Watson 853 - Actavis

People,

I've worked for Actavis for years and I can tell you we're simply complying with the ACA regulations imposed to pharmaceutical medicine. Yes, the formulation was changed but it was only changed to leverage a longer carbon base on the cytochrome P450 enzyme to prevent it from metabolizing into hyrdromorphone in the liver. But other than that, our new formulation's chemical structure is identical to you've been getting.

If you want proof then please ship off samples to private labs for testing. But in doing so, all you will have accomplished is wasting your money because this formulation is, and will be proven to be [4,5a-Epoxy-3-methoxy-17-methylmorphinan-6-one], aka, hydrocodone.

But what everyone seems to be missing is the larger issue of ACA and social responsibility. Universal healthcare and access to powerful narcotics like Norco brings inherit risks to groups that were previously unable to attain such medication - both to the individuals taking the medication as well as the communities that may become flooded with narcotics for sale on the street.

By hindering the metabolization of P450 into hyrdromorphone, we are effectively reducing the street value of this medication by reducing the more addictive properties associated with hydromorphone. But you should be thankful that ACA has thought about this, because this effectively reduces the risk of crime and violence withing the greater society.

Besides, from a physiological perspective, the new formulation will treat your pain just as effectively as the old. It's just now you're not getting "high" on hydromorphone like you were previously. But your doctor did not prescribe you hydromorphone did they?

Some things are beyond the scope of just "you" so maybe you shouldn't be so selfish and stop complaining already.

- Tim

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REPORT

You arrogant SOB. I had back surgery and was fine with my generic Perocet for years - I get a refill of ACTAVIS and within one hour Iam projectile vomiting and dizzy for 6 hours later. No- I don't THANK YOU.

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Exactly! Laci, I couldn't have said it better myself! I switched from hydrocodone from Actavis because I got so deathly ill and it did nothing for my pain to oxycodone, Percocet, and got relief. I had been off narcotics for almost a year but, unfortunately, had to go back on. In August I was given Percocet and was given the Watson brand.....last week I got Percocet again but this time Actavis brand and I have been sick and in a lot of pain ever since! I do not believe it is the same as the Watson brand at all! Whatever has been changed has affected a lot of people in a negative way! Now, we are not junkies who are complaining about this med. we are just chronic pain patients who want to live a life of quality as much as we can under our circumstances.....Actavis is not letting us do that! I am now stuck with these pills for a month! Doctors are not too willing to give new prescriptions like they use to. It's not their fault, either.....I am just freaking sick and tired of being treated like an addict because I need pain meds due to a severe back injury and failed surgery! Like most people, I wouldn't even take this crap if I could get by with Tylenol or Ibuprofen! So, the arrogant SOB's can go fly a kite! It seems pretty odd that you would find so many people complaining about the same med from the same manufacturer if there was nothing wrong with it! Not just complaining, but having the same exact complaints! Complaining is not benefitting us at all, really....we are still stuck with the crappy meds!

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Again- the arrogance is unbelievable. I have had spinal fusion and was recommended for 3 more surgeries. I have degenerative disc disease and I need pain control. Actavis literally caused me to projectile vomit and kept me sick in bed, dizzy, for 8 hours after taking it. I am allergic to whatever was put in the medicine. I am highly insulted that you would assume I wasn't Prescribed THE MEDICINE. i HAVE HAD TO MAKE 4 TRIPS TO MY DR TO GET APPROPRIATE PAIN CONTROL BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU CALL A "BENIGN" change in formulation. DON'T ALWAYS ASSUME YOU KNOW EVERY STORY. You owe apologies to all those who've been negatively affected, and stop ASSUMING everyone is drug seeking and not pain relief seeking. my fear for you is you will one day experience this same arrogance and disbelief one day when you need help.

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so whatever the change was or was not, you seemed to contradict yourself there, it is obviously affecting the wrong group of people. I'm not a chemist, I am a cancer patient. I recently changed from Percocet to Hydrocodone and my pharmacy slipped in the damn Actavis on me, and that's because actavis is stamping WATSON on their pills to pull the wool over our eyes..greedy bastards!. Since I had a severe stomach issue while taking Actavis Percocet last January I have avoided the Actavis manufacturer. There is definitely an issue with your formulation chemist boy! If not, then why are you posting here? Maybe because of all those complaints and letters about your products? Is there any chance that the new formulation simply does not relieve pain the way YOU think it should? Your arrogant pharmaceutical company, taking Actavis Percocet made me feel as though I wanted to chew my fingernails off due to anxiety, I could not sleep for days, I actually had to increase my dosage because I was not getting pain relief and then the stomach and other problems really surfaced, that's when I figured out it was the change in the Percocet manufacturer, ACTAVIS. I could cry , on top of dealing with cancer and the loss of the quality of MY life. I have to drive all over and find a pharmacy that does not make your brand of poison and one that will actually work...ACTAVIS DOES NOT! Sir, after being on this site and reading the reviews from pain sufferer's you must have an inkling of doubt about what your pushing on the public, like I said or why would you be reading and posting here? I see a pain management doctor and abide by all the rules for help, while your company is more concerned with people that abuse the rules. hmmmm or maybe it's the funding your getting for changing the formulation???, instead of taking care of the sick...... NO WAY am I taking your hydrocodone - can't wait to jump on the lawsuit bandwagon, the product is harming sick people instead of helping them. Unfortunately there will always be drug abusers, sadly the wrong people are being abused and now, by Actavis!

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You represent the personality that irritates me the most in this world. You don't understand what it is that you don't know, therefore you assume that it just isn't true. I've have side effects to from your precious company changing formularies & it's off of an oral contraceptive... You should know enough about that to know I'm not complaining about a lost high. I'm certain the same way in which I am being effected by "harmless" changes is effecting others who take other meds. You people just don't know enough about the physiology of the effect of the drug to understand why the side effects are occurring, despite that they seemingly shouldn't.

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So what activas has done, aside from "only changing the yellow dye"..they have also removed the povidone, crospovidone, pregelatenized starch, stearic acid, and a few other inactive ingredients. All of which I believe play a crucial role in the absorbtion and bioavailability of the medication when taken orally.
Just research the original Norco 10/325 inactive ingredients, and then do the same for the new lame white watson 853s that are being manufactured by 'half ass' actavis.

I'm convinced that those missing inactive ingredients are the reason ACTAVIS Watsons are not working as we should expect them to.
Time to start experimenting!! Cheers!

- A

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Mrs. Know it all that works for a s***ty company may be out of a job soon. If I was you, I'd shut your mouth and find a new job. The only thing this company is doing is making us pain stuffers worse. It won't be to long before this company is shut down because of all the illnesses their meds are causing people. I hope your next job is hard manual labor, and you just might get injured and need some real pain relief. You better stock up on the s***ty brand you work for if it's so good!

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Wow I just read your post and you are obviously not a man in chronic pain and are a jerk as well. It is really difficult to appreciate the government intervention when what it cost me is: A monthly visit to Pain Management Dr. to get my prescription & random urine tests that cost $1800.00 each time. My portion? Over $400 each time. So yes...we get a little testy when something changes, as I not only have to use a TON of my vacation time in order to see the doctor I also have a huge expense just to prove that I am 1. Taking the meds and not selling them. 2. Taking nothing else other than what is known and therefor proving that I am indeed worthy of a prescription. Like the multiple MRI's that show damage to my spine aren't enough. Then...they are constantly trying to convince me to accept yet another cortisone injection into the spinal area...VERY expensive...not good for you and the last two did nothing for me. So, in the great scope of things, if the formulation changed in a manner that changes it's affect on us and we notice it...you need not be such a jerk about it. Yes. We get it. You are knowledgeable. I only hope that someday you are able to first hand, gain knowledge of constant & chronic pain. Maybe get rear ended at a stop light like I did.

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I was in a motorcycle acc. in april. I almost am dead because of it. I in the past have had Percocet. I can surely tell you what you get now from actavis is not any good for long lasting pain relief. Another attempt at the govt. trying to govern our lives. Bullsh ill tell u . Its a shame really. Its like taking nothing at all.

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Tracy- Very well said!!! I agree 100% with EVERYTHING you said!! This Actavis definitely DOES NOT help with the severe pain I have in my back!! I do not abuse pain meds, I just take them bc I have to!! Not everyone abuses pain meds!!! Some like me actually take them bc of a chronic condition so they can live a fairly decent life without severe pain! I hate it when someone suggests we take it for the "high"!!! I have never experienced the "high" he is talking about. My Dr said the reason for that is bc I take pain meds for a medical reason, not recreationally!! Something needs to be done about this Actavis pain medication! I am tired of suffering needlessly!!

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Re: Laci (# 1)

If these people who want to abuse medication that was made for human beings who sincerely need it to live a fairly decent life, so be it. They will do what they want one way or another. But those honest folks that need the real meds the way they have been helping us responsible people for decades need them. It's fine to buy as much liquor as you want and harm yourself and others but no, those who follow the laws are punished for their stupidity. Someone needs to stand up for good law abiding people with pain.

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I’ve never gotten high off of any of my pain medicines. I’ve been on a variety of pain killers including morphine, hydromorphone and hydrocodone as well as fentanyl patches and lollipops over the past 25 years.

I’ve had 4 surgeries and tons of Physical Therapy and also adjunct therapies. I was pain free for almost 2 years and relied on yoga to stay in shape and then I was hit from behind and now have been in pain for the past 15 months as it reactivated my old disc problems or created new ones.

You may be a chemist who works with these medicines but you obviously are not suffering from a painful condition.

I’m a masters level clinician and I am a working professional who could not do my job or get ready to go to work nor shower, brush my teeth or prepare my meals without the help of medication.

I have no interest in feeling high. All I want is to be free from the discomfort of my nerve pain so I can concentrate on helping others and live my life in a conscious, productive and loving way.

I urge you not to judge legitimate pain sufferers. We are under the treatment of our licensed doctors and deserve respect. Would you dare to judge any other medical condition so harshly?

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