Watson Is Now Actavis Generic Percocet 5/325 What Is Up With This (Top voted first)

I had been taking 5/325 generic Watson percocet for 4 years. Suddenly I get notified by Walgreens which I have insurance that there is no more Watson brand and I was given generic percocet 5/325 by Actavis. It is not the same at all. It has no pain relief for me. I used to break the watsons in half sometimes and never had a funny taste. I just broke one of the actavis white tablets in half and it immediately tasted like salt or alka seltzer? Has anyone had any issues with this drug too. Also, along with it not working right it has made my GI tract and stomach so ill feeling and cramping. This is not right how can they take away a medicine that someone has been on for 4 years without any problems and tell them to suddenly switch. Would a peson who has been on a certain heart medication for years be told to suddenly switch that he can't get that medicine anymore? I don't think so. I don't know what I am going to do but when it comes time to have my rx re-filled it will not be with Actavis and I will have to pharmacy shop I guess to see if I can find Watson. I am very depressed now and so unhappy I can't believe it.

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Hi everyone,

I hope your pain levels aren't too bad today. I called Rite aid, and the have Qualitest brand percocet. They said, they have not had any complaints with it. I have used their pharmacy before, and will use them nest month. I feel that it can't be much worse than Actavis! I found this summary of an article, about the differences in generic pain meds.

There can be differences in generic brands. It's really not BS. Some can be slightly stronger than others. Here's a excerpt from an article to support my claims:

" Janicak explained that Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirements around bioequivalence of generic products are fairly strict: a generic must have between 80 percent and 125 percent bioequivalency to its name-brand product"a window of 20 percent less or 25 percent greater potency.

“Generally, that kind of variation is not going to make a difference in terms of efficacy or toxicity,” Janicak said. “But imagine a large pharmacy that negotiates with different generic manufacturers and buys a generic formulation from one manufacturer that has 80 percent bioequivalency to the name brand. Then imagine the pharmacy switches manufacturers to one that markets a generic that has 125 percent bioequivalency.

“That's a 45 percent difference in bioequivalency that theoretically can make a significant difference for the patient,” he explained.“ If it's a downward shift, it could affect efficacy; if it's an upward shift, it could affect toxicity.” "

Source: Physicians Question FDA's Confidence in Generic Drugs' Safety, Efficacy, dated June 1st 2007

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Yes the Actavis is just terrible - it doesn't relieve the pain and it causes upset stomachs and anxiety. It is NOT the same as Watson. I have been going through withdrawals now because I have no choice seeing the Actavis is just BS and has way too many side effects. Very sad that a drug company can pull a medicine that people need to take on a DAILY basis to have a life. This is just wrong.

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Watson has been sold out, no more. An India co.bought it out.

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First off, to all, sorry to hear that your meds aren't working as intended. Most of us take these to ease our chronic pain conditions, and life is a struggle without them, especially if they aren't working right. I've been getting the Watsons 7.5/325 for the last 3 months (previously taking Watson 10/325's for 1-2 years) from Walgreens. When I turned in my script today I got the Actavis (7.5/325). The last week I really haven't need much pain med (maybe half to 1 pill a day), but when I took 3 pills throughout the day, they definitely worked. I just hope that it's not because of a weakened tolerance. I've been having a queezy stomach since taking them; no cramping yet.
If your meds still aren't working in a few days, call your doctor and explain. Hopefully you can get a new script, and I'd recommend calling local pharmacies to see if they carry a different brand that's in stock (less embarrasing than showing up and leaving if they carry Actavis). Or if you have a preferred generic, you can ask the pharmacies if they can order it special for you each month (I've known a few chronic pain patients who've done this). I hope you find the relief you're needing.

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These actavis are BS and I am like you I am having bad intestine issues and it doesn't relieve the pain. There is a number to call Actavis and a website I believe, but don't know how much good it will do but they say the squeaky wheel gets the oil so we should at least try for those of us that can't tolerate this new med. This is so awful that they can just switch a medicine that we need on a DAILY basis and have been on for years just to be able to get out of bed in the morning.

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Hi Martin, this actavis is ruining my life and SO many others. They just can't let this happen to so many people who need the watson brand to work for their pain and have a life. We must band together and start a legal suit if they are causing people to go to the ER and are making people so deathly ill this has to stop and it has to stop now. This drug is making so many sick and not relieving the pain which is what this drug states it is intended to do and it does not do what it says it is intended to do. It is total BS and a failure at a generic medicine. I feel for your pain and I too cannot get my RX filled for 8 more days and I have been in withdrawals and do not wish what I am going through on anyone.

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Chilli - Sounds like you got your medical degree out of a cracker jack box

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I checked out the Qualitest reviews, and they were a 4 out of 5. I'm going to try them for sure next month.

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Hi Lola,

I did contact Actavis pharma, and they did not reply. I guess they don't care, as long as the pharmacies continue to dispense them.

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Midiman, mind sharing what other brands you say you have been using all these years?Are you an addict? Because you sound like you are nformed on the subject. Those of us on this thread are not addicts we are chronic pain sufferes who are in pain management. We don't get our drugs off the street. There is a difference in the generics and no it is NOT in our minds. Do your homework on the variances and how different generic companies have different binders and fillers that CAN affect different individuals before you post on here please. Thank you.

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Oh my god! It kills me when ignorant, stupid people who make it known by what they post that they have no clue what theyre talking about.....Midiman.....its a KNOWN medical FACT not every manufacturer of the same drug all use the same formula..... instead of shooting off ur mouth, try zipping it n just keeping ur eyes open so u can research for urself how false u r. People like u are part of the problem. ..u take these meds that could potentially be dangerous, yet no nothing about what it is ur taking, WHAT ITS MADE OF, how it works n metabolizes in ur body, and the side effects and/or complaints from users.....ur an irresponsible drug user...n I say user cause all it seems u do is "use" the drug cause its obvious u know nothing about it....ur actavis. Because we have done our homework, doesnt make us addicts. ..its makes us responsible patients who share our knowledge and experiences with others to help keep one another informed n active in their pm plan....so go fly a kite! Well, go do some research, kick urself in the ass for telling us we dont know what we're talking about, then go fly a kite!

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Hello,

Ay hes Midiman, we are all addicts. Do you have a good therapist you can recommend lol. I think we all noticed the difference in Actavis and Watson right away. My guess is that the Watson brand had a higher dose, was too strong and many people overdosed from it. I beleive I read where Actavis bought out all of Watson's litigation pending. I just know when I took the Actavis it gave little relief and many side effects. I wasn't willing to risk MY life to take this Acatvis pill. We called them and they were very concerned about their product. Whats the lot number? etc. You can take it Mid, go for it braugh. I do actually take Actavis xanax and it is fine, but I would never take their Percocet as I believe it to be a bad drug and dangerous. Thanks

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I have been taking Watson and malinkradodt percocets for 3 years and I just got a new script filled at Walgreens. Got home...took them as prescribed...Nada..zilch.. in fact I feel nauseated. I checked the label and low and behold .. Its got ACTAVIS not the usual Watson. Wth..I called the pharmacy....was told have a nice day. Wtf. So I look on the internet...what is thus actavis. So many many many BAD reviews including mine.

So I contact my pharmacies..they've ALL changed the Generics manufacturer for Percocets

Walgreens, Target, CVS changed to Actavis. Kroger that used to give me malinkradot now have Amneal which I also read was utter crap.

This is no coincidense ....we know the gov wants to crack down on opioids..and this is how they're doing it....but for those genuinely in pain...its s disaster!!!!

Now I think as long as the original formulas for percocet is not banned or altered..the market will eventually adjust...and fill the demand and supply percocets that work not duds. Maybe I'm way of base here...but every pharmacy switched to a NEW generic....and every new generic DOESNT work!!!

Theres more going on behind the scenes we don't know about. And its not a bad batch... complaints are from months ago.

Really hope I'm wrong..

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Hello, thank you for your reply. I am sorry to hear that your heart meds have been changed also. A medication that we take everyday is so important that is why I hate that the drug companies just go ahead and change it without notice. With the Watsons i never had any side effects and my pain was all but gone. I checked the pills and they are round white and say A 349. Maybe the A333 are the 10 milligram? Not sure. Are you hearing complaints about the pills being ineffective and causing side effects? I am going to have to find another generic when I see my pain management doctor next week. I have been looking online to find out what other people are experiencing but havenot been able to find anything. I am sure there are tons of complaints.

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I'm not alone !!!! I'm in terrible pain with the new actavis. I get no relive , only serious stomach cramps. I have not been in this much pain since b4 I was enrolled into a pain managment program. Who can we contact? I plan on calling my doctor tomorrow to let them know my pain is getting out of control. I don't want to have to go into the hospital to play catch up for pain relief . This is terrible , would it be the same thing if I were to request brand name percocet & not the generic

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When I asked how much non-generic percocet was, I was told it cost over $700. I don't know about others, but I can't afford that every month.

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Hi Jan, thank you for letting me know. I am trying to deal with the pain but since the Actavis does nothing for my pain it is like I am in withdrawals and the depression is awful. That is the hardest part of all of this I think. I have never been a depressed person before and have never taken an anti-depressent so it is hard. I will look into the Qualitest as I can no longer take any of this Actavis.

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Midiman....here's how WE ALL KNOW YOU'RE NOT TELLING THE TRUTH: Actavis just come out in JANUARY. So, take your ignorant and judgmental thinking somewhere else. People with injuries, arthritis, frozen shoulder, back pain, aren't making it up and really need this medicine to live a decent life.

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Tammy if it's all in our heads why do you prefer Endo and not Actavis WTF?

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Hi matt....thanks...but we've been aware of what u stated since almost the beginning of this thread. .....if you read this thread from beginning till recent...you will probably find more info than u bargained for. I wish whoever clicks on the link to this thread would read it all the way through instead of just reading a few comments. ...they would learn so much n wouldnt leave a comment about something we've learned n shared long ago n therefor, preventing this thread from being longer than necessary. There are so many links posted on news n articles about Percocet that is good to be aware of....I keep telling people I think we have the most information here on this thread than any other ive read or came across.

CO SUSIE......our problem is our Watson's got switched out by Actavis when Actavis purchased watson.....most pharmacies are carrying Actavis n it hasn't helped at all n made us sick...there's nothing in comparison to watson when it comes to pain relief ! Then we hard a hard time finding a medication that gave us any pain relief n all went thru the horrible trial and error stages n reported here what was going on often to help eachother. Ive read about the KVK Percocet n how horrible they were....so far, most of us r finding SOME relief from either endocet or mallinkrodt. Cant u find a cvs or Walgreens that can special order a medication for u? If one location says no, it doesn't mean another wont. Theres 4 Walgreen s in my town and 2 of the 4 will only special order my medication. So u need to see what works for u then find a location that will order them for u....just make sure u request the order a week in advance each month so theyre in stock when u hand in ur script to b filled n u dont go without ur meds waiting on them to come in. Also, the active ingredients in meds can fluctuate up to 20%......making it anywhere as low as 80% to as high as 120%...making the 120% formula having the most pain relief. Without figuring those numbers in the equation. ...all of us takin a 10/325 Percocet are only really getting I think the number was 8.9% of actual Percocet. ..if ur on the 5mg, there's only really 4.1% Percocet in the formula. ...these may not b the exact numbers but its just a bit more than 1% shy of the actual written dose... ud have to look it up to find out y or the exact numbers ....I forgot the reasoning behind it but I found the info somewhere on the internet not too long ago. The pharmaceutical companies and the FDA are a mafia of their own screwing everyone who takes meds! I hoped some of this info helps but I do suggest u find the time n read thru this thread..u will learn alot n become more informed!

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