Watson Is Now Actavis Generic Percocet 5/325 What Is Up With This (Page 30)

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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I just read....and google this....WHAT NARCOTICS CONTAIN AN ABUSE DETERRENT..... There are 2 meds only, as of July 2014, and one is OxyContin ( long acting oxycodone ) and the other starts with a T and is also long acting. Now, they want to add some kind of deterrent to all narcotics but, and the FDA said this, there isn't enough study on it. One thing they are talking about is combining the narcotic with naloxone. I really don't believe that would be a good thing as it may take away from the effectiveness of the narcotic like the deterrent did with the OxyContin. That is what I have heard from people taking OxyContin, anyway. Right now, the only thing changing is the generic formulas and that is not including deterrents. I talked to someone from Actavis today and she was snotty when I said I know I'm not the first one with a complaint and I know I won't be the last. She didn't even ask me for a lot number but I did tell her the lot does not seem to be the problem, it is the formula. There are just way to many people from all over the country having problems. I also talked to someone at the FDA and they are sending me out a med form for this. There will be an investigation into it if they receive enough complaints. Well, I also told her how this company did the same thing with hydrocodone a bit over a year ago! It is NOT right that anyone messes with medications and we have to suffer for it! We aren't abusing it but have to pay a high price because of those who are! Do they expect us to keep our mouth shut and just take it? I don't think so! Now, someone has a huge complaint against Mallinkrodt and Qualitest! What's left besides Endo that doesn't seem to work for me? I really need to find what the majority are switching to! I have 3 weeks to find out so I can call my pharmacy to request that before seeing the doctor! What a mess!

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You Go Tracy...I am proud of you standing up to Actavis. Maybe they may start looking a little bit harder at the crap they are doling out to people in pain. You are a force to be reckoned with and I am glad you are on our side. Thank you Diane

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Tracy, just to let you know I am taking Vicodin 10/300 mg. by Abvee and Quallitest percocet 5/325 mg. The Vicodin is doing great for me for break through pain and I never could take hydrocodone before but with this manufacturer I haven't had any side effects to speak of and I have had no problems getting a re-fill from walgreens every month. The Qualitest percocet is just okay and I am finding that I am needing less of it on some days when I don't over due it and can rely just on the Vicodin to control my severe neck pain. I hope this helps in your decision in a few weeks.

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Tracy I forgot to tell you that after driving all over God's creation and 4 pharmacies I was able to get my prescription for Norco 10/325 qualtest. I have been feeling flu like with nausea when I take them. Has anyone else had the same feeling? It's almost like a drunk feeling with an upset stomach and needless to say not much pain relief. Diane

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Diane, you are so very welcome! A medication has never made me so sick in my life til I took the Actavis oxycodone ( Percocet). I stopped taking them now which makes me have a whole host of symptoms, as you can imagine, but I can't take these pills! Actavis never even offered to reimburse me the $218 I paid for 180 pills and I am calling them again because someone else said all they will do is reimburse you. I switched from hydrocodone because it doesn't work well for me but I am scared to get another perc script in case this ever happens again! Actavis is ripping us off in more ways than one and I am not going to stand for it! What the hell are we chronic pain patients suppose to do, suck it up and move on? I don't think so. I'm calling my privately owned pharm today to ask if they ever use Actavis Percocet. If not, I will get it from them. I will even take Endocet which doesn't work very well over Actavis that doesn't work at all and gives some terrible side effects!
By the way, have people been complaining to them and the FDA since last January? 9-10 months is a long time for nothing to be changed!

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They don't change because the DON'T have to. They do not have to answer to anyone and they continue to make huge profits off the backs of people in pain...damn shame.

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Lola, I have used Qualitest for many years and they weren't too bad until hydrocodone quit working for me. I am asking my pharmacist if they can order quali or Mallinkrodt Percocet for me. Those two didn't seem too bad. At least I could take my normal dose and get some pain relief! As it is now, I am unable to do anything because of the pain and other side effects! I am extremely po'd how Actavis treated me yesterday. The tone of her voice was basically saying," complain all you want, we aren't changing a thing!" And, I found out it isn't only their narcotics they are having problems with! It's all their meds! I read this at The People's Pharmacy, you can go to their website, make a complaint and tell them how nothing is working with all the complaints we have filed and I guess they try help get to the bottom of it! There was a guy I read a post from that said he talked to Actavis and was seeking a lawyer. They told him to go ahead but that they cannot be sued for anything because a certain law protects them! Can you believe that??? The freaking nerve of these people. I do believe they know their meds are sub standard but they won't do anything about it. They can make the meds cheaper yet still charge the consumer high prices! Not good.....not good at all! Are we going to end up stuck in this nightmare? I hope not! Especially if our pharmacist doesn't have to let us know of any changes in brands when they fill them. Well, I won't trust anyone and WILL ask every single month before anyone gets my rx! It is I who suffers, not them!

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Thank you to those of you who have signed the petition. Every signature is so very important. We need so desperately to get some lawmakers on our side.

Those who haven't the link is in post 579, please take a minute and join us in fighting for ourselves. Thanks again.

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Diane, off Qualitest Norco, no, but I have from Amneal Norco. And, not to mention, ACTAVIS! Norco is the first med I had had from Actavis, a year and a half ago, and they made me extremely sick. I have had Qualitest, Endo and Mallinkrodt Percocet and only the Endo didn't work for me. I am hoping my pharmacy can keep on hand one of those. I will take the Endo if there is nothing else but I prefer not to because they aren't great for my pain. At least, tho, they aren't anything like Actavis!

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My husband had words with the pharmacist over this n he acted like my
70 yr old hubby was a junkie or something. My hubby got the district rx
Mgr name n left msg. I was livid! 3 yrs n 5 drs & nobody can figure it out. I called the rx home office n pity the guy that answered the phone. Said sorry but.... He was going to turn the matter over to mgmt. i told them they should b ashamed n this was a matter of dollar n cents to them, they suck alpha pharma sucks etc. said my hubby can barely walk n all the problems associated. He said he would turn over to upper mgmt. he did, next day i get a call n it was a higher up then the district mgr. i nicely explained n then gave phone to hubby. She heard him out, told him she would have another pharmacist order in the qualitest n only keep for him. So, what to do about getting the rx filled before it was due? Somehow or another they filled it after the alpha pharma had only been filled about a week before. So, the squeaky wheel. Good luck

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Tracy...uve unfortunately been hit with the actacrap change at the tail end of it all....everything ur doing, researching, going through, spoke to, complained to, called....many of us old timers have already done n been through starting early this year when it hit a majority of the pharmacies close to the same time. We've all called, pharmacies, actavis, and the fda. Ive schooled actavis reps, went off on them, etc etc everytime they called my phone following up....they arent changing anything and I know they were bombarded with calls early this year. ..the fda too! The only ones who haven't made a complaint to all areas youve spoken of are people whose meds have newly changed or for the first time looking online to see whats up......ALL who are new to these threads should start from post number one n keep reading to the end, but nobody does. Now I know its alot of reading, but its filled with info and research. If everyone would have read this thread through, they wouldve known they should call these depts and agencies, medication info, links to articles, etc instead of saying theyre going to do this or that now, or saying they didnt know about one or the other. Please, ALL who r new here, you must read these threads from the very first post through in order to be informed. ..if you arent diligent, your not doing urself justice or being truly responsible with pain control management.
Tracy...I havnt read that article u mentioned but I will n report bk to u after. Also, didnt know if u knew but qualitest makes endocet. I know theyre from the same company but I dont know if theyre made with the same formula. Someone way back listed the antidote to a bunch of different meds.....might want to look back n see if u can find it to use as a comparison so not to get another med that makes u ill.
I dont know what its gonna take, if anything, for Actavis n the fda to get their feet wet n help us...I just know thry haven't done anything yet n they were hit hard by patients earlier this year.

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Jennifer....what made me question my percocets from Actavis and look it up on here was my horrible experience a year and a half ago to their hydrocodone. I did realize when ya'all started complaining and I did tell Actavis and the FDA this! As well as telling them about the hydrocodone. A med has never mad me as sick as these have! I do believe people should still be complaining to Actavis and the FDA since absolutely nothing is being done! I have read some pretty scary stuff regarding an antidepressant from Actavis and the FDA looking the other way when people were committing suicide due to the bad effects of the drug. Not only did they look the other way, but they approved the use of this generic 300mg dose drug due to the fact that the 150mg dose worked well. I guess they are trying to stop this from ever happening again but I have my doubts! Especially when going through what we are/have been going through on other meds. It is total lack of responsibility on the fda's part! Can you imagine how many chronic pain patients have either turned to a less expensive street drug ( H ) or commit suicide due to no pain control? I know there were many times I wish I didn't have to live anymore if this is what my life will be! We cannot, IMHO, trust the people in charge of our food and drug safety! THAT is irresponsible and even criminal!

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Pls read my post as well from about a week ago. CALL the HQ of ur pharmacy n in no uncertain terms tell them about this actavis that does NOT
Work. Be polite but firm when explaining. Our HQ district mgr called n got out local pharmacy to order in qualitest & r keeping it on hand just for my husband. My husband also filed a complaint against the pharmacist. 3 yrs ago. Boom my husband started with severe pain in his feet n has gotten progressively worse. 5 drs n nobody can explain it. My husband is 70, the prescriptions say sudden onset idiopathic pain. When he went to talk to pharmacist, he tried to make it like my husband is an addict. He can barely walk n 15 mg of generic percocette barely put a dent in his pain. Maybe both complaints worked, so it is worth the effort to call H Q & more then once if need be.

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Hi Jennifer.....I really appreciate you posting all this to me, and, honestly, I wasn't trying to argue with you about the abuse deterrent.....all I know is what I read and what the FDA said about which meds contain the, or any kind of, deterrent. Now, and this I find interesting.....they talked about using naloxone/naltrexone as a deterrent in immediate release/fast acting narcotics. There is one major problem that I see with this....naltrexone is used as an opiate replacement, sort of, when coming off opiates. A lot of addicts use this in the form of suboxone for withdrawing off opiates because it fills the narcotic receptors and supposedly stops cravings. This is used for H withdrawl as well.....since H is a narcotic, schedule 1. Now, if you take naltrexone before being in moderate to severe withdrawl, it causes precipitated Withdrawl which is way more severe than normal withdrawl. Also, while on naltrexone, opiates do not work for the pain nor will they make you feel "high." Hence the reason they use it! Supposedly, the naltrexone would be released from a narcotic if it is broken up, chewed or melted to a form for intravenous use (understandable). But, it is also released if someone takes too many at one time to try and feel a high. Now, my question is, why wouldn't the naltrexone be released when the narcotic is being processed in the stomach before reaching the liver, etc if it is released if taking too many at once? This would definitely cause precipitated withdrawl! The body, while metabolizing medications, does not know if you are taking one or ten pills! I'm not asking as if you know how this works although it would be great if you did! Lol. Common sense tells me that it would be impossible to stop the release of this drug when ingested normally. Does this even make sense to you? Also, regarding abuse deterrents in other meds, OxyContin for instance, people are complaining that it gives minimal, if any, pain relief. That makes sense since the active ingredient is inside the gel-like plastic deterrent and the body does not metabolize plastics...nor cellulose. I am all for lessening abuse potential of narcotics but, IMHO, they are going about it all wrong! Especially when the deterrent is changing the efficacy of the drug. It's also changing the availability to the body! Addicts, I heard, have found ways around this deterrent so they are able...with a lot of work, to achieve the high they did with the original formula! The deterrents are not working in the way they had hoped. They are only making people suffer more. How long has it been since they changed the formula in OxyContin, 4 years or so? And yet it has not deterred the addicts one bit! How long is it going to take these people, who have probably never had to use a pain med for any length of time if at all, to realize their "answer to abuse" just is not working? I recently read that the original OxyContin formula is available in Australia, for sure, and if think Canada as well. But, the US will not allow it to be sold here as it is a generic form that has no deterrent. The patent on it is not up for another 10 years! How many suicides or even suicide attempts is it going to take for the FDA and such to listen to the patients? Sorry for the rant......

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Luv.....I already called my pharmacy and spoke directly to the pharmacist.....the only response I got was, " That's interesting." So far, my pharmacy has never carried Watson or Actavis brand oxycodone. I got mine (the Actavis brand) a week and a half ago from a different pharmacy. Now, they couldn't tell me that they would never sell the Actavis brand but I can always request a different mnfctr and they can probably get them. Well, I will take anything over the Actavis brand even though Endocet didn't work well for my pain. Qualitest did, however, and I just read that Endocet was made by qualitest. They must have 2 different formulas then because quali works for me.

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Hi luv.....ive contacted walgreens headquarters and the pharmaceutical dept n they didnt change anything....they purshed it back to my local pharmacist n I called the hq back and told them it made no sense to call my pharmacist when he's not in charge of ordering for the company. They still didnt do anything! What I do know is if one location wont special order ur meds, doesnt mean another wont. There r 5 walgreens in my town and only two will special order my endocet. My usual location thats closest to me ive used for 5 years...they wont...so I go to the second closest to get em cause they will. Makes no sense but it is what it is n so long as im able to get em, im fine with it. I truly hope ur husband is able to find answers n get the help he needs....its disgusting of them to treat a mature man in that manner. I dont recall if I saw it in ur post....I know u said 5 drs but were any of them a podiatrist?

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Hey all, I am wondering if Lola knew how big a can of crap she would open when she made the first post in February 2014. Hopefully she knows how much she has helped fellow pain patients and I want to thank her for that.

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Yes, neurologists, pain drs, epidurals. We are going to try to get an appt at Jefferson hospital in philly. They recently built a specialty hospital. Jeff is the best neurological hospitals in the tri state area n perhaps in the country. Can't believe nobody ever heard of this
Its so sad to see someone u love in this
Pain for 3 yrs n it has gotten worse.

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Jennifer.....talk about odd, but right after I got done posting to you Cindy, from Actavis, called me and wanted more info of what happened to me. She then wanted lot # and stuff so I told her to contact my pharmacy for that. I also told her that I don't believe the problem lies within a certain batch of "percocets" but in the formula itself. I said, " it is quite strange to have more than 50 people across the US having the same exact side effects and the ineffectiveness of pain relief. If it was an allergy to the med, I could see having the same adverse reactions, but it's not. They just do not work and something needs to be done ASAP!" She wasn't from overseas like the first person I talked to, she was from New Jersey and she really seemed to care and wants to help us! Well, we will see how far that goes! I just had to get on here and tell you this. Btw, they talk to you like it's their first time hearing anything like this! Lol. She did tell me, however, so I am telling everyone this......EVERYONE, PAY ATTENTION....ACTAVIS TOLD ME TO CONTACT MY DOCTOR AND GET THIS ALL DOCUMENTED, I thought that was a decent thing for her to tell me.....maybe they are trying to do something to resolve the issue. One thing they could do is use Watsons formula for hydrocodone and oxycodone. Although, these aren't the only 2 meds with problems from them. But, it's a start!

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Oh, Jennifer, I'm sorry I didn't really notice your post re: the articles. Now what you are saying makes sense but why would the FDA say only 2 drugs have a deterrent and they are both long acting meds? I know someone taking the plain oxycodone and he is able to break them up/chew them. No, he is not a drug addict.....he has a hard time swallowing any kind of pill so he either breaks it up or chews his oxycodone. They work great for him. Anyway, I thought you were meaning all oxycodone products including the combo products. Sorry I misunderstood. I did read that Actavis was allowed to sell a small supply of their oxycodone IR since either August or October, that contain a deterrent, but they do not have a rule that all of them have to contain a deterrent. In fact, they were not sure what was going to happen after this short run. Oh, the FDA is who "they" are. I don't see why that was allowed! Something smells fishy about this but what can we do? Nothing, I suppose!

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