New White Watson 853 10/325 Problem - What Is Going On!? (Page 19) (Top voted first)

Hello all,

I am a longtime chronic pain sufferer. I have taken opiates for pain for over 10 years. I recently got a prescription filled (from a well known pharmacy chain in the U.S.) and I was given these new Watson 853 white (not yellow) hydro 10/325 pills. I wanted to ask the forum here if any of you have had the same experience with them as I have. I know there are some very smart people with advanced chemistry knowledge here that may have delved deeper into whats going on with these things. They are ineffective for me. I've taken hydrocodone 10/325 for 10+ years and have never ever had a problem with pills being ineffective but that is the case with these pills. I've had about every brand you can think of and never an issue. Ever. I thought nothing of the color change when I got the pills home from the pharmacy... I've had the yellow Watson 853's before and figured they just changed the coloring. I've seen people complain before about differences in brands before, but I've never experienced anything like that.... Mallies, Watson, Qualitst... all the same to me. I didn't start looking around for answers until I noticed these pills were not working well at all. Something is 100% wrong.

Based on some initial research I do see that they have taken the yellow dye out but there are other reports from people with the same issues as I see. Obviously you just don't know how reputable some of these reports are... I've seen posts talk about pharmacists telling the patient that the pills now are structured to release hydrocodone slower (even though its an IR pill... what?)... that Actavis/Watson employees have claimed there could be "kinetic imbalances" in their formulation when upset customers have called them... etc.

The only truth I know is that there is something amiss with these things. Any response would be appreciated from you guys.... experiences/info/links to other similar reports, etc. This is the most frustrating thing I have ever run into and it just doesn't make much sense to me at the moment with whats going on....and the implications this could have if these pills have been truly altered by the manufacturer in some way.

I know it doesn't mean much to just say it on an internet forum, but I'm not the type to cry wolf over something like this. I realize it could be a bad batch I've received, but it looks initially like the problem is more widespread.

TIA for any responses to this thread! I came here because I believe this site has people that have the intelligence/knowledge to get to the bottom of it. Again, any info at all in relation to this would be appreciated greatly.

REPLY

REPORT

I beg to differ w u. I was recently prescribed the old 10/525's. Yet I have yet to find a better 10mg hydro that works As
Well

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

So I'm a cancer patient and have taken pain meds on and off for years. The drug companies/patients were noticing that patients livers were starting to fail, not from the opiates in the medication but the Tylenol/ acetaminophen. So they have cut the Tylenol down in most of the pills. That's why they went from 5/500 to 5/325. If you take the 10mg I think they may have even taken half of the Tylenol. Maybe that's why it's not working as well? Tylenol even though it not the best pain reliever, is still a pain reliever so try taking one Tylenol with it and see if that makes a difference.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

It is hydro to acetaminophen ratio that is the problem....the f.d.a. regulates that close...very close. But with anything else off brand, their might not be an off brand to a name brand in saled dressing you like or dont like, or cereal for instance....plus your body might need more to get that effect your lookin for or expect....just remember ten years on anything means more and more to get their, try breaking them in half. Hope it works for ya.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

It is totally up to the pharmacy I was told they can give plasibos if the Dr or pharmacy wants and still charge you for b.s pills I was told this from CVS in okc on n.w 23rd and classen so I took my script to somewhere else it is at the discretion if the pharmacy

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I use to be highly dependent upon any hydro pill, 7.5/ 750- 5/500- 10/1000. I'm not a chemist nor work with pharmaceuticals, however no one has changed the amount of hydro in these scripts but they have changed the amount of acetaminophen which works together with the hydrocodone to make it more effective. Lowering the acetaminophen takes away from the pain relief. This was done due to the many people suffering from kidney failure.. I'm so disgusted with our government, the DEA, pharmaceuticals and doctors for knowing the entire time what kind of outbreak they were creating while consciously knowing the high count of our nation that would be dependent/addicted to this drug without making it known until it became too many for them to just ignore. So now it's a felony, instead of offering a solution they sweep everyone up and throw them in jail, on the streets or worse, allow them to die just to cover up their doing.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Hello I was wondering could it possible be the 325mg is actamenphine in them. Cause I no the with me when I got the 5s it was always 500mg and 7.5 750 of actamenphine in them but I never got 10/325 and I am in the same boat your in also it could possibly be ur tolerance is immune to ur dosage u might have to up the dose...thats what I did and it helped a lot

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

These is easy. Your body over the years has built up a tolerance. Try switching to something else like oxy or even tramadol. A big kicker to show they still work don't take them for a day. All they did was remove the die.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Got my prescription today and they work that's why I'm up at this hour of the morning.
And who was it that said the old ones gave me energy.true but purpose is to relieve pain

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Definitely agree,they do work,unless you're taking around the clock.only thing I don't like with most pain meds is rebound pain.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Here's what has happened to the hydrocodone the Watson company yes has taken the dye out for one the second thing the have done is taken the the amount of Tylenol and made it lower however it will still contain the same MG ao they call 10/325 hydrocodone.my sister works at Walgreens. The most important thing people must realize is if you have been in pain meds for awhile your body will be become dependant on it physically now with that being said your tolerance also become higher causing you to feel like it isn't working therefor you take more and more to reach a level of pain relief. People like me that has been on pain meds for a few years ,after awhile become somewhat immune to narcotics and it takes more and more for relief. It may not seem that it is working properly but in reality it is,your mind tells you it's different and with stories you read about its like a mental fight but they are actually working it's just taking more and more because on one's physical dependence to maintain a mental state of mind

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Sounds like a lot of addicts are afraid they're going to lose their euphoria to me. It's placebo that makes you think its working different. Big pharma has been killing opioid users off anyways. Try the "evil natural drug" thc, marijuana. To bad it was criminalized. But you let your pharmacist sell you opiate scripts and methadone scripts... America's ass backwards and we sit and are led like sheep to slaughter. Keep your eyes open, you've been warned.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

SAM, prescription drugs have to meet FDA regs in order to be sold in the U.S. It sounds like it would be best for you to specify the generic that works best for you when you drop your prescription off. I will be surprised if the insurance company reimburses you for buying a generic they do not cover.

Pharmacies don't always carry the same generics. It is possible Walgreens might have the generic that works best for you the next time you have a prescription.

Trixie, abuse-deterrent medications come in Extended Release form only. It can be deadly for some people to crush or break an Extended Release tablet or capsule because too much of the medication can get into their system too fast. Immediate Release medications are not abuse-deterrent.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I have been on hydrocodone 10/500 for 13 years,the thing is your body builds up a resistance and rebound pain I'm sure you know is worse than your initial pain,there is no conspiracy as posted below.They took the dye out. Period, the end. Ask your doctor,you're probably immune. Switch to something like Tylenol #3 and get off hydrocodone, the most addictive pain med. A nurse and patient. Yes, I got off.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I disagree, I've been on these since 6/25/2000 and the white ones work just as well as the pink ones did. You guys are going to do what you will, but the more you do, the more it's going to take and down the road, one day, it's going to cost you? For me, I don't take what I did not need, that simple, we are not in grade school anymore, it's your life, for myself, I love seeing my kids and grand kids. Stop filling people's head with s...t anyone that has real Pain, knows to do three things. 1) Get up and do the best you can 2) be honest with yourself, 3) never ever Lie about Pain and what amount you take to keep it in control, that's going to help you and your doctor find what works for you, and the amount your going to need to keep you able to have a life out here in this crazy world, peace - no one should have to hurt with all the medical meds out there today!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 2

I think they do exactly what they are suppose to do. I take them to relieve pain, and they do just that. I think people are upset about the change because they are not getting that energy boost/high like they do with the yellow watsons....I'm glad about the change maybe there won't be as many people stung out on them

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

If I had a nickel for every post I've read about a pain pill not working because they removed a yellow dye. Or that a different company's version is worthless. Everyone one I've read negative comments on, I've taken, and they've all worked.

Now, don't anyone try to tell me they've been on hydrocodone for 10 years and they still worked as well as they did 10 years ago.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

This is a doctor speaking. The FDA working with some , not all pharmaceutical companies, to only change the wasted effect that the hydrocodone gives you. In double blind studies these new pills are just as effective at diminishing the pain as before, but the test subjects did not prefer these because they lost that, wasted effect. In these studies on a scale of 1 to 50, with 1 being the most effective pain killer and 50 the least effective. Vicoden rated 17 and Percocet 16. 2 200mg ibuprofen added to 1 500mg acetaminophen had a rating of 4. Only morphine, dilaudid and demerol were more effective pain killers than the Motrin/Tylenol combination. Better get used to it because vicodin and Percocet are the most abused pain medications in the world. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news for you.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

I recently went to my local pharmacy to get my RX filled for Norco which I get generic but can get brand name if I ask but they got to order it. Anyhow the generics I got were labeled Watson 853 with a score on the back side. They are generic for Norco 10/325 (Hydrocodone 10 mg - Acetaminophen 325 mg Tab). I have tried basically all major generic manufactured Hydrocodone products even liquids. I will say these are much smaller than some tablets I have gotten. They seemed to work within 10 - 15 minutes on an empty stomach and did not seem to last quite as long as others I have taken. The reason is most likely due to the smaller pill size and removal of the dye.

I think for people here saying they called them up, well if you really called up Activas which is now Teva Pharmaceuticals, you would have been asked for the NDC number and the Lot number. Obviously unless you called immediately to your local pharmacy you would not have the Lot number but you would have the NDC number which there are two and the number at the end just states how many pills came in that bottle either 100 or 500. Period!

I talked to a few people at Teva and even got a letter in the mail from them so according to them they would not have let a batch be accepted and processed out for shipment if it did not pass quality and other such evaluations! I trust their judgement because I have taken Norco for so many years from surgeries to know what the main effects of hydrocodone are! I thought these pills were real and were not fake or changed!

You know hyping yourself up for anticipation for something can often times lead to a let down in the actual end result. Maybe some people have a higher tolerance or its just a mental preference. I cannot say for certain but what I will say is to the one person stating to be from the company who said they changed some carbon ring on the molecule to stop the conversion to Hydromorphone, they are full of crap! That is so false and yes between 5 - 7 percent of a given dose of Hydrocodone will be converted into Hydromorphone unless your taking an enzyme inhibitor. Even so you would still get pain relief benefits.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

No, No , No. The FDA has laws in effect that any generic medication of any kind HAS to be the SAME strength, effect, and bioavailability, etc. as the brand name version. So it's all in people's heads that a generic medication isn't as good as the brand name counterpart. With people saying, It has a different color or shape from what I'm used to taking. They are all WRONG, WRONG, WRONG. Look it up for yourself at the FDA website.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I do not need to educate myself. I'm a Pharmacy Technician and had to study medicine, pharmaceutical laws and the such. Most people are ignort of such thing. Sorry to bust your bubble.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

What is a white oblong pill imprinted WATSON 325 with a line in the middle of the back? ## yellow oblong pill with watso...

9 REPLIES

Whit oblong say . Watson 853. Divide mark on back. Is it vicodin 7.5mg? ## This tablet is manufactured by Watson Pharmac...

2 REPLIES

I have both M360 and Watson 853 pills. I'm not exactly sure if the are the same of if one is stronger. ## The tablet...

8 REPLIES

I just recieved a new prescription of norco 853 10/325. The last script was yellow and the new ones are white. The pharm...

384 REPLIES

are these fake. The bottle says Hydrocodone 10/325 Norco but have seen watson 19/ 325 printed on the pill ## Has anyone ...

21 REPLIES

I took a couple from my new prescription yesterday, and let me tell you, they ARE NOT THE SAME. It felt like I had taken...

4 REPLIES

what is difference ip110 and Watson 853? ## Hello, Mary! How are you? The tablet with the IP 110 is manufactured by Amne...

8 REPLIES

found two pills with watson 825 white pill and oval what is it? ## Found a match it's Acetaminophen 650 mg and Oxyco...

1 REPLY

w hite watson, 397, tablet. ## I think the marking may have been WATSON 387, since it's a bit hard to read on these ...

1 REPLY

My prescription was changed from blue Watson 540 to white Watson 540 pills. However, I felt that the strenght was differ...

7 REPLIES