Watson Lortab Formula Change (Page 2) (Top voted first)

Does anyone know what Watson did or why they changed their formula for Lortab 10/500? It used to be blue and when I picked up my refill today they are now white. I still have a few days of my blue left but I swapped a few so I can try the white. I'm waiting for it to start working and I took it over 2 hours ago. My rx is 1-2 every 3 hours not to exceed 7 in a day. (my pm dr wants me on a stronger med but anything above hydrocodone makes me euphoric and I can't function) The blue color lortab starts to work within 15 mins. I took my first white color lortab 2 hours ago, waited an hour and took the 2nd and nothing. I will wait 30 mins longer and switch back to the blue until I run out. This sucks. I'm a full time law student, disabled, single mom and can't use my dominate arm because the pain level is too high. (My shoulder dislocates every time I move my arm, even after 3 surgeries the last one being a bone transplant to the shoulder.) Sorry about any typos, I am typing with my left hand and don't have the coordination in this arm/hand that I do with my right. Thank you for any information that you can provide me.

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@lala; I had to go through near 28 days of these, in general the rule (by law) is that once you leave the pharmacy w/ a medication than it's your's & they cannot replace them, now maybe this pharmacy you used is going to return them to Actavis all together? Lots of pharmacist don't know what all we are ALL experiencing, & if they do than by contract they label you as a drug seeker, why not its easier huh?? I have a great buddy whom is a regional Pharmacy manager & we are good friends & he knows I'm no drug seeker & s*** who can be on a drug barely stronger & just slightly (chemically) different than CODEINE I was told pharmacists are given $$$'s, to site w/ these huge, damn overseas drug companies that are technically the biggest legal crime organizations in the world, next to the politicians they back up & monies & bailouts that go to these companies for the exchange of their corporation. I think regardless of the company it's really as many on here already know, the DEA & government that are likely behind this BS. According to them, they need to control & eliminate the outrageous population numbers & if you think I'm joking than stop reading now. I think all of us who even have the slightest idea & knowledge of what's really going on in current world times, realize just how much we have lost since the tragic day of 9/11 & thus the dominos have been falling every since & NOW the people are the new terrorists. I could & according to doctors be on such better & stronger pain medication but don't desire to be addicted to more than hydrocodone. Also, the lab results came back w/ the fillers being way over there threshold & the hydro content was very low 3-4 Mg, some less than 2mg., & the company ( ACTAVIS) knows they sent them out w/ out any studies done, s*** they didn't have too, they used the same imprints as Watson but had to change something to not have to be reviewed by FDA, which are not friendly w/ DEA. But that's another story so they changed the color, bulls***. What they have done should be illegal, but it's not until they have to remove watsons imprint & code, which is not going to happen unless more people demand different, but on these whats the difference?? On a good note if your doctor writes you a script for say 10/200 of hydro/Tylenol it's not commercially made by the pharm companies, so it can be compounded & thus made for you personally! I would be sure, that I knew my compounding place real well, but it's an option none the less, not sure when "Zohydro Er" will be released, but it's a new, no acep/Tylenol mix of just pure hydro for those w/ sensitivities & made in California & it will be expensive but it will be likely good due to FDA being all over them, for them to finally release it, & as well a new drug, its also time released, those w/ no insurance will not be able to afford it. To KR, sorry for you my friend, our country is going to "He'll in a Bucket" congress just passed immigration law to allow all illegal immigrants to stay & get 40k, as well as money to support jobs for them, but what about us Americans, true blooded for hundreds of years, our dads, dads fought to protect this country (as did I) but nothing for us, it's sad it really is all sad. I fear if this medicine was our only worry, man would we be in good shape. Buying American is just not going to be American anymore but no illegal fence jumping Beaner has the brains to be a chemist, maybe for these watsons, but you get the picture & not to be racial but send those a holes back home, give them free monies & a chance at the American dream, which is NOT for real Americans anymore. I think we have the Bush administration, Obamas, etc.., to thank for this BS. I pray for every one of you & just remember that it will be the weak, drugged, & dumb who will go first. Look at what our nation is subsuming to & why, I have no clue! Godlessness?? We have sat back watching why they have gotten away w/ the destruction of America.

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I just want to add some information to this post…


The FDA has requested that all manufacturers make changes to all products that contain Acetaminophen coupled with another medication to limit them all to just 325mgs of the Acetaminophen.

The higher amounts of Acetaminophen create a risk of liver failure with long-term use and it can be toxic if someone takes too much of it in a day.

Some manufacturers have already started to reformulate their products to remove the higher amounts of Acetaminophen and all of them are expected to have it done by January of 2014.

Are there any questions or comments?

You can learn more Vicodin details here.

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Where do you live, and what doctor do you see that gives you Lortab 10. Two every 3 hours. My doctor only gives me 1 every 8 hours and I have severe rheumatoid arthritis, and will not up my dosage or give me anything stronger. Said I would have to go to a pain management clinic for something stronger. Am on a fixed income, and can not find one that takes self-pay patients. I got my Lortab the other day got home and found that they were the white Watson 10/500 and not the blue. And yes they take much longer to start helping the pain, than the blue ones did.

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I read on another forum that Generic Manufactures are ALLOWED A 20% MARGIN OF "ERROR"! So, a 10/325 norco could only contain 8mg of hydro, and there's nothing we the consumer can do about it!!!! Thi s discussion was mainly in regards to the M367 as people who have taken generic and namebrand norco for years can tell a DEFINITE difference in the strength! I assure you this is NOT IN ANYONE'S HEAD as some people love to speculate!!! If you have taken m367 you will notice it falls apart in your mouth before you can even swallow it! The person who posted about this was also shown by his PHARMACIST the bottle straight from the manufacturer which had an * next to the 10mg explaining it could be less than 10!!! I'm sure since its not regulated or checked the GENERIC Drug Companies do this to TONS OF MEDICATIONS!!!!

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I have to agree with you and they are also making spot checks to patients to make sure they are not abusing there pain medications. I was told by a patient who sees the same dr as me that he had a knock on his door one evening and they were asking him why he needs to take these medications. First off the Government should mind there business and leave the patient alone and go after the real problem. The companies that cheap there patients (Consumers) out of there medications. This is beyond pain Meds.

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They have also changed the norco from yellow to white. I found out this month when I got mine. Those deff. dont work the same. :(

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By 2014 Lortab 10/500 will not exist. Everyone on it will be forced to a 10/325. TheFDA has lowered the max amount of tylenol to 3000mgs from 4000. Also, because too many users of Lortab 10/500 are also using OTC products containing tylenol on top of the Lortabs hence causing major liver damage. I have already been switched to Norco which sucks but he also put me on a fentanyl patch which I refuse to use. As I mentioned in my original post, I cannot handle anything stronger than hydrocodone. Fentanyl is 100x stronger than morphine. The 7 lortab a day worked just fine. My pain was minimal. Now it's out of control. When he put me on that patch he cut down my dosage of hydrocodone from 70mg per day to 40mg without weaning me down. So the first week not only did my pain level go nuts I went into withdrawal as well. He is a new pm doctor for me and doesn't believe in using short acting medications as a primary source for pain relief. To me you don't fix what's not broken. I wasn't broken before and now I am. I had to drop my classes when he did this because my pain level is too high. He said I had a choice between that patch and methadone. I refuse to use methadone. Id rather suffer with this pain. Btw, qualitest 10/500 works great. It's pink in color. They also make norco 10/325 which are yellow. If you have a cvs by you, most of them carry qualitest. Do not use anything made by mallinkrod chem. Worst ever.

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they DONT WORK dumbo..i have given them to family members who are not on narcotics daily and they all AGREED THERE IS NOTHING IN HERE for pain relief. i contacted an attorney and there is something that PROTECTS generic drugs from being liable for anything so NOTHING CAN BE DONE TO THESE MFERS i having same issue with the yellow ones that are now white they do NOT WORK. i too am upset because that was the ONLY drug that aCTUALLY HELPED ME and able to function since the change i am back to having no life but bed and internet a few min a day. worsened my depression because this paid is unbearable..they did a LOT MORE THEN TAKE OUT THE DYE for sure. i was searching to see if vicodin would help me but i see the same s*** they did w all watson meds i wish they could be sued. this is bs.

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Can you please give us all as I'm sure lots would benefit from this & the amount of forums as well as my own testimony about this change, is two things. First it's not a psychological thing to the guy who says that, I see where you are coming from but if ones not thinking in that matter & knows his medicine & then notices the difference as thousands are also & side effects as well, it's also not Watson anymore, they sold their name, stocks, etc. Out to the big generic makers called Actavis, & they have just put watsons name on them, when we all know darn well that they were made by a different company. Second, this company is now after buying up Watson and a few of it's New Jersey based people, OVERSEAS, & in particular to Ireland. This will allow them to save hundreds of millions in taxes. This will also make the FDA ( if they can't be paid off anyways) go away & thus they will be allowed to operate under much less strict & PROPER guidelines. It's a real shame to those of us that need the medication to live a more functionabke pain free life. It is not fun to have to take medicine for anything, but I don't drink, smoke, or do drugs ( username has nothing to do w/ what many are likely thinking, lol) I would also think that in Ireland their limited on importing & having good quality access to the proper needed chemicals & products needed both natural & synthetic. The company that supplies WallMarts generic medications, Ranbaxy got sued AGAIN, but this company making wanna be Watsons are getting help & they are likely never going to be inspected, if the country allows & protects them from US taxes, Obviously were not welcome over there, & any big pharmaceutical company would rob the peoples blind if they to could get away w/ it. I think it was changed on a much larger scale than the yellow # whatever & the aluminum as well, this cannot be the cause of so many peoples having complaints & bad side effects as well, my stomach & head are both as I write both very uncomfortable. I got this refill of " new Watsons" last week or so & I went into it positive as I went back up to the pharmacy & had a chat w/ them on it, even the label still read yellow in color, so I asked if anything please fix that, & they did, no big deal. I took them & even said on here on another thread that I would give them the benefit of the doubt, this is before I noticed the extreme difference & thus had to research & thus how I became aware of all I just shared. We just must ALL ( if possible ) demand a different Brand & NOT BUY THE ACTAVIS brand Watson wanna be's. I wish I could call on an immediate investigation on the issue, I'm calling everyone even the FDA to report bad side effects. Well I need to rest, but please everyone, don't support them & don't take your RX to any pharmacies that carry this poo. I hate going to corporate pharmacies, I like to support local & family ran business. Please Actavis, come on here & respond to everyone, then you could address many, as were all using google to find this anyways & you can't say you not aware of the issue. Seems like all good things eventually come to an end, that goes w/ all things in life, stop playing with our medications. We pay you all our hard earned monies, please have some respect & at least have a quality control person write a post, Theirs nothing your hiding from, right??????? Good luck to all, is their anyone who sees no problem w/ these so called dye/aluminum free better for us white copies of another companies drug?

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They have already taken out the extra ingredient in the Watson Hydrocodone and put some sort of additive in it, just like the additive stuff they put in darvocet's to make people feel worse so they wouldn't take them till they were taken off the market from lack of use. A year ago or so they were thinking of taking hydros off the market but decided to pollute them instead, to sneak one over on us, but people that really hurt can tell what's going on. I suffer tremendously and I have been for the last twenty years, the governments drug wars are ridiculous . Why must I suffer? This is beyond me. There are so many illegal drugs now and they can't control them why would they take our pain meds off the market or ruin them unless the government is selling illegal drugs themselves and would rather people go buy the drugs there selling which is probably what the government uses to keep from going bankrupt but I digress. It's just the way I see it.

healthland.time.com/2013/01/31/fda-action-on-vicodin-may-mean-more-pain-not-less-addiction-or-overdose

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yes, all over my stomach. The white ones don't work. This is getting ridiculous letting the pharmacies take over. There seems to be more salespeople in the doctors office instead of patients. I've been on the yellow Norco for over 10 years, there was no warning to any of the patients with chronic pain, somehow we need to unite and put in a class action lawsuit. After three months of trying to get my meds back, even the doctor can't look me in the eye and lie anymore.

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Because of concerns of liver damage from excessive uses of Tylenol, the FDA has made changes to the popular and previously VERY effective drug Norco/Vicodin. The drug is now made with 325 mg of Tylenol instead of 500mg. The drug manufacturers will say that there has been no other changes except for perhaps removing color additives or binders. Their claim is that the drug amount is the same!

I am a retired Registered Nurse and have been on this particular drug for more than 20 years!!! It has ALWAYS been at least somewhat effective for relieving the chronic pain that I've suffered with. I have EXTENSIVE Degenerative Disc Disease, as well as three herniations. The changes in the "new" Norco have rendered almost COMPLETELY INEFFECTIVE!!! Instead of "some" pain relief, I now become just frustrated and very sleepy. I don't feel safe even driving on this "newer" version!! If you have the same findings, I strongly urge and suggest you call your pharmacist and ask WHO makes the drug which you are taking. They should have a phone number which you can register a complaint. If ENOUGH people speak up and have the same findings, they may be able to return a very good drug to the market.

I, for one will REFUSE to buy anymore of these particular drugs and will ask for another drug to try instead!!! How sorry I feel for the THOUSANDS and THOUSANDs of patients that will Be prescribed this newer version that TRULY require PAIN relief!!! Especially surgical and chronic pain sufferers!!! SPEAK UP AND BE HEARD if you are having similar experiences!!!!

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The formula hasn't changed at all. Had several friends freakin out about the same thing. Called 4 different pharmacies and all said the same thing. Watson, UCB, & all hydrocodone manufacturers took the dye out of the pills because people were having allergic reactions to it. If your prescription says 10/500 it is EXACTLY the same formula as a blue. They cannot sell you a prescription that has that on the label and it not be true. That is highly unethical and illegal. Not feeling the pill is all in your head. Not sayin your nuts but the mind is a powerful thing and if you truly believe that something won't work, then it won't. If you are still hurting after taking them, get your doc to switch you to Norco 10 and then take a Tylenol with it. Norco 10 is 10 mg hydrocodone with 325mg acetaminophen. Tylenol is acetaminophen. Hope this helps.

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I thought it was just me! Mine are usually pink BUT I have white ones now and they do NOTHING for my pain...Pharmacy didn't even explain why there were different or tell me they were! Call in my doc AND the pharmacy tomorrow.

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DONTLIKECHange

What are the changes in 2014? Someone told me that they are trying to ban many of the Hydrocodone and Oxycodone products. If true what will happen to people like you? That would include me to.

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My Aunt Is The Owner Of A Pharmacy. She Told Me That the New Laws Only Allow Them To Order So Many Schedule 2 pain Medication Each Month So When They Run Out Of The Medication They Have Got To Wait Intel The Next Month. This Is All New Laws and My Doctor I've Been Seeing For 8 years Told Me I Can no longer Get SOMA Because Im on Valium. He Said He Gets Pages Every Month From The DEA With The New Laws. In Florida It's Bad. I Live In North Florida ( Jacksonville ) last month it Took Me 6 Days Of Driving From Pharmacy To Pharmacy Before I Got Lucky And Found A Pharmacy That Had Enough Of My Pain Medication To Fill My Legal Prescription. The DEA Has Been Treating Pharmacies and pharmacist Like Drug Dealers. Doing Raids Checking Their Records. Going back 2 years. Making sure They Have Been Following Their new Rules. If This Isn't Happening Where You Live. GET READY IT'S COMING.

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I don't know what part of the country you live in, but go to Kroger if you have one and get the PINK 10/500 they are made by Quailitist and better than the Watson Blue or white ones. Have a nice day. PAIN SUCK!!!!!

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i have been on hydrocodone for years,back injury,had friends on it and all kinds of problems,perinoid,sleep problems,i switched phar.got the same manufacture as my friends and with in 2 weeks i was sleeping with my pistol thinking someone was breaking into my house. i use to take watson brand,but the new ones ,white didnt do anything for pain ,just made me feel high,pharmacy said they had alot of complaints on them.when watson stopped making yellow ones same thing,i have to take 2 x as many and dont last long. most people including the pharmacist dont know that hydrocodone is a mixture of opiates,there are many opiates ,10/325 just means any combination of 10 mg can be used to make up the 10 mg of opiates in the pill. any first year chemist will tell you any addition of any fillers colors can change how a drug works,such as it can bind with fillers make it more slow to release or faster.

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Hydrocodone isn't a schedule 2, Yet the DEA Has been Asking The FDA To move it To A Schedule 2. All Schedule 2 pain Medications Can't Have Refills, Or The Doctor Cannot Call in A Prescription of Schedule 2 Narcotics. You Have To Go To The Doctor Every month To Get A Schedule 2

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Kevin, I am a nurse & never knew this about hydrocodone! Un-flippin-believable! And, I am also on hydro....just started back on them. Watsons are terrible now & every patient needs to call the fda about it. If there are enough complaints, they will run an investigation. The new pharm, Actavis, is using inferior products in these new watsons. I just got Amneal ones & they suck! I never had a prob w them before.....don't know what is going on with these companies! But, we all need to complain to them & the fda. We are having this convo on another thread as well.

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