2172 Hydrocodone Acetaminophen-actavis/walgreens Complaint (Top voted first)

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 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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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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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: 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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Nobody freaking cares what happens to chronic pain patients why bother

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

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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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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: 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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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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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 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 (# 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: 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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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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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: cliff j (# 73)

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

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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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Re: Soup (# 8)

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

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