but to cause the manufacturers of opioids that are used legally to withdraw and just agree not to make them anymore. The manufacturers just are not willing to spend millions to defend themselves. If they win the losing side generally is responsible for the expenses of the winning side but if it is a group suing that has no assets then the losers spend millions defending themselves with nothing but an uncollectable judgment to show for it.

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Re: w john (# 23)

So I guess chronic pain patients will be left alone to suffer as a result of the epidemic. This is wrong. Weed out the ones who don't need the meds and doctors that prescribe to them, instead of hurting us.

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Re: Susie (# 24)

I so agree. I have written to every elected official that has ever broached this subject and have never received any reply. To have EVERY chronic pain patient lumped in with street users and addicts is so hurtful. When the political climate (and this is everyone in both parties) is so bad that you cannot even find a way to approach your Doctor and discuss your situation then the issue has morphed way past misuse into an area of abuse by the authorities that is just flat out wrong and unreasonable. Talk about throwing out the baby with the bath water. I have seen the pharmacists' looks when a prescription for ANY opioid-based medication is given to them. They look at you like you are a common street addict and their treatment of you is awful to say the least. Even when you have had a history with them for years and they have filled the prescription on many occasions. Walgreen's is doing everything possible to drive away their pain patients by selling the worst pain medications available. If you don't like what they sell you then that is just too bad.

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Re: David (# 1)

Watson brand is still pretty good at relieving the pain

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Mine was phony went into withdrawals awful sorry Walgreens they don't care

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Re: Susie (# 27)

Legitimate, legal patients of properly prescribed pain meds could go the way of the dodo bird. Why? Not because there are no people that need them but because the attack on these legitimate pain med users will be so unending, relentless, and unreasonable that the manufacturers of these pills will just throw their collective hands up in despair and say "I am not manufacturing these anymore. It's just not worth the aggravation, grief, and all of the unending litigation". What will be done then? People will seek out their pain meds online, from another Country, or in the street. This is going to turn law-abiding citizens into criminals. Do not think that people care. SOME may but they are in such a small minority that it just won't make much difference. Also, if no mainstream manufacturer of pain meds manufacture any of them it will create a huge black market where there is almost none now. This problem is much more grave than anyone understands. MAYBE people will get a warning and an opportunity to wean themselves off of their meds. They just may not. One day you have your prescriptions and you go in for a refill and are told "sorry" the government has succumbed to the "opioid crisis" activists and I can no longer write any opioid-based pain medication of any kind. Don't think that people care whether you live or die. The majority don't. I don't like posting such a morose post but reality needs to be taken seriously. Thinking don't worry everything will be okay may set one up for a huge unexpected fall. Prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

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Re: w john (# 25)

Who are you sir response opioid epidemic at walgreens

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Re: Susie (# 29)

I do not understand your question. IF it is who am I to respond to the opioid epidemic at Walgreen's. This is very simple. I had a relationship with Walgeen's for over two decades. I filled all of my prescriptions there. In January 2018 they filled one of my prescriptions with a generic manufactured by Actavis. This was the most awful generic I have ever received from any Pharmacy. I can comment on Walgreen's because I have dealt with them for over 20 years. I see what they have done because of the "opioid crisis". I told Walgreen's at the local and corporate level that I would move all of my prescriptions to another pharmacy if this was the best they could do. They basically said TOUGH. I moved every prescription out of Walgreen's to another pharmacy. "IF" your question had to do with how I could comment on Walgreen's it is because of my long experience with them as a customer.

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Re: Kelly (# 19)

Not just Walgreens. Yesterday I went to 7 different pharmacies. 3 Walgreens, Walmart, CVS, Kroger's and Publix, every single one of them were only carrying the "Actavis" brand. I asked all of the different pharmacists why this was happening and they all said the same thing "because the "Actavis" brand was cheapest and because of "the war on opiates" the government has restricted the amount each company can produce and the company that makes the "Watson" has probably met it's limit."

I can not take the "Actavis" brand at all. Something in it makes me physically ill. It causes me to have nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever and I hurt so bad I can't get out of the bed. I actually hurt more then I do without taking any pain medication at all. I don't know what to do other than make a new appointment with my pain management doctor and see if they can find something else to relieve my pain from 2 herniated disc in 1 my neck and 1 in my back. I take my medication exactly as prescribed and now I'm paying the price for some junkie!

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I changed my pharmacy I advise you do the same they on cymbalta 3 different manufacturing companies norcos I got was bad

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Re: RobinE (# 31)

Please note that "Watson" brand bought out the "Actavis" brand a couple of years ago. It says on the internet (if you Google "Watson") that Watson has discontinued the Watson brand on all but a small handful of generics and, then, those are only distributed in certain areas. If I read the post correctly "Watson" is no longer manufacturing generic hydrocodone. There could be some of the "Watson" brand hydrocodone left in some stores in some locations but when they are gone there will be no replacements. Remember, stores like Walgreens has over 1100 outlets in the United States and there could be some Watson generic hydrocodone somewhere. IF a pharmacist cared enough they may be able to locate and transfer in some of the Watson brand generic hydrocodone but most of them would rather tell you to take a hike then put in the work to find what you want (if it is available). If you think my information is incorrect then I would love to know where I can find the correct information.

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Re: w john (# 33)

Nope your completely right. ?? I spoke with a pharmacist today that said she wished it wasn't that way but there is nothing anyone could do. They did tell me that many people are complaining about the pills marked IP110 not working for them at all. So options are limited. I hope my pain management will find something else to ease my pain.

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Re: RobinE (# 34)

After having my prescription refilled for YEARS at Walgreen's I just picked up the script without looking at it. When I got home and looked at the pills I found out that they were "Actavis" and not Watson. I took them and they were absolutely awful. In fact they were so bad that I really thought they gave me sugar pills or some other placebo. I moved my prescriptions from Walgreen's to another pharmacy because the pharmacist told me that they did not carry ANY "Actavis" meds. I now have a better manufacturer and we will see how long this lasts. I want to titrate down completely off this medication completely because of the political climate surrounding pain meds I feel that things will only get worse--not better.

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I am posting to my own original post to correct a statement I made in the previous post. The Actavis brand was actually bought out by Watson---not the other way around. According to information I found on Google Watson actually bought out Actavis in 2014. Watson quit producing generic hydrocodone (which was a decent generic formulation) and went to the pills marketed under the Actavis brand name. I was dispensed the Watson brand generic hydrocodone for many years and never complained about it. In January of 2018 I went to Walgreen's to fill my prescription and when I got home I realized that they had dispensed the Actavis brand. I tried them and immediately noticed the difference. The Actavis brand generic hydrocodone was AWFUL. I changed pharmacies the next month and got a more servicable product made by Malincrodt. It is not great but better than Actavis. I have been advised by TWO different pharmacists from two different pharmacies to ask my Doctor to prescribe the brand name Vicodin as it is more consistent in quality than the generics. The only problem is that the name brand is not an approved product and I have had to go to my insurance to attempt to get the name brand approved. I was quoted a price from $189 for 120 7.5/325 pills up to $279 for the same number of pills without insurance. I was denied initially and I had to send them a recap of my medical history and I am currently awaiting the answer to my appeal. I moved last year and my Doctor has only a brief medical history on me so, while I have spoken to her about getting the name brand and she has no objection, she cannot help me much with my case as I have moved twice while I have been on this medication and the medical records are spread out over three Doctors and two States for over 10 years. We will see what happens.

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It appears that I am responding to myself but here goes. As I posted earlier it was recommended by TWO pharmacists from TWO different pharmacies that I have my Doctor prescribe the name brand Vicodin 7.5/325 as the generics are ineffective.and the name brand is much more consistent in formulation and efficacy. Of course, the name brand medication is not on my insurance company's approved list so I asked for an exception and stated with specificity WHY I needed the name brand and NOT the generic formulation. My request was denied because they said enough supporting information was not supplied. I sat down and wrote a long explanation of all of the reasons that I need the name brand medication as opposed to the generics. Today I was informed that my appeal was once again denied. They just restated the reasons for my first denial without even taking into consideration the stated FACTS and REASONS that I need the name brand medication. They had the gall to suggest that I be prescribed a much stronger pain medication just to avoid approving my request. I have already went through "step therapy" and they want me to go through this again. My current Doctor has only been my provider for 15 months and has no records on me that go back any further. I have moved twice and had four different providers and been on pain medications for over 10+ years. I am appealing their nonsense immediately and will keep everyone advised on the nonsense being stated by my insurance provider. They are only interested in the money aspect of this and they are paying absolutely zero attention to the FACTS.

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Re: w john (# 37)

The current status of my appeal is that I have now got to appeal to an Administrative Law Judge. The appeal was mailed via Certified Mail and I am awaiting further instructions/responses. The second level of appeal to a company called "Maximus Federal Services" just got a rehash of the same denial that I received from my Insurance company. They CLAIMED that they had an in-house Doctor look over my application and their in-house Doctor said no proof was provided from my current Doctor to support my need for the brand name medication. My current Doctor has only treated me for 15 months as I have moved and she does not have my previous health records. She does not have any records to support her intervention here. If a Doctor is going to make a statement they had better have medical records to back up their statement. So anyway I have appealed further and I will see where this goes but I am afraid that it is just going to be more of the same but at least I understand that this appeal will be heard in front of a live person and I will get to rebut the insanity that the previous readers of my written appeal kept rehashing. Oh, BTW even though I have stated in numerous places in my previous appeals that I want to try the name brand medication (because of efficacy and HONEST strength issues) in a 7.5./325 strength they say in my appeal that I am asking for "ES" and NOT what I am asking for. Never one time does the strength "ES" appear anywhere in my appeal papers (except by them). Maybe 7.5/325=ES in their minds.

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Nobody freaking cares what happens to chronic pain patients why bother

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Re: Kelly (# 19)

No, it's not just Walgreens. I have been on 5/325's for a few years. They have always read, " m365 ", but I went for my refill this month, and received the 2172. I didn't notice until I was home and taking one. City Drug in my town is where I fill meds. All these pills have done is give me migraines and feel super dizzy. It's obvious that they are not the legitimate hydrocodone/acetaminophen that we have all been taking in the past. It really is unfortunate.

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