Watson 853 White Or Yellow Pill

I've been taking the Watson 853 yellow hydro /acetaminophen for several years. I get them from a well known pharmacy company. My most recent script was filled and I noticed the color was white, even though the markings of Watson 853 are identical to the light yellow pill. There was a huge difference in side effects with the new pill; constipation, dry mouth, and a little nasal congestion that I typically get from preservatives like sulfites. Many people get these symptoms when taking narcotics, but I have been fortunate with the hydrocodone as it has never affected me that way (oxycodone does however) I called the pharmacist and he said he couldn't get the yellow tabs anymore but wouldn't say one way or the other whether the formulation or fillers in the white pill differ from the yellow. I am guessing that there has to be something different..maybe cheaper ingredients? I have enough medical issues to deal with, I don't need these pills to add to my issues with uncomfortable side effects.

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REPORT

I'm sorry you're having such issues, Razz. You aren't the first person to post with complaints about the new white tablet.

However, it's likely that your pharmacist didn't have any other information for you, because so far all the available Watson information lists the tablets as being identical and that they have only removed the dye that was in them, due to the fact that some people were sensitive or allergic to it.

You can learn more Vicodin details here.

As to whether or not they are using cheaper ingredients, they aren't required to let that be known, at all, as long as they list the ingredients and they are from sources that are considered safe for use in oral pharmaceuticals.

There are two suggestions I can make that you can try, which may help…


The first would be to ask your pharmacy if they can order you the medication manufactured by a different company, so you can see if it works better for you.

Or you can ask your doctor to prescribe it as 'brand medically necessary', so they can't provide you with a generic.

Does anyone else have any ideas?

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I had my dr order brand necessary and what do you know, they work. .. so I know there is something up with the new white ones. And no one can tell me any different.

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TRYING TO FIND OUT THE SAME THING

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I have been taking the yellow Watson 853 (10/325 mg) for several years for my severe chronic back problems. With my last refill a week ago, I received the white pills and was assured they were the same except for the yellow dye being removed. I can state categorically that they are not the same and that the white pills are at least 50% weaker than the yellow ones. I have complained to the manufacturer with no positive results although I did get the customer service rep to admit that Actavis has different componet suppliers than Watson (as in cheaper, less reliable). Watson has been the leading supplier of meds for chronic pain and unless everyone who takes the new "substandard" pills, Actavis will not restore the quality. They are concerned only with cutting costs and improving profits. Each of us needs to demand better quality and spread the word.

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I just got these yesterday & I can so far note they are active but indeed different. I noticed that they are not near as smooth as the previous yellow ones like almost porous. If you put one in your mouth you can tell this w/ your tongues as well. I have a masters in organic Chemistry & though i didn't notice till after leaving the reputable small family pharmacy, that has always carried the very best generics. Once in the car & I opened the bag to take one, I was like " what their WHITE, same but WHITE, so I went back inside & they said the same about the dye thing, & the technician grabbed the old yellow ones & the bottle of the new white ones ( why I don't know, as to prove what, I was not nasty just curious as even the description on the label said yellow) so I say that just fill it with the yellow ones you have their, he said they couldnt do that & that they were going back to Watson, & having several pharmacist manager friends from college that are still close friends I ran this by them, only to find out THAT I WAS LIED TO, THEY CANNOT SEND BACK THEIR USED PORTION OF MEDS & THAT THEY CLULD OF USED THE LAST OF THOSE TO FILL MY SCRIPT, even if only 3/4%. Then my friend tells me that Watson was bought out by Actavis, & that they were moving out of New Jersey ( Watson headquarters ) & like Apple moving to the tax friendly country of Ireland, apple has admitted that they saved millions in taxes by doing this, so I'm assuming this will also lead to lots of jobs lost as well. For everyone that has real pain issues, ( my back & neck are completely shattered & all discs broken into pieces from falling of a two story scaffel on a job, & somehow fell off trying to get a bucket of stucco from a co worker, & landed on my back, only to awaken in the hospital in critical condition, this was near two years ago. I refuse to take anything more stronger or addictive than 10 Mg's. Of hydrocodone & having no insurance & only getting my hospital bills paid for as the subcontractor were all Mexicans that ran under a different name, so my attorney could only get my friend the head contractor to have his insurance at least pick up my doctor bills & hospitals. Anyways I pay a lil more than most generics to get the yellow watsons, but I'm sad they are no longer, I am on my second day of these & will repose what I think of them in a few days, they most of had been doing something right & actavis knew this or they would not have bought the rights to continue to make the same pills or at least their imprints & looks, now it's much easier to slowly work into the market. Some research on Actavis, they are one of the top three generic pharmaceutical companies in the world, & are a fortune 500 company, not that this matters, but it does show that their not some cheap India based company. I think we should all call them (Actavis) & voice our concerns. Well thanks for reading my works on this topic & again I'll repost. I did notice that this morning I didn't awaken to that headache & hangover feeling, only thing to report for now, oh one last thing they do have active hydro in them, take some black seed oil to aid in both potentiation, absorption, & just overall health in general, take care to everyone. One Love, Rider!!

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HI NB,
you seem knowledgeable on your research of this change of yellow to white watsons. and like yourself DO NOT LIKE the change. i have tested the white 853 for about 10 days now and have numberous side effects with the top effect is that its about 50% or more less effective, also with that there is headeaches, sleeplessness, irritability , fatigue, dry mouth. the only other generic Norco and is yellow as well that seems to work well and i have taken in the past is from Qualitest pharmaceuticals and has a V imprinted on it is the closest pill to the Watson 853

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Hello,
Yes I would agree w/ you on what you have said, I'm not actually very knowledgeable about the white ones, but have noticed myself in this little time the serious difference, me myself I dont like it either, but do not know where to go to get the Qualitest brand, anyhelp there would be beneficial to my health so I don't see you telling me to be a problem on here or if you can just PM can you do that here? My experience is in complete agreement w/ you, there is some differences, I don't think my current pharmacy knows the truth & that the fact Actavis has now bought out the name, & being a cheap company I'm sure they are cutting corners why not " blame it on Watson that's easy enough, gives them time until they launch their own. Yeah it is a bummer, finally find both a great pharmacy & now they change the main reason I go there. Being a major in organic chemistry, I know & can say that their are many differences in fillers & binders & their ability to get taken in & or absorbed by our bodies, were all different, but yet they hold the cards all we can do is stop buying them & wait out till next refill, until then thanks for the kind reply & please let me in on this qualitest thing. Peace

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I've been taking the yellow ones for over a year for chronic back and hip pain, and received the white ones for the first time last month. I noticed right away that they weren't as strong, when my pain didn't go away. I also started having extreme swelling in my calves and feet, but chalked it up to my blood pressure meds I started again, even tho I never had that side effect before. Then I went out of town for a few days and forgot my meds at home...whaddya know, the swelling went away. I've also been experiencing headaches, abdomen bloating, restlessness, and my pain is not being treated by these white ones. I get mine from Walgreens, and they say they cannot get the yellow ones anymore either. I've also seen posts on another forum, where many patients are complaining of the same problem. After I received my refill last week, I'm positive all the side effects are from this new formulation. I'm going to call around to other pharmacies tomorrow to hopefully find one that carries another brand...keeping my fingers crossed that I can find one that carries the Qualitest kind, I'm more worried about getting my PM doc to give me a new rx when I do! Best of luck to you all!

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Just an update on the new Watson ( Actavis ) brand of generic norcos. In the last few days, I've not only had terrible headaches that nothing can get rid off, which means waking up to a headaches & the worst which is going to bed w/ a headache. I also have zero energy & I have been thinking not only do these new white watsons suck, but I'm getting a flu, but I've read hundreds of posts w/ others saying the same thing, so I'm now almost scared to take the so called new watsons. I'm thinking since they bought watsons name out & claim to only have removed the dye & alluminum fillers. I'm sure by being able to still print the name of a company that is no longer in operation onto the pill, I bet they don't have to ( so far ) prove their pills & or do any updates w/ the FDA. They can just hack it all up on Watson having had a bad pill, when the time comes that Actavis maybe makes their own pill & inscribed it w/ their name. Their are lots of legit pain medication folks on here & I honestly think that hydrocodone is a weak pain med., especially for severe injuries & pain, but none the less I don't want to take Oxycodone or other harder natcotics, trust me I wish I didn't have to take any medications or see any doctors, not a fun thing to do, but I need to live a life not in pain anymore. My guess is since I use to take the 10/325 but w/ ibuprofen & the same thing happened w/ those, price went up near 500$ & the pill was still the exact same, markings & color, yet bought out by another company, I wondered how they could get away w/ that, but now I'm seeing it w/ one of the best ( WAS ) generic norcos available. Plus moving out of the states, this gives them plenty of time to get s*** figured out & to dodge the FDA & the IRS as that's why they are moving out of the US & into Ireland, saving them millions in revenue as they don't have to pay all the taxes. I would think if they are dodging the IRS & making their pills overseas, that they are more than capable of taking away a few of the ingredients in a medication. I actually wouldn't doubt it if the Govt. Is not involved, all this right before the launch of the Pure hydrocodone set to be released anytime now, zohydro er. Everyone let's keep this going & again I will give more feedback & also read your posts. Thanks for listening & I wish everyone the best. "
PEOPLE SHOULD NOT FEAR THEIR GOVERNENTS, IT'S GOVERNENTS WHOM SHOULD FEAR THE PEOPLE"

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Hello all! I called around and found that Rite-Aid pharmacy does carry the Qualitest 10/325, they said just to have your doc specify to dispense that type to you. I hope you all have that type of pharmacy near you, to be able to get them. I called my PM doc to request a new script and have not record a call back, so ill have to wait until next week to speak with her. I even offered to turn over these white ones in order to wt a new script called in, whatever it takes to get something that will treat my pain. I'm also going to call CVS (used to be Long's in the west coast) to see if they carry them, just so we know if they're available there. More to come...

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Hello all. So, my PM doc called me today to let me know I could pick up a new hard copy RX to take to a new pharmacy, so I could get the Qualitest brand. I get to Rite-Aid, and they say my insurance will not authorize refill of my RX for at least one more week, even tho my Dr wrote out a new one because the Watson brand was making me sick. The pharmacist asked me why I didn't just return the Watson brand to Walgreens to be swapped out with a different brand (gee, I wish I would've thought of that). I informed him that I tried to, but they only carry the Watson brand, and that I also tried to swap them at Rite-Aid since I used to get my thyroid medications there, but was unable to because they were not dispensed there. He said that they should had offered to order a different brand, and I told him I had tried everything to get them to help, to no avail. He said he still could not process the order for another week, and to come back then if nothing could be done at Walgreens. I asked how much it would be to pay out of pocket for them, and he wouldn't even look up the price for me. Isn't he still supposed to check for me, even if my insurance won't cover it? I'm not some crackhead trying to get high, I even had the crappy white ones with me that I stopped taking last week, in case I was able to persuade him to swap them for me. It was obvious I haven't taken many out of this bottle, and I understand they probably deal with addicts sometimes. I don't know if I should just go to a mom and pop place and say I don't have insurance, or fight my insurance company, whose customer service line closed at 6pm, to pay for them? Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks everyone!

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Yes he should look up the price for you especially if its from the same doctor. Get your doc to call the pharmacy and let them know the situation. U could try a different pharmqcy and just say you don't have insurance but you'd be taking your chances on the last fill being run through a database depending on the state you're in. If your doc has given it to u for legit purposes then you have the right to fill it. I'd try a different pharmacy and if that doesn't work call your doctor and have him call. Explain you're willing to turn over the ones you have

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I will get back to you with more information it's very late, but I must give you some of what I know. I'm a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and I have chronic pain from a screwed placed on my L-4 nerve in 2006 I have RSD the pain ranks with bone cancer. The new white Norco doe not works it is causing so much problems I'm having problems walking again plus I'm so tired I can walk maybe 100 feet. I called Watson spoke with a pharmacist he told me they had so many complains of the new white Norco not working some people cussed him others cried. Everyone needs to called Watson ask for the department for a complaint of a medication. This employee of Watson admitted they didn't do a quality check on the drug when they removed the yellow die. So as you can see we are all right Norco has been messed up. I'm having my pharmacy compound my Norco. I hope it works. I will get back on tomorrow night with Watsons number of course you can get it from your pharmacist. We must stick together and file complaint's with Watson and our pharmacy board.

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I'm convinced the white pills have caused severe symptoms. Tingling in arms and legs. Now high protein levels in my urine lab work! I'm so afraid damage has been done.

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I used to be a lab tech before I became a mechanic and depending on the maker and manufacture depends on what color and what the pill is going to say such as Watson or m 367.it also depends on where you go to get your prescription certain places such as Walgreens will only carry yellows and sometimes whites while Walmart will always carry white and only sometimes yellows you can tell your doctor that certain colors are certain brands such as Watson or the M 36 Evans don't work correctly for you and you will have to usually wait for the other colors or brands to come in that's usually why they give you a different color or brand when you go there because they're just trying to give you the ones they have in stock but if you want to wait you can get the ones that work better for you and yes each color and manufacture does have different effects for certain people such as me

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I SO Completely Agree!!!! I also have been a patient battling severe pain and was on your same dosage for a few years. Then they changed me to the white ones. My pain became debilitating and I became less and less able , "to hold my own." My daily life suffered and the severity of my pain was overwhelming. My Pharmacist eventually explained to me that the dosage was not the same as the prior due to the "crap" that is placed inside these pills, was "iffy" as far as dosage-levels. Every pill was inconsistent. Not one was the same. I have been suffering over this generic crap for a yr. or more and Dr.s do NOT UNDERSTAND. I need those yellows back. It is horrific.

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Absolutely!! Im with you!

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well, I just got my prescription refilled today, and I also was given the white ones. I have taken two today, and the pain in my back is no better. They are not working. whats the deal? Can I bring them back? do I call the med provider or the pharmacy?? this sucks, you finally find a drug that HELPS your problem, now we need to deal with a drug that doesn't help and who knows what its doing to other parts of my body I just switched back from percoset to vicadin, and the vicadin isn't working now. It was always my best choice,and always went traight to the pain, never made me sick now today I have a headache, and the pain is still there. they're different alright

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These yellow Qualtest tablets are worse than the white Watson brand! I started going thru extreme pain and slight withdrawl after 7 days. I couldn't figure out what was wrong with me, until I really looked at what I was given, I thought they went back to the yellow Watson tablets and never gave it another thought. Then my pain kept getting worse over the next seven days, I called the pharmacist and they exchanged what I had left. The white tablets will never even come close to the yellow Watson brand but they are definitely better that the new Qualtest ones!!! Be care you will go through withdrawl with these if you've taken for awhile.

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I am taking the white tabs as well and noticed a difference immediately. I was taking the exact same dose and amount. I started feeling sleepless, sweats, etc. It was as if I wasn't taking anything at all. I went to my Dr and he said it sounded like I was going through withdrawals and he had many other patients with the same complaints after the change. There clearly is something different with these pills and I am not happy about it. I noticed that tramadol has a much better affect than the Norco 10s do and that was never the case with the yellows.

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my pain doctor told me that the formulation of hydrocodone used by watson (and many if not all other brands) has been altered because addicts on the street were looking for the original - that's it in a nutshell - no one will ever find the old hydrocodone - not as long as this opioid crisis is killing so many people

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Re: Lynn (# 41)

I agree those white watson 853 are complete junk. The yellow ones worked great for me but most pharmacies no longer carry them. Try the M367 pills. I found them to work just as great as the yellow ones. Walmart and Safeway pharmacy carries them.

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I too have taken yellow Norcos without issues for several years- the ones they have given me the last 6 mos make me itch and do not help with my pain nearly as much. Sad to give people who are trying to live a productive life with pain one more thing to deal with!

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In my experience in over 25 years, various sports-related injuries, including a knee surgery (ACL/MCL), and dental procedures, I only tolerate hydrocodone well. While I'm not allergic to any medicines (still always listed as NKDA), as far as narcotic pain killers, any amount of codeine makes me nauseous and any amount oxycodone makes me dizzy and/or drowsy to the point of being unable to do anything other than lay down, Only hydrocodone allows me to function quite normally with very little side effects (mild pruritus, mild euphoria), while also being an extremely effective pain killer, in combo with the apap. To the point, Watson 853 is by far the exact tablet that works the best. While I don't get any other side effects from other brands but I have found myself having to take an extra tablet most of the time with other brands, not all but most, then again I have only had to take the hydrocodone only so many times and so I believe I have only had 3 other brands and 2 of them I had to take an extra pill to make up that potential 20% people are (or were) discussing. The reason I even realized that it was the Watson 853 that was the "good" medicine was that the other 3 brands I tried were all white not yellow but I guess from reading here that there is now a white Watson 853 that has now also fallen into that 20% less category as well. So the only conclusion for me, I suppose is stick with the yellow Watson 853 whenever the next time I need a prescription for pain medication. It occurs to me, that while I have rarely, if ever, finished a bottle of pain meds and wind up either giving them away to family/friend who may need/want it or disposing of it, if I get the white variety where I need to take that extra pill after 45 min, i am actually getting ripped off (obviously ins pays the bulk but I do pay a good share of $$ for that ins). Why isn't big health ins companies going after these "cheating" generic pharma companies?

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The watson w/tab are no where as good as when I got the Norco brand.An evry one I no says same.An they give me Hydro #853 some times a to me thare useless. Deb

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(Actavis) Hello, I have had several surgeries in the past with the need of Hydrocodone, each time in the past the medicine would knock out the pain with no side effects. Now with Hydrocodone 10 – 325 manufactured by Actavis I have the following side effects; no relief from the pain, constipation, run down tired, with the pain medicine I use to get about 12 to 18 months ago I would have the effects of more energy even a euphoric felling, and I personally fell this is the reason the formula has changed. TO REMOVE THE EUPHORIC FELLING.

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It's in your head... all of u... I've been taking these for over 7 years and when the switch came it changed NOTHING... nothing different. I can't believe this is a topic.

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The problem I am finding here in the Whittier CA area is I can't find Qualitest!! If you try and ask a pharmacist-they treat you like a pill popping drug addict! I am someone who is constant pain!!! Where can I get these filled here in Whittier?? Qualitest works for me!

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I am a pharmacy tech from the old school when 30 yrs. ago there were make be 2 generic Companies & all people that had money would buy the brand name & were just too scared to take a chance. Other people back them & pharmacists, also, were totally sure it was the exact equivalent to the brand name, just cheaper. A few yrs ago they basically stopped making brand name anything . It would be way too expensive & the scary days of generics are coming true. Cheap fillers & inactive ingredients from all over the world! Who knows if one filler from that company you trust is going to be the same filler you get 8 months from now from even your tried & true favorite that has lived up to their standards? Mom & pop pharmacies are much more likely to talk with you straight & get your same Generic ever time. If you do not know what generic to take? Always go with the most expensive. That's the way of Medicine for the extremely sick or in chronic pain. I had to try another generic because my whole town was out of the one - mallinkrodt - that I had been taking for yrs. -Ascend is a new horrible generic that has just come out. The side affect I went through were like I was taking a completely different medicine all together. It is the 1st month back on my real meds and I feel like someone has made a complete fool out of me. The good ones are back and only 3 times the price!!!

With as allergic as I am to most all meds, the is one the most dangerous situation out there. If you ever have a problem with any generic & you come upon this new rule of using 1 pharmacy. Get your Dr. To write "Medically Necessary" for which ever generic works for you. Dr's write that for patients that can only take one kind or even brand name - when they use to make them. No one should have to take meds that are not exactly equivalent. You could be in the ER or Dead. I am hearing too much of this & I hope everyone keeps screaming. If you want to know everything that a pharmacist knows about your drug & what is in it- Ask them for the Square piece of thin paper that is stuck to the original bottle before the put the meds in your bottle with a computer print out. It is very thin tightly folded on top of the Generic original bottle. It tells you the most. Only the chemists making the drug can tell you from what country each ingredient is from & they won't. It will say the names of all the active & inactive on this piece of paper - on the bottle. Keep putting it out there!!!

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I live in Huntington Beach had always been getting yellow norco for years from CVS then they switched to white!I told themi think tylenol is stronger than the white norco.Next refill they told me they didn't have any so i went to 4 other CVS they all said we ran out!? So i went to WALLGREEN they said to come back in 2weeks? So then I went to RIGHT AID and they told me they had some but they were going to RED FLAG me I said but why??Iwas told because I went to different pharmacies! !!!Are you kidding me? Are we forced to always go to the same pharmacy? I never knew we're suppose to only pick one besides how else was I going to find who had my pain meds??
I'm so frustrated and upset the white norco does nothing!!!Well it does make you sleepy and irritates my stomach. It's making people take more to try and get the relief of just 1 yellow norco !

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