New White Watson 853 10/325 Problem - What Is Going On!? (Page 9) (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.

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MandyShea , I think that the pharmaceutical companies are making the generics with or close to 8 mg hydrocodone. I think that until the past few yrs that they probably were at or closer to 12 mg for hydrocodone in order to get people to chose their generic. If a brand says it has 10 mg active ingredients, that is exactly what it has. But, for generics, if it says 10 mg it can be 8 mg-12 mg and still be legal. The FDA is the one that set this range. I also think this applies to other meds as well, especially opiates.

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Well said! I sure would love to read that article you posted! Really wish one of the big investigative shows would pry into this.

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Ellie, I'm not sure what you were prescribed but I rather doubt it was hydrocodone with 500mg (it was never 525mg). Your doctor would have had to have been living under a rock to not know that major changes invoked by the DEA and DPS in Oct 2014. No narcotic medicine can contain Tylenol over 325mg. Even if in some bizarre instance your doc did write you for the original 10/500 there is not a single pharmacy in the US that can fill it because once the law to reduce the amount of Tylenol was enacted the manufacturers stopped making them. Any pharmacy that still had some in stock was prohibited from selling them. I was told by my doc that the DEA ordered them to be destroyed.

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These new formulated watson hydrocodone are awful. Doesn't work on pain and causes inflammation. Last 3 rx have been different each time. One rx made me very sleepy, and didn't work as well, the last 2 or 3rx keep getting weaker. I think they are buying cargil byproducts to use for filler like mallinckrodt did. I'm gluten intolerant. That would explain all the extra pain and body wide inflammation I am receiving from taking these hydrocodone. unfortunately it's the only pain medication my body responds to well. But now I don't know what to do. The pharmacies only sell mallinckrodt and watson in my town. Why did they have to change the formula. It was bad enough when they took the dye out a few years ago. That was sure good for absorption. Used to give me a little boost in energy because it worked that we'll. Now though, I don't think these would work even if I tried to take 2 at the same time. I wouldn't do that. Somebody tell them to stop using gluten byproducts! Start a petition.

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Well Its Sad That People Abuse Something that can Help Them. But For A Multi Billion Dollar Company to Make You Pay For Something To Help You To Relieve Pain So You Can Function As A Human Being.. And It Does Nothing But Aggravate Your Day Is Really A Crime Against Humanity.. And Should Be Made Accountable For There Greedy Actions...!! Please Someone Help Us With This Scam.. With The White Oblong New Pain Reliever WATSON 853 Its Truly A Placebo Pain In My Life. Thanx Everyone For Noticing This Problem I Thought It Was Just Me..

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If they changed the way it's released without telling people there's gonna be a lot of overdoses!! I know I've already popped 4 because I still hurt thinking if I take more it'll help eventually. That's bulls***! Personally I am going back to Percocet because these bite. F****rs trying to kill people changing medication around with Oxys. They tell you the only change was the coating they added to stop people from abusing them!

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This my be my problem, i do not respond to hydromorphone. Only hydrocodone. I dont respond to morphine either.

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Trisha, Qualitest was my 2nd choice back in the day, Watson was best and Mallinkrofdt was my 3rd choice. Not now starting in 2014, the A333 Percocet 10/325 is terribly made and stamped with Watson, the hydro and perc 10' s are activist and are gut wrenching and just plain wrong selling a bottle of 120 for @ 216.$, thank God I have insurance, but in 2015 I was able to get Actavis to give my Medicare part d a refund. Anyways my point is that there are yellow hydro 10/325 by Qualitsest the 7.5 Qualtest (marked with a check) are p each colored. So they are still around and they work. I get rx d perc 10/325 in Fl I get the Alvogen brand they are round and yellow, they work very well, but nothing like the real watson before it was activist. I'm in Co. and I was dispensed a white IP which is Amneal. My body is used to the Alvogen, however they do work and do not hurt my tummy like the Actavis perc. 10. We are as chronic pain patients a casualty of the war on drugs, no doubt. In Fl it's hard to fill scripts I know just left 8/2016, so to go to a pharmacy and ask what brand do you have is scary, because they judge you anyway. But Publix in Fl is carrying the best generics. If you go to a publix that's on a populated slightly poor neighborhood, you re not going to find your meds, go to a publix in a richer area. Example Cross Creek in New Tampa. Good luck. I'm having no problems filling in Co like I did in Fl pharmacy crawl.

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I've been on opiate pain meds for 15+ years and wish I never had been put on them or even took them for a long period of time. it started out with lortabs, Percocets, Norco. I've had all manufacturers and strengths. I'm on alot stronger opiates. now I want off, but the withdrawals on top of all my pain and disabilities I've tried and always seem to go back as my body just can't take it. but I last filled a script before getting moved to stronger opiates. Watson 932 white round and they did great for awhile till all the Tylenol ate up my stomach lining, but I had some white oblong tabs and not 1 time did that script help like they were fake. I also know what works for you might not work for me. we are all different when it comes to medicine. like I take diazepam 10mg for breakfast and I'm fine. I see others take 1 and go to sleep all-day. but it is something wrong with these new perc tabs, norcos. now with my stomach I can't have anything with Tylenol / nsaids. I don't know what this world is coming to but the way it's going it's an increase in illicit drugs as ppl lose their meds. just so some ppl don't get sick or hurt you know it's getting bad if this is going on. hope I helped some. have a good day. thanks. Ken in Virginia.

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I just picked up my prescription of 10-325 norco, from wallgreens pharmacy. They are now called Watson 853 . Don't know what they did but these are junk!!!Lin

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These watson 853 white oval pain meds is missing something i agree with u i got major back issues an i had to take 2 then 2 more an hour later an got no relief at all the goverment is doing something or the makers the pill is not at all worth taking

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Yes sir you are correct it's a shame the same with any activis brand trust me we have to file complaints ASAP or deal with it..

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I've been on hydrocodone for 2 years for back problems also on 10/325, I recently received these Watson/ 853 white and they are ineffective to me I'm a little upset about it because my back pain hasn't subsided at all now I have to wait thirty days for a new script

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I agree with you 100%. People in pain are almost automatically viewed as addicts when that's not the case at all. This is the number one reason me and my deceased boyfriend never wanted to go to the ER. He would still be alive today if they did not find him and make him out as a drug addict after such a terrible accident that he was involved in!!! They don't care until something like this happens. And I swear they will not hear the last from me either. You take an oath when you become a doctor!!! I don't care if this person looks like a drug seeker or not, your duty is to treat them. I am so ashamed of these doctors. I hope that no one would ever think of me, a doctor, like this. You treat your patients regardless of the history!!! Because they treated him like a drug addict he has now passed away. He will never have the chance to meet his beautiful daughter or hold her beautiful body and his sweet arms. I hope this does not happen to anyone else after today!

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I have taken these pills for two years. I agree with you that something is wrong. I can sure feel the difference in them. They aren't as effective as the ones with the yellow dye in them.

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I got my wisdom teeth out yesterday and I've taken 2 of the Watson 853s and I'm still in pain. All it does is make me sleepy. I've felt no different whatsoever.

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I've never taken Watson 853s. But Ik these are meant for pain and it's just making me sleepy but I'm still in pain. My wisdom teeth were taken out yesterday and that's what the Dr gave me.

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@Alison, hang in there, please let us know you made it through..

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I have been on them for fifteen years never a problem now i had dr. Switch me to Tylenol 4s with codeine and they work better then the 853s thats really sad cause they used to help alot now its like taking aspirin and they charge us the same for them.

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Curios in Cali, if u can stick with the hydrocodone. I was on Percocet and or hydrocodone for years. Then in 2012 got put on morphine ER, now Percocet is my breakthrough.
Wish I could have stayed with the just the Norco and Percocet
My best wishes to you

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