Norco Shortage In Michigan (Page 9)
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Is anyone else having problems finding a pharmacy to fill their scripts of Norco? I have been taking them for a few years now for my chronic pain. I always go to the same pharmacy chain, and its always the same doctor who writes my scripts, but since the new law change no one seems to have them in stock. Some pharmacists told me it was a manufacturer back order. We are told not to go without our meds, but yet how is that possible if we can't get them? Anyone knows of a pharmacy that has Norco 10/325 in the metro Detroit area?

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See my post #188 below...

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I'm supposed to have surgery in the summer n my Dr just started giving norco 5/325 I can not find them at any pharmacy and am being treated like a junkie. I don't even feel like trying any other pharmacy because it's embarrassing to b treated that way!

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Does anyone know why Central Florida area pharmacies are still claiming to be out of stock (of generic Norco 10/325), and also claiming that they don't know when they will get another shipment? I am a chronic pain patient, on disability, have seen the same doctor for 13 years; never had any problems filling, while it was a CIII. I would appreciate hearing from other Florida pain patients. One pharmacist told me that Fla. was "the worst state of all", in regards to "pill mills" and illegal sales/usage of pain pills. She stated that "people used to fly to Florida, from many other states to get these drugs".

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Channel 7 emailed me back saying to call and talk to one of their volunteers. But I did follow the advice of trying the outpatient pharmacy. As long as your doctor is affiliated with the hospital system they can fill it. They are getting their supply just fine because they are a hospital. I work at a LTC Pharmacy and we get our supply as well. My dr is affiliated with the St Mary's Mercy hospital so they filled my script no problem. No hassle or made to feel like a drug addict or dealer. It is bull. The government lead by Obama cares nothing for us. Like I've heard here, this is only hurting the people who really need the medication and making the actual drug dealers richer. I hope this helps. Good luck. God bless. I will keep in touch with any new info.

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Gail if you do get a reply please post this and it might be a good thing to write our congressmen with copies of their reply too. This BS has been going on for 4 months now and no one will just come out and state the plain truth. I'm at the point that I don't care what some pharmacist thinks about it one way or the other. I think some of them enjoy this new found "power" they have picking who they think should get their script filled and when. If there was a way to eliminate the "middleman" I would be all for it. They should go right to the manufactures of these products to answer the question of whether there is a shortage or not. If it turns out there is no shortage on their end then force these drug stores to explain what they are doing and at whose request. When people start committing suicide because they are tired of the hassle and pain it won't even make the last page in the media. I believe the FDA is behind this and wish they had the courage to state what their goal is in detail.

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It appears it has to do with new packaging requirements for the manufacturer now that it has been changed to a schedule II drug. It also appears that it is only the retailers (Walgreen, Rite-Aid, CVS, etc.) that are out of stock. I work at a hospital and the hospitals have no issues or shortage for filling scripts. I also looked all over retail-wise and was unsuccessful until getting my script filled at the out-patient pharmacy at my hospital. Try a local hospital out-patient pharmacy and I think you should have luck getting filled...

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I just sent a request to WXYT Channel 7 Call for Action. I too have been treated like an addict looking for a fix at CVS and RITEAID. When I read about all of you here I didn't feel quite as alone. But we are alone. We do need to call the manufacturers and FDA. They can't sleaze their way out of this one. Maybe others can call channel 7 Call for Action or email them like I did. Hang in there everyone. We are all in this together. Do whatever you can.

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I am sorry that this is happening now to people who are taking this type of pain medication however since we have been having problems getting oxycodone and fentanyl patches; some of the strongest pain medications it seemed that no one took notice! Why is it that it does not seem to hit home that there is a problem until the problem hits home and effects you?? We need to be more compassionate of each other even when we might not altogether understand someones problem! It should not take much to think of yourself with a daunting tooth ache for the rest of your life to realize that if there is something that can help someone in pain; it should be made available to them without interuption!!!!! Again, I truly am sorry for the pain that you have to live with; we all need to work together to get the rest of the world to understand that these medications are a necessity for some of us to live!

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Mino, why are you even on this thread? Why are you wasting other people's valuable time with your insane requests?

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Your nuts!

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I thought that 325mg apap was now banned? I read that the max dosage per unit in the USA is now 300mg - which would be fine were you still unable to buy industrial sized jars of this most dangerous of ALL pharmaceuticals in supermarkets for God's sake. We here in the UK I might still permit up to 500mg but at least you are unable to purchase any more than 16 tablets... It is the major cause of death in females between 12 and 24 years of age.

MY MAIN POINT IS - How can I get Hydrocodone bitartrate, of which the entire 100% world supply is consumed in the USA, being the only country since the withdrawal of DICODID which licences that drug for any reason (it is principally an antitussive, and with a synergistic addition of around 60-75mg acetaminophen per 15mg becomes a weak opioid, the most overpriced one in the world by the way, 10mg being equivalent to 40mg of its parent drug dihydrocodeine tartrate (pure) but 3-4 times stronger. It is actually according to the INN system officially named dihydrocodeineone bitartrate and I am looking for both 10 or 15mg IR tabs or ZOHYDRO Err 50mg capsules. No US pharmacy will ship them, and I can not find anyone to help out since my friend who supplied me with this 'in between' analgesic until his untimely death last year... HOW CAN I GET US ONLY ANALGESICS SENT TO THE UK? I need the aforementioned, high dosage IR hydromorphone (4/8mg) and IR oxymorphone (again only licensed for use in the USA). H hydrochloride tablets have far too low a bioavailability and I need a 50mg dosage and Palfium is now Ireland and Netherlands only and the 10mg have been withdrawn, dipipanone and cyclizine brand DICONAL now withdrawn leaving only an inferior generic and no South African pharmacy will send the original, branded 'WELLCONAL' there. Help anyone???

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I have been on endocet 10/325 - 3xday for awhile, & even tho it is no watsons 10/325 oxycodone it is working enough to get alot of the pain. The PA at my pain clinic (miss powerhead as most of them are) kept telling me how addicting they are and that they don't usually prescribe these STRONG Narcotics on a long term basis, when I was doing FINE on watsons 10/325 for several years without abusing & no side effects & most of all, controlling my pain!!! Now I am doing fine on these, BUT she said the Doc would give me another month, but not to count on these for a long time or maybe ever again!...what kind of game is this anyway? I don't wish pain on anyone, but if she had mine for a day, she wouldn't say these things! She asked if my prior doctors tried anything other than vicodin & percocet on me & i said, yeah, motrin & other anti-inflamatories I they ripped up my stomach~as they DO, & she said, no other narcotics...I said no. Does anyone know where she is going with this as I couldn't get a straight answer out of her??? Is perhaps Oxycontin the same only longer acting??? This endocet is working, & I HATE to change anything as I am allergic to the inactive ingredients in the different percocet or oxycodone mftrs. I am prescribed 3 a day. I would appreciate anyones' help or suggestions please. I HATE going thru these pa's as they do NOT write down what you say correctly~please people check your records as I have, as they do NOT word what you say correctly & are VERY incorrect turning what you say around...this has happened at 3 clinics to me! I see the Doc. for just a few min. after her, & sometimes not at all. Good luck to my friends~no fun with pain I know~(where are you "just a mommy?" Have a nice Christmas if you see this!)

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I would like to add that I do not blame the junkies for this. America uses 80-90% of the world's supply of opiates. Who am I to judge who is in pain and who isnt? The doses I see some chronic pain patients in are the very same doses "junkies" use to "function".

I do think this shortage is stupid but I do think it will pass. I really believe it does have something to do with the labeling of the packages and the incredible demand. The same thing happened to Adderall years ago. Was that all junkies that caused that shortage as well?

Where do the script writing drs fall into this? Where do the pain patients fall into this? I know it sucks to be in pain. Trust me I know. I know what it is like not to be able to get the meds that are needed but please stop this blaming of others. Where is the line between pain patient and junkie? I think these drug laws are stupid and have clearly not done anything to fix the situation.
We always seem to need to blame others for our own suffering. If somebody needs pain medication, who am I to judge?

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This is all big brother crap... First Vicodin, now Norco... Our government needs to keep their nose out of our business. Stuffing Ocare down people's throat, just another rediculous happening. Pain is pain, and if people want to kill themselves overdosing for pleasure, be my guest. But the legitimate needs for painkillers and cheapness of Norco, make it perfect for chronic pain. Problem is gov gets no $ out of this... First it was gov hoarding ammo creating shortage, then Vicodin, now Norco... Time for new gov that cares!!!

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yes you are right! now I have been on norco for over 25 years & vicodin, from a bad car accident. now more money! we have to pay, for pain management classes, UA's, have to go to the doctor every month, instead of having a refill, its b.s. who paying in mich? we are!! this is bulls***. they need to worry about the people that never had a broken finger nail that are getting morphine!

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Rocky it should not be any of the pharmacist's business. Their job is to fill the prescription and that's where it's ends. I got mine filled a week late at my regular drug store then this last month they said they were out. I went to another and they had them, white ones not yellow. I've been having this filled for at least 8yrs by the same drug store but we should not be at the mercy of a pharmacist. Perhaps if everyone in this area were to boycott and rally in front of drug stores they would wake up and start filling scripts pronto.

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It was weird when I got my norco 10s Dec.3 while they were working on my script, another guy came up, women said she didn't have norco for him. She told me i got the last of it. They just got them in Dec.3.. Its like they pick and choose, I am working on a change any ideas? I hate oxy op

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Yes its the junkies messing it up.got lucky yesterday with Walgreen's, they know me quite well.

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Hello Diane,
I hope this helps...I ended up in er with activas (garbage!) & I tried 2 other oxycodone mfts. of oxycodone & they didn't work for me (can't say they wouldn't for everyone tho). My pharmacist suggested "Endocet by Endo (may be Qualitest soon,,, but mine are the Endo Mft.) and they work ALMOST as great as the Watson 10/325. Now Endocet IS Percocet, so if your Doc. writes it for Percocet, just tell the drug store that you need ENDOCET by Endo. It is another Brand name for Percocet~ It is a yellow pill. They will probably have to order it~don't know as everyone does NOT have this. It works for me anyway.

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I too, cannot locate Norco in Metro Detroit. I been on them for years due to multiple back issues. I have called everywhere, this is ridiculous! I would like to thank the junkies forcing the new law to exist. Meanwhile us true chronic pain people can suffer. I'm at a loss. I cannot tolerate this amount of debilitating pain. Also, as someone stated, we aren't to stop this medication. Anyone know of a pharmacy?

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